A Politician's Final Exam

By Ekrem Dumanli - Zaman Online - Istanbul,Turkey
Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Tens of thousands attended the funeral of Bulent Ecevit, who made his mark on the last 50 years of Turkish political life. Almost every political faction was there. In fact, even those who had fought with each other in the past gathered together around Ecevit’s coffin.

This scene should be read correctly. It is very obvious that the deceased, like every human being, did some things right and some things wrong. At times he was heavily criticized for the things he did and said. There were political and economic crises during his terms. Sometimes anger overflowed into the streets. Even the masses who said, “Dark Boy is our hope,” lost hope during certain periods. In spite of everything, the people flocked to his grave. In one way, they forgave his mistakes; in another, they attributed them to the necessities of this conjecture in time. Why?

Because even in his mistakes Bulent Ecevit was a sincere politician. He didn’t do anyone wrong with the intention of doing so. Even in his mistakes traces of the way he was raised and his view on life could be seen. People look at him tolerantly today because of that sincerity. At the same time he was courageous. He escaped a number of assassination attempts and physical attacks, but he didn’t see escape as the solution. On the contrary, he stood his ground and shouted with all his might what he believed.

He was a man of reconciliation. Even if his powerful style of speaking presented an obstinate and belligerent portrait, he gave importance to social solidarity. The high level of tension that pervaded Turkey during certain periods undoubtedly affected him as well. However, he wanted social reconciliation, not perennial tension. He made a coalition with the National Salvation Party (MSP) at the most inappropriate time and shared power with MSP leader Necmettin Erbakan. Without doubt, the treatment he received after the Sept.12 coup wounded him very deeply, but he devoted himself to reading during the days when he remained outside of politics.

As he put Ottoman history under a magnifying glass, Ecevit rethought Sufism during those years and made progress toward spiritual depth that would lead to inner enrichment.

In spite of the leftist opposition to religion, he said, “I’m on the side of secularism and I’m at peace with religion,” thus destroying the Berlin Wall that the Left had built between itself and the people. He was sincere in his love for Ataturk - and in his belief that Vahdettin was not a traitor. However much he was tied to the values of the Republic, he respected Ottoman history.

The different portraits of Ecevit are not a fault for him, but a virtue. For this reason, tens of thousands of people said farewell to him with love and forbearance because what was being said farewell to was sincerity and courage. I wonder how many politicians will be blessed with a farewell like this.