As we approach the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — committed by Muslim terrorists who murdered thousands of our countrymen — we should prepare ourselves.
We should prepare for the memorials and the tears, and we should brace ourselves for something else:
The hate.
It's inevitable, isn't it? We'll hear the loud sounds of intolerance from those who call themselves Christians and those who call themselves Jews and those who call themselves Muslims.
You might want to consider such edged rhetoric as more than words, as something tangible. Sharp sticks, hurtful and pointed, sticks to poke and prod an angry people into easily biddable groups.
Unfortunately, as we anticipate the anger, America has missed a remarkable story of Muslim tolerance and kindness.
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| Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, from left, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Armenian Orthodox Archbishop Aram Atesyan and Chief Rabbi Isak Haleva talk during a dinner Aug. 28, 2011, in Istanbul. (Bulent Kilic, Getty-AFP photo / September 2, 2011) |
It came out of Turkey, a Muslim nation with a secular government, where the other day, history was made involving Christians and Jews.
It happened during an amazing dinner in Istanbul, a fast-breaking dinner for the Muslim month of Ramadan. The dinner was attended as a token of respect by Christians (Greeks and Armenians and others) and Jewish minorities in Turkey.
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew was there. So was Rabbi Isak Haleva. So was Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan.
And the fact that you haven't heard a lot about what happened in Turkey between Muslims and Christians and Jews should tell you that a few of us in America just can't seem to drop those sharp sticks.
The Turkish government — led for years now by men considered to be Islamists who've unfortunately been characterized in the media as somewhat threatening — made some amazing news:
Turkey will return hundreds of properties confiscated from Jews and Christians over the past 75 years.
"For the problems we've had for years, it's time for strong, brave reforms," Erdogan said. "The time that a citizen of ours would be oppressed due to his religion, ethnic origin or different way of life is over."
If you don't think that's historic or important, then you really haven't been paying attention to the world. There is obvious tension between Israel and Iran, between the U.S. and many Muslim nations. And there are increased tensions recently between Turkey — which borders Iran — and Israel. This tension is over the Israeli killing of pro-Palestinian Turks and an American of Turkish descent who were trying to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza last year.
All that will keep boiling. It is the work of politicians.
But as an American of Greek ancestry — taught by centuries of tradition to harbor anger toward the Turks — I tell you it is hopeful sign of change.
"This is unbelievably historic," said the Rev. Alex Karloutsos, assistant to Archbishop Demetrious, leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in America. "For the first time, minority citizens in Turkey are feeling they have hope."
Turkey has a long history of treating religious minorities — meaning Christians and Jews — rather poorly. A history of taking their land and their places of worship, a history of terrible cruelty, a history of slaughter. Ask the Armenians.
Istanbul, once called Constantinople, was the cradle of Christianity in the world. But after centuries of ethnic cleansing, there are fewer than 23,000 Jews in Turkey. And fewer than 2,500 Greeks remain.
"Now that we can regain land that was lost," said Father Karloutsos, "this will allow us to use our resources to stay there and develop as a people. What we are also hoping is that Turkey will look at other rights, including the opening of the seminary."
For years, American presidents have asked Turkish leaders to reopen the Greek Orthodox seminary at Halki, which was closed by the Turks.
"And who knows? This could be the step toward opening Halki," Father Karloutsos said.
Erdogan grew up in a secularist, nationalist Turkey. When he was mayor of Istanbul he was jailed for daring to publicly read a poem with Islamic overtones. Recently, he's fought off a coup, and senior military leaders have been put on trial.
So what is going on in Turkey is high stakes and dangerous, and extremely significant for America.
"In recent years, in Turkey, there have been some horrific incidents in which Protestant missionaries have been killed, we had the death of a famous Armenian editor and journalist who was shot on the streets of Istanbul," said the journalist and Turkish expert Andrew Finkel on an Al Jazeera program the other day. "And these events seem to have been manipulated by forces trying to embarrass Turkey in front of Europe, trying to cause Turkey to retract from democracy."
The Niagara Foundation, a nonprofit group founded by Chicago's Turkish community that promotes peace and tolerance, has been following events closely. One leader is Hakan Berberoglu, who praised Erdogan's move and hoped he'll do more.
"Turkey can play a dual role," Berberoglu said. "It can play as Western and it can play as Eastern. Turkey can play as a bridge to Middle Eastern countries."
I've had the pleasure of visiting Turkey and found the country to be friendly, beautiful and hospitable. But why am I writing this?
Because as Sept. 11 nears, as we rightfully focus on the past, as we get ready to hear those angry voices, we might want to also keep an eye on the future.
On a hopeful sign of tolerance from a Muslim leader in a country across the world.
jskass@tribune.com
Published on Chicago Tribune, 02 September 2011, Friday
