"oh brother, where art thou?"

oh really where at thou? new year is here,but where art thou? they say foreigners are buying turkish land as in gold rush. they say that's the reason why ottoman empire was disintegrated. they blame the very existence of israel to this politics of ottoman empire. they say reciprocity is the key for such politics and since turks are very poor to buy land overseas, the foreigners shouldn't be able to buy land. since the greeks are number one foreign investors on land, oh brother where art thou?

and the answer is blowing in the wind.

again on the news, mr. turkish prime minister blamed u.s.a. for giving weapons to kurdish guerilla groups. he said "they carry american weapons, and we cannot watch while that happens, we cannot act as spectators towards the events in iraq". he said "we must follow up the events closely". well that is the very definition of being a spectator mr. minister. you are very affectionate but still one spactator. oh brother where art thou?

on the news yesterday, many students at a prestigious high school cought inhaling dangerous substances in school bathroom. according to the news, there is nothing wrong about teenagers using drugs, but what is shocking is the fact that these were rich kids with good backgrounds attending a $10,000/year high school. duh! the poor kids cannot afford drugs brother, they inhale glue on the streets, only the rich ones can afford real drugs.

a writer whose book about abused kids that was banned by the authorities (?!?) is on the news with a story of an abused 14 years old whose land lady abused her with a dildo. and the punch line is by this kid herself:
"please don't tell anyone, because if they learn they will kick us out of the house"

well, really oh brother where art thou?

the answer my friend is blowing in the wind.

newsscope

on national dailies in turkey, sometimes I come across to many weird news, I'd like to share some with you. Weird ones and common sense ones alike...

• Gerald Ford dies at 93. Noone to be direct witness of Nixon era, no more.
  
• arrested for allegedly downloading images of child pornography from child porn websites whilst working as the head of the languages department at a famous school, Claude Joel Fortin was eventually sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for having drugs in his home. the court postponed Fortin’s sentence due to there not being any previous cautions on his record. the original case put forward against Fortin was for up to 24 years imprisonment for having and spreading 12,110 pornographic photographs and video clips on his computer of which 491 consisted of child pornography.



• a guy cought with 7 rape and abuse videos recorded live on his cellphone including youngsters and boys. he allegedly introduced himself to young girls as a man with superpowers and then drugged them and raped them and videoed his acts.
  
• another guy beat and strangled his wife because she prepared the breakfast late. their son of 2 years was a witness to the act. there is no evidence apart from what he said to the police. but what's next?
  
• a young counselor commited suicide after sending her son to school. papers claim that it was because of her arguments with her husband.

in the last three "news" articles one common factor is the journalist "knew" who, where, when and why. there are no news of this kind in turkish media that claims the reasons are unknown. the papers always "know" why it happened. and it is not a matter of rhetoric. There is no hint of the narrative to be about "allegations". they just "know" what happened.

• many iraquies are applying to be the executioner of Saddam. even little children are applying. this is a long and mysterious road I guess, where a martyr would be created out of an old and weary dictator. and he is quoted as saying: "I am sacrificing myself. If Allah permits, I will find myself next to true heroes and men in heaven. The enemies of our country, the invaders and the Farsis, have constructed a barrier between you and those who would lead you. And for this reason, they are trying to plant the seeds of hatred between you. My faithful people, I bid you farewell as my soul rises to the great Allah. Long live Iraq. Long live Iraq. Long live Palestine. Long live the jihad and the fighters for the jihad. Allahuekber."



• in a very heated session in the national assembly, opposition leader baykal said referring to a previous speech by prime minister: "He was part of a pathetic, painful tableau. He is the one who has started this entire 'harem' argument. And yesterday he reflected the problems deriving from having started up this controversy." Baykal yesterday again asserted that Erdogan was not a suitable choice for president of Turkey, reflecting on the tension which has risen in Ankara following his own statement that "headscarves may cover hair, but not the sins of spouses," a statement apparently interpreted by Erdogan and his close circle to be a jab at the AKP.

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