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ANKARA: Importance Of Historical Consciousness

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  • ANKARA: Importance Of Historical Consciousness

    IMPORTANCE OF HISTORICAL CONSCIOUSNESS

    Zaman, Turkey
    Aug. 17, 2006

    Life is like a living organism; the traditions, customs, governmental
    systems, cuisines and dressing styles are all subject to the inevitable
    reality -- change. The changes that occur are the consequences of the
    "dynamism" embedded in life itself; life does not fossilize thanks
    to this dynamism, the driving power, in its structure.

    Historical consciousness enables societies to exist despite these
    inevitable changes. If this consciousness is not strong enough,
    it may break our national consciousness into pieces and may turn it
    into a schizophrenic situation.

    All social and natural events in our lives have historical
    backgrounds. As long as we avoid explaining these events to ourselves,
    we will continue walking in our sleep. However, if we try to conceive
    of events, we will understand their meanings and feel the need to
    think of how we can make them better. Societies lacking historical
    consciousness consider themselves only as tools, means, shadows
    and nameless fragments. Hence, such societies seek happiness or the
    continuation of their existence in the lives of other societies.

    We are at the threshold moment opening up to a new future
    after ages-long struggles, and to countries we conquered with
    fanfare. This means history is not entrapped by history, on the
    contrary, it is life put in front of us. Historical consciousness
    keeps our consciousness awake by saving us from a rootless identity
    and links us to eternity. This phenomenon which functions in society
    as historical consciousness is created by the philosophy of history
    that is a product of intellectual minds.

    The philosophy of history reproduces itself in the society as wisdom,
    not as knowledge. It cannot fully explain the events but can predict
    them. The literacy rate during the Turkish War of Independence was
    between 10-12 percent. University graduates were very rare. There was
    hardly any governmental authority in territories under Turkish control
    and the country was on the verge of disintegration. An incredible
    number of foreign organizations were operating in the country. The
    British brought Kurdish rulers together in the northern city of Van
    and lectured them on the need to establish a new state.

    Kurdish rulers realized that the British really wanted to establish
    an Armenian state in the region. The British attempted once again
    to actualize their plans of establishing small states in Western
    Anatolia. However, the Circassian people who lived in the region
    opposed the establishment of a Cricassian state more than any other
    minority. Thanks to the national consciousness of Turkish citizens
    in Eastern and Western regions, the Turks could easily guard against
    the tricks that threatened our national existence and secure our
    independence.

    The Soviet Union attempted to occupy Afghanistan. Despite the severe
    imbalance of power between the two countries, the tough Afghan warriors
    defeated the Soviet forces. It was not difficult for them to recognize
    the enemy that's why they could easily achieve unity.

    However, the Afghan people could not enhance domestic peace when
    there was no enemy threatening their existence, because their national
    consciousness was not strong enough and the slightest difference was
    enough to tear them apart. In all societies there are differences
    that can easily turn into clashes but national consciousness does
    not allow them to disturb social order. For instance, is it possible
    to separate Germans as Catholics and Protestants? Can you shake the
    German national consciousness bolstered by the philosophy of history
    acquired as a result of thorough historical analyses and experiments?

    National consciousness is not a God-given quality. The metaphysical
    atmosphere, historical knowledge, painful experiments and other
    similar factors constitute national consciousness. However, the
    greatest source of national consciousness is historical awareness.
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