Bartın Book Fair…

Last week, as part of the " 27th Bartın Book Fair " organized by the Bartın Municipality, I attended a talk titled "About the Agenda" with journalist and author Nazım Alpman and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ekin Kadir Selçuk at the Municipal Culture Center. Following the talk, which took place at the invitation of Bartın Mayor M. Rıza Yalçınkaya , I had the opportunity to have heartfelt conversations with the people of Bartın during a book signing session held by two esteemed authors for their book " A Struggle's Honorable Path Provides Fikri Saglar ," published by Kırmızı Kedi Publishing, a summary of 40 years of my life. I should point out that the Book Fair , initiated by Mayor Yalçınkaya during his previous term, has become very important for the people of Bartın in terms of intellectual and social development. They eagerly await the opening of the fair every year. I witnessed firsthand how students, in particular, filled the fairgrounds .

The latest books and interviews with visiting authors have increased interest in the fair. It's impossible to forget the joy on the faces of the families who, with their modest incomes, were excited to buy their children the book they wanted. They are aware that educating their children will not only help them, but also lift the country out of the "era of ignorance."

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When I visited the İBEV (Istanbul Foundation for the Foundation of the Blessed Virgin Mary) established in the İnci Bankoğlu Mansion, designed and restored by architect Selim Karakaş , I was struck once again by the cultured nature of Bartın's people. By restoring her ancestral mansion, İnci Bankoğlu, a member of the city's most established family, has ensured the preservation of a cultural heritage for future generations and continued to contribute to culture and the arts. Foundation Director Serap Atabet Pehlivan stated that "İnci Bankoğlu, through İBEV, contributes to women's education by providing scholarships to 75 young girls each year."

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Under Rıza Yalçınkaya's leadership, Bartın is experiencing tremendous excitement to recapture the development it had lost over the years. He has quickly successfully completed the "traffic regulation"—Bartın's biggest problem, overlooked by the previous mayor. In other words, Bartın, a city with a rich culture and valuable natural resources, is increasingly becoming an enviable city where old and new coexist.

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I'd like to share some of the points I wanted to highlight in the interview. First and foremost, everyone should engage in or participate in politics! The only way to live in a country where prosperity and happiness are secure and where the future is secure is to embrace a secular, democratic, modern state governed by the rule of law. Embracing this is possible only through the existence of democracy, rights, and freedoms. For a livable Turkey, instead of complaining about political governance, everyone must participate in politics. This is the only way for Türkiye to escape its current negativity. Otherwise, someone will govern you at their own pace!

And when you ask yourself, "Why did this happen?", it will be too late...

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It should also be known that, "If we want to ensure that something good boils in our pot and that the future of our children and grandchildren is secure, if we don't want anyone to touch our lives, our property, and our way of life, if we're not afraid to express ourselves, we must engage in politics for the power to govern and make decisions. If you don't do politics, someone else will, and they will do it on their own behalf. And they already do it...

Those who hold political power think about themselves, not you. Your life is shaped and naturally constrained by their knowledge, experiences, emotions, whims, and mistakes.

In fact, the sole reason for your ruined life is you, the ones who don't engage in politics. Saying, "There's no room for politics!" is more than a facile approach; it's a lack of courage.

You are a citizen! "Those who come with your votes, go with your votes!" Of course, if you participate in politics. The way politics is conducted changes by involving the public. In other words, if citizens declare, "I am a citizen of this country and I will govern this country," and if they demonstrate their desire to govern on behalf of the people, politics flourishes. Citizens attaining this awareness also raises the quality of politics.

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It bears repeating. The government is "preparing for a snap election!" All signs point to the possibility of holding this snap election in March/May. Those participating in politics in the squares act with the awareness that the upcoming snap election is a significant opportunity for the country's salvation. And they are engaged in politics. Frankly, I left Bartın with these feelings.

On December 6th, Alpman, Selçuk, and I will be in Bolu at the Community Center. I'd like to ask for your permission for a two-week vacation. Goodbye for now...