How Different Are We Really?

BY TURKER ALKAN
RADIKAL- Today we’ll see what the European Union will say on our membership talks. It will be a critical decision for the future of both Turkey and the continent.
During the heated discussions over our membership bid, both Europeans and we have taken for the granted the assumption that ‘Turkey is different from EU countries.’ We’ve accepted this maxim and pledged to change ourselves to live like Europeans.
I believe that the bravest and most realistic statement on this issue came from French President Jacques Chirac. ‘We and the Turks share a common history dating back to the Byzantines,’ he said. Nobody took his words seriously, but he had a point. Turkey and Europe indeed share history and culture. We have, of course, our own peculiarities and differences. But who doesn’t?
Does an Italian living in Sicily or a Greek living on Crete resemble a Turk or Dane living in the most Nordic part of Europe? Who does a Greek villager doing a folk dance look like the most?
Why do Greeks and Turks often listen to and love each other’s music?
Does the life of an ordinary Turkish family remind us of the life of an ordinary Afghan or Saudi Arabian family, or that of an ordinary Greek, Yugoslav or Italian family?
Religious differences are of course important. However, religion might not be the determining factor in secular countries like Turkey. A larger category, ‘social culture,’ shapes and determines people’s behaviors, habits and traditions.
I believe that we can speak of a prevailing ‘Mediterranean culture’ in southern Europe. Religious and sectarian differences aside, there are considerable similarities between Greek, Turkish, Italian and even Spanish culture in terms of lifestyles and patterns of behavior. In fact, Turkey, as a bridge between the West and the East, is closer to the former.
Let’s take a look at political matters: Criticisms that the role of the Turkish Army over civilian politics is greater than it should be are nothing new. However, those who charge that Turkey falls short of democratic ideals forget that our experience of democracy is shorter than that of other Euro-Mediterranean countries. There were fascist or military regimes in Greece, Spain and Portugal just 30 years ago. Italy and Germany have worked hard to eliminate their domestic fascist elements. In 1958, the French Army tried to intervene in civilian politics.
In brief, religion might be an important factor in shaping cultures, but non-religious factors shouldn’t be ignored. For example, let’s recall the origins of our current government! Didn’t those who are now trying to make Turkey an EU country once have a radical religious agenda?
Turkey belongs in Europe as much as it does to the Middle East. It really does!