Let us draw the red lines of the Republic

Fundamentalist movements, Islamist terrorist organizations emerged.

An entirely different world was born. America has bolstered its influence as the sole power.

Then the Sept. 11 incident occurred. This is how the current situation was born.

While such dizzying developments were taking place the Turkish society too came to be affected by these changes. Gradually it has been casting aside the old concepts, viewing itself and the world in different ways than in the past.

Certain things have not changed, though. In Turkey, the official state policies and the state reflexes have not changed. Neither have the approaches adopted by the Islamists.

The respective stances of the two sides have become "ossified" by now. We continue to live with the same old approaches, old fights, old suspicions and the conspiracy theories.

The society has changed so much, started viewing everything in such a different light, that it is gradually distancing itself from those "that cannot change".

Yet, Turkey is going through one of the most significant stages in the history of the Republic. It will either be a full member of the European Union or fail to be anything more than a third world country. Turkey is now at a crossroads. Is it not high time it did something?

Would it not be better if we reviewed the "red lines" involving the Republic’s basic principles, bring them up to date with the current conditions?

Similarly, would it not be better if those who keep Islam in the foreground, would rethink and reshape their own line?

Turkey hardly has any more time to lose with internal squabbles, with secularist – antisecularist fighting. Tensions wear us out all. At a time we should be devoting our time to different, much more important issues we experience these sterile quarrels. People are tired of these quarrels. This country needs tranquillity.

The country can break this major vicious circle if the two sides draw their red lines — through discussions, by reaching an agreement.

Otherwise this secularist – antisecularist fight would go on forever, blocking our country’s path.

Let us, all of us, reach an agreement along the following lines: This country will be based on secularist foundations and the religion factor will be kept outside the state affairs.

Let us, at the same time, ensure that "turban" will no longer be a problem. Don’t let us give the cold shoulder to those who do not think like us. Don’t let us have a fight with the military. Let the military, in turn, alter its approach to the country’s administration.

Once these red lines are redetermined, don’t let anybody to question these anymore and don’t let us view one another with suspicion.

Would it not be better for us if we pondered these issues when there is still time?

If we fail to do that, what we have gone through this week will be nothing to what we will be experiencing in the future.