In celebration of Focus Asia Month, the Office of Student Engagement and Multicultural Affairs, along with the Asian American Alliance, is shedding this week's spotlight on Turkey.In celebration of Focus Asia Month, the Office of Student Engagement and Multicultural Affairs, along with the Asian American Alliance, is shedding this week's spotlight on Turkey.
Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk or "Father of the Turks." Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging social, legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-party rule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950 election victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the peaceful transfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties have multiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods of instability and intermittent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980), which in each case eventually resulted in a return of political power to civilians. In 1997, the military again helped engineer the ouster - popularly dubbed a "post-modern coup" - of the then Islamic-oriented government. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprus in 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has since acted as patron state to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which only Turkey recognizes. A separatist insurgency begun in 1984 by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - now known as the People's Congress of Kurdistan or Kongra-Gel (KGK) - has dominated the Turkish military's attention and claimed more than 30,000 lives. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became a member of NATO. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of the European Community. Over the past decade, it has undertaken many reforms to strengthen its democracy and economy; it began accession membership talks with the European Union in 2005.
The flag of Turkey is red with a vertical white crescent moon (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening; the flag colors and designs closely resemble those on the banner of Ottoman Empire, which preceded modern-day Turkey; the crescent moon and star serve as insignia for the Turks, as well as being traditional symbols of Islam; according to legend, the flag represents the reflection of the moon and a star in a pool of blood of Turkish warriors.
Information obtained from www.cia.gov - The World Factbook
JOIN US IN THE CELEBRATION OF FOCUS ASIA MONTH!
Thursday, April 14 at 6:00 p.m. in Park Auditorium
"Vincent Who" Documentary Screening and short Q&A with Helen Zia,
LGBT Rights and Asian American Civil Rights activist.
The documentary explores the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin that occurred in Detroit, Michigan and the legacy of the Vincent Chin case.
Friday, April 15 at 7:00 p.m. in Park Auditorium
Keynote delivered by Helen Zia, LGBT Rights and Asian American Civil Rights Activist
Focus Asia Month Guest Speaker with Q&A to follow.
Tuesday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m. in Klingenstein Lounge
Future of the Asian-American Studies Program
Presentation and Discussion
Monday, April 25 at 7:00 p.m. in Clarke Lounge
Asian/Asian American Student Identity Panel
Friday, April 29 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in IC Square
Asia Night!
There will be activities, food and performances $4 a plate for food and drink!
In light of the current situation in Japan, the Asian American Alliance will be raising money through selling t-shirts and through donating all money made at Asia Night. All proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross to provide medical care and relief assistance in Japan.
Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Asian American Alliance at ICAsianAmericanAlliance@gmail.com to request accommodation.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20110412123805284