Meeting in the Same Silence
There are certain moments in life when a person experiences their purest emotions.
For example, when your child takes their first steps or utters their first word. You are patient. You are moved by their efforts. You want them to succeed. You wait, smiling. Your heart flutters with excitement as you share theirs wholeheartedly.
Perhaps a loved one is in hospital, unable to get out of bed. You cannot leave their side, as these may be their final moments. You hold their hands tightly and say nothing. You let them speak as much as they can. This time, you wait in hope, perhaps wiping away tears from your eyes in secret.
You’re at a concert. You consider yourself lucky to have the chance to hear your favourite artist perform live. Then that moment comes: you close your eyes, feel a lump in your throat, and allow your heart to surrender to the music. You sway to the rhythm, moving as if detached from the world. You feel content. You feel the joy of being in the right place at the right time. In that moment, you wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
These three moments have several things in common. They are all human and come from the heart. They all embody a genuine approach. They cannot be forced. You cannot make someone do something they do not want to do. These are some of life's emotional peaks. The feelings are mutual; it's not just you who experiences them; the person opposite you has their own unique feelings, too. No matter how pleasant, joyful or sorrowful the situation is, you share the moment together. You reach the very essence of humanity and grasp the value of life.
Another example comes to mind: a unique moment that fills our eyes with tears, makes our hearts tremble, and sends our thoughts into a whirlwind that puts things into perspective.
Experiencing all these emotions on a national scale with such distinctively Turkish characteristics and intensity is like being overwhelmed by a flood of emotion. Living through it all without saying a word, simply waiting and immersing ourselves in a sea of emotion amidst the monotonous wail of sirens in the silence is an experience in itself. Both within ourselves and with those around us. Are we aware of just how rare this is? Moments when we feel 'human' and the bonds that unite us are strong are few and far between.
And yet... He stirs up a wealth of emotions in both the young and the old. Sometimes we call him grandfather, father, ancestor or leader. We have all sorts of names for what he has done. Despite going by different names, he is the same person: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. He is the unifier. He is the saviour. He is immortal.
Eighty-eight years on, new generations continue to grow up cherishing his memory, despite never having seen him. Our understanding of him grows deeper each year, as does our love and respect for him. As we marvel at his achievements, we cannot help but be grateful for his genius, humanity, leadership skills, his approach to his people, his words and his contribution to Turkish identity.
Comments