ATASC

Children’s Day Proclamation from Huntington Beach, Ventura, Irvine in works.

Posted by atasc on April 21, 2010 at 19:59 pm

 ATASC Grassroots Committee applied for Proclamations of Children’s Day from cities of Huntington Beach, Long Beach, Ventura, Irvine and Newport Beach. Huntington Beach and Ventura readily agreed and issued documents. Long Beach Proclamation was issued after some extra work by Izmir-Long Beach Sister Cities. We had to go through a rigorous process for Irvine; but it got approved. We will have it on hand in time for OCTAA celebration. Newport Beach, for some reason, is not issuing Proclamations. We will ask for more details.

We hope that we can do this more widely next year and get recognized in more communities.

ATASC 23 Nisan Cocuk Bayramini kalpten kutladi / ATASC and all five Chapters joyfully celebrated 23 April Children’s Day

Posted by atasc on April 21, 2010 at 09:08 am

On Sunday April 19,  close to 400 Turkish American Community members gathered at a Long Beach Park to celebrate 23 Nisan Children’s Day. There were more than 60 Turkish American children to learn about their culture, about this special day dedicated to them and to have lots of fun. The organizers had prepared typical games for children like jumphouse, beads, puzzles, egg races, eating contests, guessing games, sack races, three legged races, water balloon toss among others. For adults, there was of course delicious food and lovely music and folk dancing.  The picnic opened at 12 pm with both Turkish and American Anthems song by opera singer Elif Savas Felsen and accompanied by the crowd. Then a short welcome by ATASC President Ms. Vega Sankur followed by a short speech by LA General Consul Hon. Hakan Tekin. Peeople lined up to have the kebabs which were freshly cooked at the site. The wait was somewhat long, but the taste was worth the wait. The entertainment program started at 1: 00 with a three songs by Ferhat Atli who volunteered to sing on this joyful occasion. He was as usual very very good in entertaining and exciting the crowd. Elif Felsen volunteered to present an interactive story-play with the children participating in different roles. It was great fun for the kids as they fought with swords. After the stodry, while the children were playing games, the DJ for the day Vedat Gursoylu brought the crowd to their feet by Zeybek and Halay Dances. Our seasoned folk dancers showed the crowd that they still have it. We then had the pleasure of Serpil Borazan’s voice singing classical Turkish music.  It was incredible to hear her clear voice singing the favorites.

The emotional favorite of the day was the short program OCTAA school put together for the picnic.  Under Ayca Altintig’s leadership, they sang children’s songs and recited poems about Children’s Day. We all enjoyed it immensely. We are all looking forward to going to OCTAA school on April 24 for the full program by these talented young Turkish Americans.

For more pictures from the Festival: http://www.box.net/shared/yhztimy07u

SayTurk during Census 2010 – “Turkum” De

Posted by atasc on April 3, 2010 at 15:18 pm

During Census 2010,  SayTurk.  Scroll to older posts or check www.ataa.org

April 23 Children’s Day – Background

Posted by atasc on April 3, 2010 at 15:13 pm

With both April 23rd Children ’s Day and May 19 Youth Day coming, it is good to remember the meaning and importance of these days.  These days are the important milestones in the Turkish Independence War 1919-1922 that led to Independence and the Turkish Republic.

THink back to 1918. World War I is over with Ottoman Empire on the losing side. The powers be – USA, Britain, France, Italy, etc-  decide to divvy up the Turkish motherland and invade Anatolia including Istanbul from all sides. The British also encourage Greeks to invade Izmir.  The Sultan in Istanbul – to save his post-  cooperates with the invaders.

Mustafa Kemal, the hero of the Gallipoli campaign,  goes to the heart of Anatolia to start an Independence War defying the Sultan. He lands in Samsun, a port on Black Sea, on May 19, 1919 the day recognized as the start of the Turkish Independence War. He travels throughout Anatolia building support for an Independence War, culminating in the establishment of the Turkish National Congress in Ankara on April 23, 1920.  This new government -under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal-  wages an all out war against all the invaders; liberates the motherland and draws the borders of modern Turkey.

Then follows the founding of the Turkish Republic on October 29, 1923, Mustafa Kemal is elected as the first President and gets re-elected until his death. Caliphate is abolished. The first 15 years of the Republic, Turkey establishes reforms concerning all aspects of social, educational and legal aspects to move  the society towards a modern, secular democracy.  Turkish Republic moves in the direction of Ataturk’s vision of a society with equal rights, equal protection under law, a well educated, enlightened people making rational decisions  until his untimely  death on November 10, 1938.

Ataturk believed that the eternal protection of Turkish Republic and Reforms can only be accomplished by the education of the next generations and by empowering them. He dedicated April 23rd to Children and May 19 to the Youth as a reminder that they should be proud they are the descendants of people who waged a near impossible war against all the big powers to win their country back and formed the only modern, secular, muslim democracy; and also to remind them that they are the protectors of this modern young Republic against all threats.