Why are there so many flags on display in Turkey?

Question

In Turkey, one can see flags are everywhere. On balconies, in shop windows, on taxis, some of them in huge sizes seen from everywhere. Even some churches in Istanbul now have Turkish flags in their gardens. Why does a church put a flag in its garden? Do Turks have a deeper fear? Against whom are all these flags hoisted? Has every day turned into a national day? If these flags belong to every Turkish person who is bound to this country with Turkish citizenship, who is trying to say what and to whom?

ipek: Definitely I have no business with any flags. The question is what's yours.

Cetin: the forth one.

Earthling: From where I am standing it is absolutely no problem. But from where Orhan Kemal Cengiz is, it probably is. Because he is the Turkish reporter that asked the question. Not me. And he is not where I am! That's for sure...
Check it out:
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/editorial.php?ed=orhan_cengiz

Mamma li Turchi: at least I am reading one newspaper about your country. Hurriyet is a populist, low class paper published only for internal consumption.

Oh yeah: I totally agree with you. But did I ever say that this is a big deal? I only asked to learn more. Because I could also give an easy answer to myself (i.e. nationalism) and turn the page. BTW you would be surprised to learn how many papers I read from all over the world. It is something I greatly enjoy. As for flags being exploited in other countries (including mine)..oh well you can be almost 100% sure of that. No doubt.


Many among you know me for quite some time and all can check my questions and answers. My aim is not to provoke but to learn. This is a fantastic opportunity where somebody wonders of something and can ask directly those that know better. Otherwise, we would still philosophizing drinking in taverns like we did back in the 70s and 80s (if anyone still remembers this era) only to live with our own myths. I am beyond that.

Istanbul bogazi: The question was not about your likes or dislikes of any particular press. Neither I asked anyone's advice which paper I should or not read. Other than that, your answer was regrettably clear. I do think it is everyone's "business". Everyone's who is alert and cares what happens around him. You call it "business". Some call it information. And some have access to that. But if you wish to mind your "own business" then please log out of Yahoo questions. Here is not about that. It's about "us".

ErAs: I did not speak of racism or nationalism. You did. I only asked a question. Since you understood it so well, why don't you answer it then? And which of my "anti-Turkish" questions helps your terrorists? Those that displease you? Sure.

Answer 1

Good question. You are right on this.

You know our president is made scapegoat on every occasion, even the blame for dead soldiers was put on him. Now they are trying to show that they are patriotic people for there are many nationalists willing to call them traitors for following a peaceful and EU oriented democratic agenda. This is why the huge flags are there. And many turks (including me) put their flags on the windows on special occasions like the independence day.

Churches are required to fly turkish flags BY LAW where mosques are not. Interesting fact, isn't it?

The deeper fear is to get our country destroyed/ruined/divided. Even our national anthem starts with the phrase "Fear not, for the crimson flag that proudly waves in these dawns, shall never fade" so in the back of their mind every turk thinks as long as they are free to fly their flags, their country will be OK.

@friends, it is a totally senseless effort to protest the terrorists, they'll be willing to blow you to pieces even if you have a black ribbon on your jacket or a flag in your hand, (Imagine americans protesting bin laden, would bin laden really care? He would just laugh looking at the protesting americans and plot new and more deadly attacks!) the best protest for terrorists is the severe punishment given by the army. Is it a permanent solution? No.

Answer 2

You read a Turkish newspaper that publishes articles of different people from different areas, and they are Turkish. And then let me ask you what is the big deal? Is there not anybody has an unusual viewpoint of a common subject in Greece? If there is, does that one has the ultimate answer of the question while all the others are wrong? So he has an opinion, so do we.

It is not a national symbol, but the symbol of our country and all the people living in Turkey, regardless their ethnic background and religion or whatsoever... They are hoisted against anybody has an aim to divide the country since it is a uniting symbol.

I have a flag on my balcony too, put it there on the Independence Day, and I have never thought of taking it back inside. It looks good there, do you think that makes me a malicious person?

If you wonder whether there is anybody exploits a uniting symbol such as a flag, is there not anybody in your country or in the rest of the world doing so?

That reminds me of the first time I read the famous poem, The Flag by Arif Nihat Asya in primary school.

Edit : The reason why I asked " what is the big deal? " is when someone criticizes your questions, your response is to tell them that it is not yours, but a Turk's view on the issue you wonder. So what I try to explain to you is it is not important whose view it is. I can easily say that whether it is you or a Turk I do not care.

Furthermore, I do not see any reason for you to tell your aim is not to provoke. I believe your sincerity, I did not when I read a question you asked a few months ago though. Also, I have read your questions and answers, but when it is your country being criticised , you usually pretty protective about it. Moreover, I do not think it is a wrong thing to do, but when you do that, you also should respect other people who do the same thing.

