Remembering Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on His Birthday

From Attila F. "Tilly" Gokbudak: Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was born on this day in 1881 in what is now Thessaloniki, Greece. He is a man who is viewed as a hero to Turks, and as an adversary to rival ethnic groups. His legacy is ultimately that he was able to bring a secular democracy to a predominantly Muslim country. When one looks at the mess in Mesopatamia today, Ataturk's achievements seem all the more remarkable though I differ with some Turkish partisans because I think he overlooked many things which became a challenge for Turkey in later years, particularly Islamic fundamentalism and the role of Kurds in Turkish society. But, regardless one has to respect him for his vision and dedication. My own grandfather Fuat Gokbudak, who represented the Konya province, was a member of the Turkish Parliament when Ataturk was head of state.

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Subject:	Remembering Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Date:	Sat, 10 Nov 2007 09:25:39 -0500 (EST)

GRASSROOTS INFORMATION SERVICE     "There are two Mustafa Kemals. One the flesh-and-blood Mustafa Kemal who now stands before you and who will pass away. The other is you, all of you here who will go to the far corners of our land to spread the ideals which must be defended with your lives if necessary. I stand for the nation's dreams, and my life's work is to make them come true."   M. KEMAL ATATÜRK ATAA REMEMBERS ATATÜRK Today marks the 69th anniversary of the passing of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk-the founder of the Republic of Turkey. Today, the Turkish nation stood silent for one minute at 9:05 am, as it has each year on this day, to reflect on the loss of the Turkish Republic's greatest leader. After securing Turkey's independence from occupying armies after World War I, Atatürk led a cultural revolution that curtailed the power of the mullahs, introduced the Latin script and gave women the right to vote. Atatürk's love for and faith in the Turkish Republic produced his remarkable achievements, and set an example for leaders of other nations. ATAA would like to remind its members and friends to take a moment today to remember the father of the Republic of Turkey and the legacy that he has left behind.       Upcoming Events   ONLINE REGISTRATION About ATAA The objective of the Assembly is to coordinate the activities of member Turkish American associations and individual members of the Assembly for the purpose of presenting a more balanced view of Turkey and of the Turkish people, and emphasizing the importance of enhanced understanding between Turkey and the United States. ATAA is a fast-growing umbrella organization of Turkish American associations throughout the United States, Canada and Turkey, dedicated to pursuing the interests of Turkish Americans and friends of Turkey in Washington and beyond. To learn more, click here. Membership By becoming a member you will be part of a network of Turkish-Americans and friends of Turkey who care about the historic relationship between the two peoples and who are aware of the crucial role each one of us plays in strengthening the relationship and promoting an accurate and fair picture of Turkey and Turks.   To join ATAA, click here.

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