ANOTHER VIEW
A few weeks ago I inadvertently got caught on the edge of a large anti-war protest on our side of the Bosphorus. Loud shouting reverberated through city streets and at one point a group of protesters ran by in a narrow alley. But none of them paid any attention to me and I went right on looking at some t-shirts with a street vendor, which was the reason I was in that part of the city. Many Turks oppose the war and harbor some anti-Americanism, but this doesn’t really translate into disliking Americans. Turkish friends have remained friends, though they have lots of questions and sometimes probably feel a little strain in the relationship. The first couple of days of the war we heard some planes flying around. But very little has changed here. In fact, my wife’s parents from the south side of Ft. Wayne are planning to visit us this June. The Turks fear this war could seriously damage their tourist business, which is the largest industry in the country. The truth is that tourists are far more likely to have a car wreck a block from their own house than encounter any dangers in Turkey.
What do you do in Turkey? -Bob
I’m currently a member of the Foreign Press in Turkey doing free-lance writing for some publications (including the worthy Waynedale News). I’m also doing some research for studies at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, helping my wife raise four very active young boys, leading a scouting group with fifteen English-speaking boys, and along the way making friends with Turks, hopefully enriching their lives and ours. We moved here in April 2002 and live on the edge of two municipalities of greater Istanbul named Uskudar and Kadikoy, situated on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. Three millennia ago Aegean people built a settlement on the site of Kadikoy, then later built a fortified position on the European side on a peninsula. These days you can find the magnificent Hagia Sophia in that spot. Mark Twain made some humorous remarks during his visit to Istanbul, calling the Hagia Sophia, “the rustiest old barn this side of heathendom.” Nevertheless, it’s quite a bit bigger than any barn in Allen County.
Would love to hear your questions.
Just email roncoody@pactec.net
> Read More Information About Us
> More Articles Written By Our Staff
- Community Invited To Paint Rocks For Urban League Project - April 26, 2024
- The “Bad Guys” In Your Garden & What To Do About Them - April 26, 2024
- Why Voting In The Primary Election Matters - April 26, 2024