'The Turkish and Pan-Turkish Ideal by Tekin Alp' [‎19r] (42/58)

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The present awakening of Turkey may well be compared to that of
Germany exactly a hundred years before, in that it followed upon a
critical and unhappy period.
The Turkish national spirit has changed very greatly in a wonderfully
short time. It is almost a miracle. It may be asserted without hesitation
that the Turkish people, who up to two years ago were totally lacking
in national consciousness, are now imbued with it. This new spirit
filters like beneficent life-giving rain through all the strata of the nation,
restoring the whole people. The great men in whose hands is placed the
nation’s destiny to-day are imbued with this spirit and are solving the
national problems by its light. The newly-awakened consciousness inspires
in every part of the nation the will to gain for their Fatherland a strong
and favourable position among the nations. The “ Academy of Turkish
Sciences ” (Turk bilgi Derneyi) strives to create an individual intellectual
life. The “National Union” (Turk Ojaglari) works at the awakening of
a national idea and the union of all Turks by a strong bond of nationality.
The Sports Unions do their best to give the nation a physical develop
ment equal to that of the old “ Conquerors ”. The Turkish Scout
movement provides a modern and patriotic education for the youth of
the country, and attempts, by bringing boys into direct contact with
nature in their expeditions, to rouse in their impressionable hearts a love
for their Homeland and their nation. The economic leagues and societies
are founding firms and business houses in Stamboul and all over Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey. ,
and are confident of fruitful development.
The word “Turk” has now taken on a new and improved signifi
cance. Two years ago, even liberal-minded Turks interpreted this word
in the European sense, i. e. as meaning raw, anti-social, anti-national,
uncivilized, reactionary. The number of Turks who were proud of their
nationality was shamefully small. Now, however, “ Turk ” connotes
honest, industrious,enduring,persevering, self-sacrificing, and progressive.
The dictionary of nations is obliged to accept this change of meaning.
When the word “ Turk ” is mentioned now, it does not express the
calumny so current in Western literature, but brings back the memory
of the famous days of ancient Turkey, of noble help given freely to
oppressed nations and toleration to foreign religions. To this is added
a fine shade of meaning, implying the modern progressive and newly-
awakened spirit of Turkey.
People have also become accustomed to the fact that the words
“ Turk ” and “ Mohammedan ” are not identical, and are aware that now
“ Turk ” is the expression of national and “ Mohammedan ” that of
religious citizenship, just as Arabs and Albanians, for instance, must be
called Arabs and Albanians in spite of their religious brotherhood, and not
be designated under the common title of Mohammedans.
To-day there is a Turkish nation; her subjects feel a Turkish heart
beat in their breast, Turkish blood flow through their veins, and Turkish
feelings and ideas rule their life.
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