[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   128TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF KEMAL ATATURK FOUNDER OF MODERN 
                                 TURKEY

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                           HON. VIRGINIA FOXX

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 19, 2009

  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I rise today, May 19, to commemorate the 
128th anniversary of the birth of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of 
modern Turkey. Ataturk was a unique and inspirational figure who laid 
the foundation for the Republic of Turkey. He was a post World War I 
revolutionary leader who understood that Islam and modernity are not 
inconsistent--an important factor to reinforce today with democratic 
leaders throughout the Muslim world.
  By any measure, Ataturk was an historic reformer. In the space of two 
decades, he built the nation of Turkey from the ashes of the Ottoman 
Empire--a nation that was based on secular principles and with a 
foundation that was fertile for democracy to take root and prosper. He 
held true to his fundamental vision for his overwhelmingly Muslim 
nation, namely that it be guided by two overarching concepts: 
secularism and progress. Just as is the case today, he understood that 
advances in science and technology would enhance the nation and the 
Turkish people.
  To enable Turkey to reap the benefits of such advances, he set about 
enacting major reforms in all aspects of Turkish life--political, 
cultural, legal, educational, and economic all with an eye toward 
creating the architecture of the new Turkish nation that would raise it 
to the level of what Ataturk referred to as ``contemporary 
civilization.'' These reforms touched on all aspects of Turkish society 
from abolishing the caliphate, recognizing equal rights for men and 
women, replacing the Arabic alphabet with Latin letters, and 
instituting secular law to reforming traditional styles of dress and 
mandating surnames.
  Ataturk was an impatient reformer. His handling of the reform of the 
alphabet is one example of his impatience. The language commission he 
appointed to review the reform recommended that the alphabet reforms be 
phased in over a fifteen year period. Ataturk had a much different 
timeframe in mind. He set about traveling throughout the country, 
personally instructing crowds in the new alphabet, and within six 
months he had accomplished his goal. With the acceptance of the Latin 
alphabet, millions of Turks would be poised to turn westward for their 
second languages and the learning to which those languages are the key.
  Ataturk championed women's rights, encouraging them to pursue careers 
as doctors, lawyers, scientists, writers and politicians. He did so 
because he wisely understood that by doing so he was unleashing the 
talents of all Turks and thereby making the nation stronger. Because of 
his vision and determination, Turkey is today a strong and vibrant 
democracy and a model for others in the Islamic world to emulate.
  Madam Speaker, it is my hope that Muslim leaders throughout the 
region will reacquaint themselves with Ataturk's revolutionary 
leadership and take inspiration in the courageous reforms he undertook 
more than seventy years ago so that they too can preside over nations 
that are secular, democratic and prosperous.

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