Very funny who thinks that Arabs not betrayel the Ottomans. (Not all but most of them).
...
It's wrong to say that Arabs, or any other ethnic group of people, betrayed us without giving the proper context of why they did so. It was the
nationalism that spread among them, just like the Arabic Spring spread, right? They were promised one thing and another from the greatest hustlers called UK and France [and Russia -> Armenia]. The same went for the Kurds, but less successfully at the time. Today,
a part of the many Kurds
that lives in Turkey demands 'freedom', some just some basic rights and others getting their independent country/state with their own constitution and flag and so on. So lets break it down in order to get a better understanding of what it means;
1. Have the Kurdish
separatists [not every Kurd, that is] got their 'freedom' in another place? Yes, in Iraq - it's what we call KRG.
1.1. Has this 'division' of internal power led to a more peaceful, developed and greater Iraq? No, in fact, both states within Iraq has been close to enter a military conflict after not being able to get along on different matters. The oil, for instance. Dividing the political power has led to two, to each other opposite, blocks, both supported and fed by nationalistic feelings and intolerance.
2. Does a federal system in Turkey give the same kind of separatists a similar tool? Yes, it would most probably mean that they get their own state, within the borders of Turkey, similar to the case in Iraq.
2.1. Is there a reason to believe that paragraph 1.1 won't repeat in Turkey? You do the math.
My point is that nationalistic feels should not be fed at any price, thus federalism is not to be. Nationalism among different ethnic groups that used to live within the borders of the Ottoman Empire led to the empire's own division and in turn - destruction. What happened to former Yugoslavia, anyone recall?..
Feeding these trolls, or nationalists/separatists, by negotiations and promises will only make it a trend; they will want to get more and even more until we get to the point where we don't want to, or simply aren't able to, give more. At that very point, we face the threat of getting squashed between Greece and a Great Kurdistan. Nothing would be able to get us back to our previous shape. Nothing. Religion, some [Erdoganists, for instance] might say - but how would that work out? Turks are mainly Sunni whilst Kurds are mostly Shia - both religions groups are not exactly known for embracing each other in love and respect, rather the contrary.
So how do I suggest that we solve this decades old issue? What changes do I, as a Turkish and Swedish national, born and ever since living in Sweden with future plans to move back, want to happen?
In my opinion, there certainly are some things that really has to change. The sole fact that sites like YouTube
can get blacklisted just because of one video,
that MPs are immune to juridical charges,
that politicians can interfere with the military's duty - their fight against terrorism, for instance - whenever they want to, etc etc.
When it comes to the rights of the minorities, I have not much to say. They should be free to speak their own languages, live their culture as long as it obeys the country's laws, call themselves by whatever name they want - using the Turkish latin alphabet. All of this, just as I have my rights to be me, a Muslim Turk/Swede, in Sweden.
Can I organize and perform demonstrations? Yes, if I've got permission from the local authorities so that I don't disturb anyone.
Can I speak Turkish wherever I want? Sure, but it might come in handy to know a few words in the language spoken in the country you live in, as your co-workers might not be able to understand you otherwise.
Can I perform cultural activities, such as celebrating Newroz? Sure, as long as it doesn't break any laws. Draining a car tire in fuel, lighting it up and starting to jump over it in a place where other people might or might not like it and without telling the local authorities about my plan - can lead to juridical consequences.
I don't know if you guys would agree with me and please comment if you want to or simply don't agree on some point. But no matter if you agree or not, you should also realize that it's very hard to get anything done by politic means in Turkey since we only have a part that always screams "WHITE!" and another part who answers with "BLACK!", no matter what they are 'discussing'.