Two Historic Nations
Imagine two historic nations once united under Rome, fiercely independent and suspicious of a new pan-European empire formed by a Treaty in modern Rome. Imagine two historic nations anchored to the edge of Europe but chained to it economically. Imagine two historic nations with a political and cultural heritage so immense that they transformed the world. Imagine two historic nations finally emerging from the long shadow of empire destroyed by world war and trying to forge a new role. There are more similarities between Britain and Turkey than many realise.
Of course, there are major differences too. The liberal traditions that define a mature nation still have shallow roots in Turkey. Nevertheless, my foster home is changing and changing fast. Solid economic growth is establishing a burgeoning bourgeoisie that will alter Turkey forever. Socially and geographically mobile, well-educated consumers who want the best opportunities for themselves and their children, always affect change.
There is a demographic difference too. Britain is a country with an ageing population that needs a steady stream of young educated immigrants to function. Conversely, fifty per cent of Turkey’s population is under thirty and there are too few jobs to go around. Sooner or later, the EU will be forced to relax its stringent visa restrictions for Turks. Lonely ladies of London: be afraid, be very afraid.
Given the obvious connections between our pasts and our futures, we Brits really ought to do more to celebrate our ties with Turkey. Sure, bargain bucket resorts are all very well and vital to the Turkish economy. Double egg and chips with a side order of lascivious expat gossip can be a delicious (if emotionally calorific) tit-bit. However, there is so much more to discover than is to be found on the pages of a Thomas Cook brochure. I implore more of our compatriots to step off the sun-kissed beaches and out of the homogeneous Brit-bars. Let’s sober up and go exploring like the wandering Brits of our glorious past.
I live in Bodrum on the same street as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (a happy coincidence). The once magnificent Mausoleum of Halicarnassus (the ancient name for Bodrum) was constructed to inter the remains of King Mausolus in 350 BC (hence the origin of the word mausoleum). The building survived virtually intact for seventeen centuries before it was felled by an earthquake in the Middle Ages; what remained was plundered by the Knights of St John to build the imposing crusader castle that now dominates the town. That’s the mediæval Christians for you: no respect for ancient history.
It seems those naughty knights weren’t the only pilferers of antiquities, judging by the age-old dressed stones and fragments of an Ionian capital that litter our garden. This is just a tiny example of the wonder around us, a place where history lies casually underfoot and around every corner. Now, you don’t get that in Blackpool.
One Response to “Two Historic Nations”
Thank you so much for publishing my article. I really appreciate it.