Memoirs

The allegiant media has already started reporting that in the new volume of the thriller there will be a section on coup attempts against the administration of His Highness Erdoğan I. In the meantime, His Highness the sultan told three representatives of the Imperial Pen Club during a live TV interview on the Imperial TV channel that because of the Ergenekon case he was receiving threats both from inside the country and abroad but would not disclose those threats now. That is, the nation will not be able to read the threats the Sultan has been receiving in either the upcoming second volume of the Ergenekon thriller (which according to claims will be about 1,500-pages thick) or in the third volume, the writing of which has not yet started. Erdoğan I told the Imperial Pen Club representatives that perhaps he would reveal the threats he has been receiving because of Ergenekon if and when he writes his memoirs. It would be great if His Highness writes in detail how he managed to drift the Republic of Turkey, a secular, democratic modernity project, toward becoming an Islamist republic. Perhaps he would inform us as well what the contribution of the Pennsylvania-based Fethullah Gülen hodja and his brotherhood organization was in achieving the goals of political Islam in Turkey. He, as well, could perhaps explain to the Turks at what point exactly and why he, Abdullah Gül and Bülent Arınç decided to part from the Necmettin Erbakan political clan. Was there any American advice behind their move?

Writing a memoir must be a duty

Leading figures of exceptionally important periods should definitely write their memoirs because only through such records we might have the possibility of leaving future generations a more accurate account of what indeed was most likely lived during those times.

Is it not unfortunate that almost none of the political leaders of the recent past left behind their version of what was lived? Celal Bayar, the third president, was an exception. To a certain extent İsmet İnönü, the second president and war of liberation hero, fulfilled that duty. Still, apart from a partial memoir and several books that compiled his statements, it would have been a great service to this nation had we had today a detailed memoir written by İnönü himself. At least many eminent figures of that period left very valuable books about the İnönü era. But Adnan Menderes was brutally hanged by the 1960 coup and he did not have an opportunity to write his account about the very important developments that took place in Turkey in the 1950 to 1960 Democrat Party, or DP, government period. Bülent Ecevit was very busy writing poems and working on a novel. He kept on postponing writing his memoirs. Perhaps he wrote one but has not yet been released by his wife Rahşan, who knows. But, people very close to Ecevit in his last period are saying that he was planning to write his memoirs and had compiled many documents, but was trying to finish a novel and then would start writing his memoirs. Death came early!

Can anyone imagine the treasure former President Süleyman Demirel might have? After more than 50 years in public and political service and almost two decades after serving as the president of the republic, Demirel is no less than a living library or an eyewitness to history. With his help many people have written very valuable books on political understanding, policies as well as the achievements of Demirel as a statesman. Yet, a first-hand account would be precious. Writing his memoirs and shedding light on many very important domestic and external developments must be considered a duty for Demirel.

Necmettin Erbakan hodja must write his memoirs as well. For example, it would be great to read from Erbakan the background of the 1974 Turkish intervention or why he thinks his former students Erdoğan, Gül and Arınç "betrayed" him and parted their ways.

Similarly, there are various other monumental people who should write their memoirs as well. One of such people, of course, is Professor İhsan Doğramacı. Another one is former Foreign Minister İlter Türkmen. Former top commanders are no exception. It would be great to read what indeed Turkey went through after some time passes, the current dust and storm settles and for example the Ergenokon thrillers become just some detail in history.