Same pot, same bath
There are people who understand the term "kul hakkı" (rightful share) as if it were a person named Kul Ahmet, just like in Barış Manço’s song.
In Western Thrace, there has been an unchanging picture for years: problems. These problems merely change their outer appearance but continue exactly the same. Instead of finding a solution, they just resurface in a new form. But the problem is not only with those who try to restrict our rights; it's also about how much effort those who should be defending our rights are putting in. The essence of the issue is that we are in the same old story, only the color of the pot changes. But the bath is the same, the water is the same, and the problems remain the same.
Whenever things get tough, instead of taking on a challenging climb, we tend to roll down the hill. Taking the easy route, cutting corners, and finding shortcuts seems more appealing. But shouldn’t we dare to face the steep hill? Or have we forgotten how to climb, become lazy, and fallen into complacency?
At this point, I remember the famous frog experiment. A frog placed in a glass jar with heating elements below will keep jumping, hitting its head against the glass, burning its legs, yet it cannot stop jumping. After repeatedly hitting its head in pain, the frog learns to jump less, tolerating the heat rather than jumping. One day, the jar is removed, but the heat continues. The frog, however, still doesn't move quickly, having accepted the heat as a habit, afraid of hitting its head.
As a society, we are in a similar cycle. Even though the jar has been removed in front of us, our fears and habits keep us stuck in place. However, expanding that circle and pushing the boundaries is in our hands. All we need to do is take risks and not be afraid.
Yet, there are those who prefer to view anyone trying to step out of this circle as an enemy, pulling them down. Sometimes, they even cross boundaries in the process. Sorry, I meant Kul Hakkı, but it’s only the rights that Allah knows. And some watch this from afar, smiling like a fox, enjoying the spectacle. Because, in the end, we are the ones who are doing this to ourselves. Perhaps this system is quietly orchestrating us to do it, but we don’t even realize it.
Things are going downhill. As I once heard, living by putting your head down and saying, "May God protect my backside" is a fantasy. While fearing to step outside the circle, we are limiting ourselves within this small world, and perhaps one day, we’ll realize how trapped we’ve become in our own circle.
Final thought: If we want to see real change in Western Thrace, we must stop soaking in the same old story and instead, dare to face the heat and the climb, pushing ourselves and our community to break free from the circle.
Let’s never forget the three S’s in our lives: self-criticism, self-confidence, and self-sacrifice.
Stay safe...
