[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 63 (Friday, May 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF BIRTH OF KEMAL ATATURK, FOUNDER OF MODERN TURKEY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 19, 2006

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, May 19, to commemorate the 
125th anniversary of the birth of the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa 
Kemal Ataturk, a post-World War I revolutionary leader who demonstrated 
that Islam and modernity are fully compatible. His example provides 
instruction and hope for our own era.
  Ataturk died at the young age of 57 in 1938. Yet, in a short period 
of time starting with the end of World War I, Ataturk was able to build 
a nation from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire, establish secular rule, 
and lay the groundwork for democratic development. His vision for his 
overwhelmingly Muslim nation was dominated by two concepts: secularism 
and progress. In his words, ``In an age when inventions and the wonders 
of science are bringing change after change in the conditions of life, 
nations cannot maintain their existence by age-old mentalities and 
tradition-worshipping.''
  Mr. Speaker, Ataturk's reforms covered virtually every area of public 
life--political, cultural, legal, educational, and economic--all geared 
toward bringing the new Turkish nation to the level of what Ataturk 
called ``contemporary civilization.'' Some of the changes were 
monumental, such as abolishing the caliphate, recognizing equal rights 
for men and women, discarding the Arabic alphabet in favor of Latin 
letters, and adopting secular law. Others were seemingly minor, such as 
reforming traditional styles of dress and mandating surnames.
  His leadership style was epitomized by the alphabet reform. A 
language commission he appointed endorsed the reform in 1928 and urged 
that it be phased in over fifteen years. Ataturk had a different time-
frame in mind. He phased it in over six months, punctuating his 
decision with trips around the country in which he personally gave 
public instruction in the new alphabet. This reform has wrought a 
fundamental change in Turkey's outlook, as millions of Turks, schooled 
in the Latin alphabet, have turned westward for their second languages 
and the learning to which those languages are the key.
  As a champion of women's rights, Mr. Speaker, Ataturk encouraged 
women to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, writers, and 
politicians. His credo in this regard was stated as a simple equation 
in a speech in 1926: ``If a society of men and women is content to 
apply progress and education to one-half of itself, such a society is 
weakened by half.'' It is unfortunate that, to this very day, too many 
nations in the Middle East cannot grasp that easy math.
  When I met Pakistani President Musharraf four years ago, I gave him a 
copy of Andrew Mango's authoritative biography of Ataturk. ``Follow 
Ataturk's vision,'' I urged him, ``and you will put Pakistan on the 
path to progress.''
  Mr. Speaker, I am convinced that this is the right advice for the 
leaders of every Muslim nation. With forward-looking vision, 
leadership, and determination in the mold of Ataturk, the entire region 
could expect a future of secularism, tolerance, democracy, and material 
progress.