Boris and the other Turkey
Monday, February 26, 2007
Link: Telegraph newspaper online.
I so rarely disagree with Boris Johnson that I hesitate to do so now, fearing I may be wrong. I would like to think I am. His vision of reconciliation is fine in its Christian idealism. His line on Turkey and the EU is seductive. I fear that both are misguided.
There is certainly an attraction to integrating a leading Muslim nation into a Western club for democracies. But Turkey will never be a beacon of hope for the Muslim world, or for anyone, while those who tell the truth about its history are imprisoned at best and murdered at worst. The legacy of Ataturk may be crumbling. "Militant Islam," aka "Islamism" seems to be growing in strength there. Pace Boris, we should see where that story leads before leaping into bed with his family's former homeland.
I simply do not understand how a country so culturally diverse as to the rest of Europe could be assimilated. All Empires need borders eventually-Marcus Aurelius
Posted by: GUTHRUM | Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 02:33 PM
Regarding Turkish membership of the EU, there is an argument that involves straws and camel's backs. See here for example
Posted by: JohnM | Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 01:42 PM
First step is to stop denying Armenia.
Posted by: jameshigham | Monday, February 26, 2007 at 05:36 PM