What we should and shouldn't do for the martyrs
By GÜLSE BİRSEL gbirsel@hurriyet.com.tr
"All the things we did for this land of ours / Some of us died / Some of us gave speeches," wrote Orhan Veli Kanık in his poem "For Our Homeland," one of his most well-known works.
If there was an Orhan Veli of our times, he would have said "All the things we did for this land of ours / Some of us died / Some of us lynched each other."
Look here, the country is deeply in sorrow as we have been witnessing funerals of very young people every day. How dare you quarrel at a funeral! You are supposed to keep calm, and behave restrained and courteously as a duty of respect at a funeral. Even the ones who are on the outs greet each other for the sake of the loved one who has fallen.
How about us? We are busy insulting each other on social media or here and there. Everyone is frowning, almost everyone absolutely believes that the ones who are not just alike themselves are not worth a fig in terms of patriotism.
Some label anyone not sharing posts about the martyrs on social media as "traitors." Others rebuke people who share those posts saying "It's not a matter to be discussed on social media!"
Almost everyone has been delivering discourses on our duties for the martyrs, asserting that their way is the best, whereas others are inadequate, worthless, even hostile.
Everyone's reaction to the news about the martyrs may differ. Individuals may prefer acts such as remembering with respect, raging against the enemy, getting angry about the war, praying, setting pen to paper, sharing posts on social media, criticizing the strategies, crying on your own, lamenting or, instead, clinging to life more purposely. Thus, everyone feels the sorrow in accordance with their own beliefs, opinions, life experiences and character. The foremost point is sharing emotions in common nationwide, not giving exactly the same reactions using the same words. Hey, this is what a "nation" actually is!
Dear friends and fellow citizens, those very young people have become martyrs in order to make the people of this country live together in unity. If we get into an "us vs. them" schism, that would be the biggest disrespect to the martyrs.
Let's bear with each other in expressing our sadness or keeping it for oneself please.
Let's be calm, respectful, restrained and united. That may be our foremost duty for the martyrs.
How to cope with days of grief
Some concerts have been canceled whereas others have been going on as planned.
TV entertainment shows have been criticized but some people ask "Shouldn't they be broadcast?" for good reason. This issue weighs on my mind as a person of the entertainment industry.
Should comedy shows go off the air on some days? How about the other shows and TV series? What if it is a drama series including some sort of jokes in its script? Theater plays? For instance, what is the red line if it is a tragicomic story? Is it the point where the audience laughs the most? Which concerts are considered as arts or entertainment shows? Should they be classified with regard to the songs chosen?
What about weddings and birthdays? Valentine's Day was celebrated on Feb. 14, for example. Putting aside the arguments on capitalism, how should we view a couple in love dating and celebrating their relationship with ornaments of hearts? Shouldn't they act like that? Should all celebrations be called off? Which of them should be allowed and on what days? Yet we have not been in a good mood on any day recently.
In history, popular arts, especially music and stories cheering up have occasionally been supported by governments at times of national sorrow. The reason for that has been the intention to support people to cling to life and have the motivation to work the next morning. Remember the "happy end" rule for the movies in the era of the Great Depression in the U.S.
Do you know what we should do? Forget about all the rules!
Let's believe that we have been sharing similar feelings and then allow everyone to behave according to their own senses and views.
Those who purposefully reject to postpone the life-cycle and those who prefer to mourn should appreciate each other.
Those who take wailing as a duty and those who amuse and cheer up people should hold hands. Only then we may ease this time period of sorrow to some degree.
Gülse Birsel, hdn, Opinion,
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