Turk-Bashing Counterbalance: Family Values King!

Recently, Turk-bashing has been the subject worldwide of many blogs, newspaper articles and other media by both Turks and foreigners. Discussions focus on idioms, racist remarks, demonstrations and other unenthusiastic commentary, and interestingly enough, some of these supposed negative remarks, I actually find positive.

Turk-bashing inside and outside of Turkey seems to be at an all time high, and much of the negative commentary even comes from Turks themselves. Yet, I wonder why some Turks feel that everyone's against them or that they only mirror the negative.

Of course, this disappoints me because what country, culture or race can say they are without faults, or likewise, full of goodness? I dare say none.

All societies have both good and bad, but what makes the difference is how open we are to explore the delights and appreciate other cultures. Turkey opens its arms to influence from many other countries which hasn't always had a good result; yet, they do so well nevertheless by keeping to their family values.

So, for the sake of counterbalance, I want to touch on Turkish families. Why? Because I believe Turkish family bonds express what's best among all our societies whether here in Turkey, other Turkic nations or elsewhere.

The Turkish family works hard at providing every opportunity to their children. In Turkey, children are valued far more than in other societies. Here are 8 principles Turkish families live by:

1. Education is supreme! Turks will do almost anything to ensure their children get the best education possible.
2. Turkish parents will work harder than any I've seen to make the money needed to give a good education to their children. In a country where private university tuition costs $20K per year, mom and dad will work one job by day and another by night and weekends.
3. Children must compete to attend a good high school by taking a government exam, but unfortunately, the exams aren't connected to their usual studies. They must go to a school called a dershane after normal school hours and weekends to learn enough about science and math to pass the exams. This can take up to another $20K per year for both classes or private tutors.
4. Dershanes or after-school schools don't end with entrance to high school. A Turkish student usually goes to a dershane all during high school, so they can pass the university exams as well. The dershane system is a whole financial market in Turkey, and take lots of earned money right out of the pockets of families already struggling to make ends meet.
5. The adult children in the family will give a portion of their earnings to ensure their younger siblings also get a good education, whether it is for high school or university. If a student doesn't attend a good high school, their chances of attending any university at all is about nil.
6. After the child graduates from the university, then the family continues to find resources to send their children to graduate school or to go abroad for a masters degree. Turkish parents consider this their responsibility as well as their happiness to do so.
7. When university is finally finished, maybe they want to open their own business. Again, the family pools their money to assist the child in their business-making venture.
8. If there's no business desire after the university, then the family immediately begins work on buying an apartment, a summer house or a car for their child. These are essentials, especially for the boys, to find a good life partner.

So when you begin reading all the Turk-bashing going on these days, stop and look again.

When it comes to the essentials in caring for the family, the Turks are the kings of family values.

Annually on April 23, Turkey honors children globally to cherish the freedom and independence of all children and they sponsor many international festivals to pay tribute to the child.