Answer 3

I asked my neighbor,who always has a small flag hanging in his window. He says he is displaying his love of country and homeland to the world in general. I am not Turkish but I own a flag and hang it from my balcony on various holidays and on the days any of my young friends return safely from their military service.
Back in Chicago, which I visit twice yearly, several of the houses on the block where my friend lives always have the American flag displayed, no matter what time of year. America friends of mine whose sons or daughters are in the military also display the flag. Some people have flag decals on their car bumpers; I don't see that here in Turkey.
Think of it as patriotism and pride.

Answer 4

The Turkish flag (I got instructed about that by Turkish-German friends from Berlin) when hoisted on a mosque, for instance, means that they identify themselves with Atatürk, the father of all Turks, and don't preach radical Islam. They want to set a sign against what the world thinks about their religion. Christians also hoisted the flag to show that they identify themselves with the state and the rule of law.

So I was told.

Answer 5

I've noticed that too. Over the past few years, Turkey has randomly decided to display the Turkish flag everywhere. I asked some of my family members if there was a reason and apparently no. I guess it's a bit similar to the U.S. Here in the U.S. people love to display the flag everywhere, just because they're patriotic. I think the same applies to Turkey.

Answer 6

Personally i don't read Turkish Daily News which belongs to Dogan Group and they are not to be trusted because they are bought by some manipulators.
I read Cumhuriyet. I highly recommend it. And i didn't understand why you tried to degrade the population who read Hurriyet. They are our country's people,too. Do you have only elites in your country?
I have a flag,too. It is to protest several events. PKK is the first reason. I think i have the right to protest baby killers, right?
I totally agree with Selena btw, in US people wear their flag even as a bikini or British flag was worn by even Spice Girls and i wonder if anybody asked the same question to them.
It is our country, our flag, our lands and noone i mean noone can interfere with our private business.

Answer 7

That means this country belongs and always will belong to who the owner of this flag. it is for such fascist people who want to divide turkiye with funny and cheap games like armenian fascists or the terror organizations (like ASALA, PKK, AL QAEDA, HEZBULLAH, İBDA/C, etc..) which were helped by the enemies of turkiye who still does suppose some part of turkiye is belong to them.

what a fun what they suppose!

since there are so much enemies of turkiye, we feel we always have to impress that nobody has the power to divide our country with their cheap and funny games...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/8/87/20050725224012!Flag_of_Turkey.png

also, i thought now that there is no flag in the world as beautiful and meaningful as that...

in the article, Orhan Kemal Cengiz wants to say something different that u couldnt understand and i agree with him to some extent. however, u understood him something as why turks put a flag on their balconies etc; it is unnecessary and racism!

most of turkish people are against racism and against so-called nationalism but you are keeping asking anti-turkish questions with your hard fascism.

Are you one of those terrorist helpers?

Answer 8

It is nothing compared to Canada! And Turkish people don't go abroad and bring cups, mugs, pencils, pens, pin ups, bottles etc. with their flags as presents to the locals. I have never seen them either having the flag stitched on their backpacks or jackets either! So, displaying some flags in their country only makes it more colorful, the red matches well with the blue sky and the brown monuments! Besides, I find it very handy as I can always tell where the wind is coming from!

Answer 9

We love our flag. There has been so much blood shed to have that flag- ours and enemies, we respect them all. Note that I am talking about the enemies in a fair war.

The blood is still being shed. An estimated number of 20 thousand people has been killed by PKK terrorists within the last 20 years: mostly soldiers but teachers and civilians who didn't want to co-operate with PKK in the east and in random terrorist bomb attacks all over the country.

The big number of the flags isn't because we are ultra -nationalist. It became way to prove our love to our country, protest the terrorism and show the terrorists- both PKK and illegal fundamentalist Islamic groups- that we are so many: they simply can't kill us all. They kill 1, there will be ten to take his place in the "frontiers" in our fight with terrorists.

There has been simultaneous bombings in Istanbul about two years ago by fundamentalists and synagogues was aimed as well as the headquarters of HSBC . We lost a lot of citizens that day, some of them were attending a mass in the Synagogues. That is exactly WHY you will see Turkish flags in Synagogues, mosques and churches here.You will also see them on the balconies when we hear our young soldiers are killed by PKK attacks and send home to their mothers in wooden boxes.


We are passing a message. We are protesting....

Answer 10

Hmm..I can see 3 reasons for that:

1. Turkish people are nationalist
2. To protest PKK terrorism
3. To protest AKP