The new generations, one nation under God

Education Minister İsmet Yılmaz stated in a TV interview last week that "they want to raise a new generations who will go out onto the streets with flags, as in the case of the July 15 coup attempt." It means that we will live under the permanent threat of a coup for many years, meaning that in 20 years' time, we will need people to stop expected atrocities by rushing onto the street with flags. It means that we will live for decades with vigilance against "internal enemies." 

It never occurs to the minister to consider raising new generations that will build a peaceful democratic system which will not need any sort of street marches with flags in hand. Besides, one wonders who "they" are who will shape the new generations. Since the current minister can only talk in the name of his party, does it mean raising generations who will protect the party line by marching in the streets with flags and against any demonstration against the party's politics? Unfortunately, my thrilled mind forces me to ask these disturbing questions. 

Or are we heading toward a non-partisan state of politics under one leader's rule in the name of "one country," "one nation," "one flag" and "one state" - the famous quartet ("rabia") that the president repeats in all his public meetings? Indeed, the Turkish-type presidential system implies such "post-political governance" which is also known as totalitarianism. Most recently, the prime minister stated that "the governing party will not live forever, but 10 more years at most," hinting at the prospect of post-party politics. No wonder the governing party's supporters do not hold party flags any more but Turkish flags on all occasions, while the governing party's politicians do not talk in the name of their party anymore, but in...