Emotions

The Christmas holidays have always been a good opportunity for reflection, especially for those who take part in the country's public life.

Let us hope that they will reflect on their responsibilities regarding both the present and the future of this country over the course of the holiday season.

We all know that as we grow older we look more fondly on the past, either because "things were better then" or because we ourselves were better - or younger, at least. Recently, this bittersweet personal desire to return to the past - nostalgia - has been powering the wheels of politics; many citizens have lost faith in the future and are angry with the present.

The courage of the Greek people during World War II and the courage of people fighting for freedom and democracy around the world today meet each year in Washington, DC. And when they do, something spectacular happens - US presidents make tens of millions aware, a Nobel Prize emerges, dissidents are released from prison and others are provided additional protection.

Given the Turkish Lira's volatility and the economy's bad press, there is widespread pessimism among Turkish investors. While we cannot forecast the short-term evolution of the currency or economy, we can make a rational assessment of long-term economic dynamics and highlight the country's strengths.

"This is the only thing that we can do. This is the only thing we are good at," Greece's Ekaterini Stefanidi told state broadcaster ERT right after she had won the gold in the women's pole vault at the European Championships in Berlin on Thursday.

The people who make up what used to be the Greek middle class are in despair. The state treats them as a cash cow to be milked, they are made to pay outrageous taxes and social security contributions, and the cost of public utilities is exorbitant.

Meanwhile, there are also many Greeks who not only dodge taxes and contributions, but also enjoy exclusive perks.

Prime ministers in Greece often fall victim to a unique type of egotism.

Every day, thousands of citizens feel that their privacy, the sanctuary of their home, is being violated when they receive annoying and insistent calls from sundry companies promoting their products and services.

The world "has gone nuts" some critics say and the reign of confidence, implying behaviour that goes beyond a rational approach of decision making, indicates why in today's agendas we lose or obtain so much.

As the president of Turkey's Guide Dog Association, I often need to travel locally and internationally to promote our work. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to visit these places and connect to the people who live there. As a visually impaired traveler, visiting an unfamiliar place can cause me some anxiety if it does not have the facilities to accommodate me.