tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29408571.post6551629356545521282..comments2023-11-03T09:29:12.175-04:00Comments on Queens is the New Manhattan: That Time In IstanbulHomevalleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05957126005766631576noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29408571.post-22364597346003412962009-11-16T11:55:15.197-05:002009-11-16T11:55:15.197-05:00Great Post
Great Sharing
I will go to Istanbul
Tha...Great Post<br />Great Sharing<br />I will go to Istanbul<br />Thankssultanahmethttp://www.sultanahmet1.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29408571.post-62714096834365534572008-03-19T14:06:00.000-04:002008-03-19T14:06:00.000-04:00I appreciate you seeing my side and quite possibly...I appreciate you seeing my side and quite possibly you underestimated the philosophical nature of your Turkish friend!<BR/><BR/>I anticipate your eventual comments on the subject of the power of the people or more so the responsiblity of the people as i could go on and on with regards to how society and more specifically the citizens have lost their role.<BR/><BR/>Once again, a problem that is universal, as the majority of if not the entire world suffers from weak masses that blindly support their government. They hope for change that only they can bring about and yet they do nothing to enact it. A viscous cycle..."rich white men"...oh, those "rich white men".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29408571.post-76454608472035078412008-03-19T13:42:00.000-04:002008-03-19T13:42:00.000-04:00I think his statement wasn't so much a deflection ...I think his statement wasn't so much a deflection of responsibility, but a sentiment about our shared humanity; a friendly: "Turkish or American? Hell, we've all got issues." <BR/><BR/>That being said, I do think you bring up an incredibly interesting point about the ordinary citizen's role in government. It seems we are an increasingly apathetic society; so tired are we of the housing crisis, skyrocketing oil prices, and the recession, that we tune it out and go about our day, quick to blame everyone else, never looking inward. I didn't vote for Bush in 2000 or 2004; does that mean that I am free from sin? Are you to blame for this mess if you did vote for W?<BR/><BR/>I don't think there is an easy answer here, but I am so intrigued by your comments; in fact, they are virtually a call to action for everyone who is reading to take a long, hard look at our role in government and our potential impact (though not to buy a bike this afternoon, per se, possibly we need to do more than just bitch about our paltry state of affairs? Take action?) Certainly something I want to revisit on the blog. I thank you for reading my thoughts critically and raising important questions.<BR/><BR/>Lorenzo Lamas photograph intact, but money missing? This is the danger you described in blanket statements, for certainly I would never proclaim all Turks evil thieves had <I>everything</I> been stolen. I would have chalked it up to a few bad seeds in an otherwise delightful country. Obviously I am an optimist; and I have to believe everyone is inherently good, until they prove otherwise.<BR/><BR/>Thus, possibly I should amend my statement to "The Turks [we have come in contact with on this trip]... they are good people." <BR/><BR/>I like you, Anonymous.Homevalleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05957126005766631576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29408571.post-92136834896167982352008-03-19T12:59:00.000-04:002008-03-19T12:59:00.000-04:00At first glance I am also a big fan of that attitu...At first glance I am also a big fan of that attitude, but do you think the founders of Democracy wanted that kind of disconnect between the "we're just people" and the "they are our government"? It implies to me that citizens of countries have no control over "thier" government and don't take responsibility for the actions of "they" as their government. That to me is scary, but unfortunately I think it is also mostly true, as countries and governements are clearly run by the rich and therefore powerful. <BR/><BR/>Most people are not rich and not even close to powerful when standing alone. Maybe since the founders of Democracy were the rich, that was their intent, but somehow doesn't it seem like it all went awry somewhere? Imagine if our entire country refused to pay taxes, every single legal and illegal resident, what would the government do in response to tax reform then? What if everyone in the country actually did stop driving and bought a bike in protest of our government's handling of the oil crisis? Imagine if every person in the country refused to vote because there is no worthy candidate, what would happen then? <BR/><BR/>The "just people" are only strong when they realize the power of the whole. If you can't take responsibilty for the actions and stereotypes of your own government and country, are you really a good person? Does looking past it solve anything in the end? <BR/><BR/>Serious transgression from the original point there...<BR/><BR/>So back to the original, I agree that we are all just people, even the rich and powerful are just people. But there will always be people at both ends of the spectrum, good and bad. The problem is that the in between people have to count more towards the bad side because if you are not good, you have to have done something bad to fall off the wagon. <BR/><BR/>To clarify, imagine if you had gotten back your bag from the bar...passports-check, credit cards-check, travel documents-check, Lorenzo Lamas photo-check, cash-gone.<BR/><BR/>Now what?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29408571.post-7927607409463180602008-03-19T11:19:00.000-04:002008-03-19T11:19:00.000-04:00I agree with you... I am sure that gentleman from...I agree with you... I am sure that gentleman from <I>Midnight Express</I> would have a vastly different opinion of the Turks, based on his horrifying experience. And often I find myself running into Armenians and Greeks in the US who have very few kind things to say about Turkey. <BR/><BR/>Just a snapshot in my life that forever endeared me to the city and its inhabitants.<BR/><BR/>And you know, anytime we visit a strange country, we are always curious as to how the locals perceive us, and America. So we usually ask, and get into many philosophical discussions. On our first day in Istanbul, the concierge offered his opinion: "That's your government; this is our government. We're all just people."<BR/><BR/>I loved that attitude. Everywhere you go - good or bad, sane or crazy - we're all just people.Homevalleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05957126005766631576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29408571.post-88872597699775204152008-03-19T10:29:00.000-04:002008-03-19T10:29:00.000-04:00It can be inspiring the sorts of experiences that ...It can be inspiring the sorts of experiences that shape our opinions of others...blanket statements are always a dangerous though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com