ATASC

ATASC ve UCLA TurkSA 10 Kasim Toreni. / 10 Kasim Rememberance Ceremony by ATASC and UCLA TurkSA

Posted by atasc on November 11, 2009 at 15:50 pm

Thomas talking about Ataturk's heroism at Anafartalar, Gallipoli Battle

The program followed his youth from Selanik to Istanbul. Vedat Gursoylu played a Rumeli folk song to the accompaniment of the audience.  We talked about his heroism at Gallipoli and how that heroism changed the flow of history.  The story of the watch that saved his life was recited. During Gallipoli Battle, Ataturk was at the front of his troops when a shrapnel hit him where his heart was. It pierced the watch given to him as a present by the same teacher who also gave him the middle name Kemal (Perfect). His life was  thus spared  to allow him to save Turkey from enemies and be written into the larger history.

After the map of Sevres Treaty and the situation that led to Ataturk starting the National Resistance Movement, the audience watched a 9 minute video about the Turkish Independence War. It was a good description of the dire situation in Anotolia after WWI, the Sevres Treaty and the Allied invasions. The Turkish Lands were divvied up by the Powers of the day, with the Empire crumbling and the Sultan collaborating with British Forces.  It  showed how Ataturk and hs commanders built a new Assembly in Ankara as the center of Resistance, built an army and fought all the powers one by one to save the motherland. It reminded us all how sacred that Independence was to us won by blood, sacrifice and great difficulty.

Most of the time was spent to talk about the 15 years of revolutionary change upon his Presidency. We discussed his vision for Modern Turkey, and the reforms that resulted from that vision. There was a lot of audience participation where people stated how these effected them, their families and their thinking.

Foremost in his thoughts was Peace, like all War Hero’s who knew firsthand the price of war. He made peace with all the nations that had atacked Turkey. His call to Anzacs is one of the most touching and peaceful adress  in history.

His desire for a secular state was to seperate the public institutions (law, education, government)  from the influence of religion.  He wanted a nation who was free thinking and used scientific reasoning without the cloud of some fundementalist elements. He did not – as some people claim – banish religion, but elevated  it to its proper spritual domain. The other public, legal and educational reforms were discussed one by one. His 10th anniversary speech was broadcast.

His later years was remembered by a Sari Zeybek danced by Vedat and Ergun. The program ended with another moment of silence followed by the Turkish National Anthem.

ATASC thanks UCLA TurkSA for arranging this event and the attendee’s for the lively, intellectual and emotional discussions. We will make 10 Kasim Ceremony a yearly event with interesting programs in which we both honors Ataturk on this day, but also try to educate people on his legacy.

UNUTMADIK, UNUTTURMAYACAGIZ.

Etched in Our Hearts