doğmunun 125. yılında mustafa kemal atatürk - Atatürk Araştırma ...

ATATÜRK’S LEGACY FOR TURKEY AND THE WORLD 505
which the Türk Tarih Kurumu also will be publishing during the next
few years.
Most people, in and out of Turkey, do not realize that in many
ways one of the most important principles that he left was to
inspire people all over the world who were conquered or exploited
or oppressed by imperialism and colonialism, as the Turks were
exploited in the Ottoman Empire as well as during the Entente
occupation that followed World War I, to rise up to achieve freedom
from such exploitation by creating their own independent states in
a whole series of wars of national liberation which in imitation
of the Turkish success took place during the twentieth century and
continue to take place today in the twenty first century.
Let me make this clear, there can be no doubt that the Turkish
people, under the inspired leadership of Atatürk, set the example
and provided the inspiration which made possible the many wars of
national liberation that followed the creation of the Turkish Republic.
The Turks set the example, the world has followed.
That was one of Atatürk’s most important contributions to the
Turkish people and to the world. But now let us concentrate on the
other principles that he left for the Turkish people in addition to this,
both in words and deeds.
1) The first principle is ‘be proud of yourselves and your people.
Remember the greatness of your own heritage, and don’t diminish
it when you compare it with others.. Don’t say that European
civilization is better than Turkish civilization and should be copied
without change. Accept that Turkish civilization made important
contributions to the world, so cherish it and maintain it. Certainly
adapt it to meet changing circumstances, but do not alter its essential
character’
2) Out of this comes the second principle. Don’t slavishly
follow the advice of foreigners or seek their approval for what you
do because you think they represent sonıething superior to your
own heritage. Decide what is best for the Turkish people and the
Turkish nation, and then follow the best course to achieve these
goals. Identify what problems exist and use your own resources
and intelligence to achieve these goals. After the first World War I,