Sen.Blutarsky 0 #1 November 18, 2005 Welcome future member state, just remember to check your speech at the border ... November 18, 2005 Publisher Sued Over Book Critical of Turkish State By SEBNEM ARSU ISTANBUL, Nov. 18 - A Turkish book publisher said today that the government was suing it for distributing a translated book critical of the Turkish identity, army, state and the founder of the republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The head of Aram Publishing, Fatih Tas, could face three years in jail for issuing the book, "Spoils of War: The Human Cost of America's Arms Trade," by John Tirman, which focuses on Turkey. It was published in the United States in 1997. Prosecutors contended that the book humiliated Turkish institutions by including the testimony of people who were subjected to human rights violations by the security forces during heavy fighting with the Kurdish Worker's Party, or P.K.K., in the country's southeastern region in the 1990's. Prosecutors also took offense at the book for saying that the founder of modern Turkey adopted a nationalism that was "a version of fascism." The case against Mr. Tas came as a surprise, although he has been sued many times in the past, because the Turkish government has reformed its penal code to favor further freedom of expression in order to qualify for membership in the European Union. Lawsuits still crop up, however, involving issues like Kurdish rights or state unity, topics that remain sensitive in the eyes of the judiciary. "The law is unlawfully open to interpretation," Mr. Tas said. "I'm accused of insulting the Turkish identity but the limits of what should be defined as an insult or criticism or scientific analysis are not mentioned in the law." Several other intellectuals and writers, including the acclaimed novelist Orhan Pamuk, face similar charges, which raise concerns among the members of the European Union about how well Turkey can adapt to the standards of democracy in Europe. "It's an outrage," said Dr. Sahin Alpay, a political scientist from Bahceshir University. "Nonviolent expression of opinion cannot be considered a crime in the new penal code, but it seems that it would take a quite long time for the authorities to adopt to these changes." Government officials acknowledge shortcomings in adopting the legal reforms but take an optimist stand in the face of severe criticism from mainly European countries. "I'll continue to do what I think serves democracy in Turkey and believe that Turkey will attain much better days in future," Mr. Tas said. Trials of Mr. Tas and Mr. Pamuk are both scheduled for December. The novelist is charged with insulting the state in his comments - appearing in a Swiss newspaper in 2005 - about the Turkish massacre of ethnic Armenians in the last century. Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/18/international/europe/18cnd-turkey.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterblaster72 0 #2 November 19, 2005 QuoteWelcome future member statePlease, please don't say that.... Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickjump1 0 #3 November 19, 2005 We really don't know how lucky we are. Is this equal to insulting the king?punctuationDo your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,026 #4 November 19, 2005 QuoteWe really don't know how lucky we are. Is this equal to insulting the king?punctuation "If you're not for us, you're against us". King George.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sen.Blutarsky 0 #5 November 19, 2005 Quote"If you're not for us, you're against us". King George. Kallend appears to be familiar with the applicable meaning of this term, I bet the other Europeans will soon be gaining an appreciation for it as well: “lowest common denominator” The smallest number that can be divided evenly into two other numbers (see common denominator). When fractions with different denominators are added together, their denominators have to be made the same; thus, fractions with denominators of nine and twelve have thirty-six as a lowest common denominator. Seventy-two and 108 are also common denominators for fractions with denominators of nine and twelve, but thirty-six is the lowest. The term lowest common denominator is often used to indicate a lowering of quality resulting from a desire to find common ground for many people: “This fall's TV programming finds the lowest common denominator of taste.” Source: http://www.answers.com/topic/least-common-denominator Blutarsky 2008. No Prisoners! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #6 November 19, 2005 Pah... London doesn't share my Democratic Values... so why should give a toss about Turkey? (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dolph 0 #7 November 19, 2005 Nope, they don't. There's a lot of standard-rising done before Turkey as a nation is ready to join the EU. Turks as a people - I like 'em a lot. Really cool friendly people as long as you're on the good side. Not so friendly if you're not though and it carries over in their political processes and structure. That doesn't stop US and EU leaders from force feeding it down our throats however. The EU is one big nest of corruption, nepotism, a real old school Old Boys network where politicians can squander or money away subsidizing farmers because they are "special", screwing the third world in the process. There's low transparency and the democratic process is out of tune with the population. We vote for our leaders based on national matters for the most part - and get all the EU stuff attached with it. I used to be pro EU, back when I was a little idealist. Lately, I've begun to see it as nothing more than a massive bureaucracy put in place to primarily let leaders wield more power and steal more money from the population. People wanting power shouldn't run nation states and above. Fuck 'em all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wopelao 0 #8 November 21, 2005 QuotePah... London doesn't share my Democratic Values... so why should give a toss about Turkey? There will be a lot of Turkeys eaten this coming Thursday Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #9 November 21, 2005 Not over here.... we have to wait a few more weeks yet (for our Yule Tide feast)..... so they'll be fatter.... yum...yum (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #10 November 21, 2005 Doesn't the President pardon Turkey every year about this time?? Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #11 November 21, 2005 Who cares, democracy is overated anyway.When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #12 November 22, 2005 "Who cares, democracy is overated anyway. " I disagree, maybe we should take a vote on it.-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
