ACCORDING TO REUTER’S ISTANBUL CORRESPONDENT, CHAUVINISM IN TURKEY STARTS FROM SCHOOL
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 03 2007
ISTANBUL, APRIL 3, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. "Chauvinism in Turkey
starts from schools. Thousands of pupils every day stands before
entering the classroom in front of Ataturk’s statue and say "How
lucky the one is who will say I am a Turk." We meet faithfulness to
such a vow towards Ataturk even in text-books." Emma Ross-Thomas, the
Istanbul correspondent of the Reuter information agency wrote about it.
In Thomas’ words, it is mentioned in school text-books of Turkey
that their country has inner and outer enemies and that "one must
alertly control interests of the country." "All these strengthen among
pupils feelings of chauvinism and militarism from childhood. Numerous
intellectuals and specialists of the education system speak against
this state and propose changes, but their task is not easy," the
correspondent emphasized, according to the Istanbul Marmara daily.