Turkey Ponders Obama As Cure for Anti-Americanism
Turks are fascinated by the idea of a half-black president with a Muslim name, but aren’t sure it would matter
ISTANBUL—The young, well-educated, secular Turkish woman who hated Bush had never heard of the presidential candidate Barack Obama. I told her Obama was black and his middle name was Hussein. “Really?” she said, raising her eyebrows on cue. She understood why these tiny facts made an American curious about a Turk’s opinion of Obama, and she smiled politely.
“Is he a good person?” she finally said.
In June, a Pew poll found that out of 47 countries, Turks had the least favorable view of the United States. This must have been confusing news to Americans who heard it: Isn’t Turkey our ally? What did we do to them? Didn’t we do much more terrible things to other countries? And what would it take to change their minds?
In Turkey, the “America” conversation—the one you have while sitting in cabs, or waiting to get your phone/Internet/electricity/heat/water turned back on—goes more like this:
“Where are you from? Germany?”
“New York.”
Silence.
“I’m from America.”
“America! Very nice.”
“You like America?”
“America is very good. I don’t like Bush, but I like Americans.”
Such generalizations are easiest to communicate in simple Turkish, but there are thousands of specific grievances. One source of Turks’ antipathy toward Bush—only one, but a big one—blew up during this holiday season of elections, assassinations and teen pregnancy. Turks not only opposed the war in Iraq, but grew infuriated that America was also preventing them from chasing down the PKK, the Kurdish guerrilla organization that had been hiding out in northern Iraq and attacking Turkish soldiers. The oppressed Kurds have been America’s treasured allies in Iraq, but a few weeks ago, the U.S. provided Turkey with satellite imagery and the air space to invade.
“It will take a while, but if this doesn’t work, then anti-Americanism is beyond repair,” said Soli Ozel, a professor at Istanbul’s Bilgi University and a columnist and writer for various Turkish and international publications.
Since then, hundreds of Kurdish militants have been killed by the Turkish military (according to the Turkish military), and Turkish newspapers seem more kindly disposed toward America. “Hey, don’t say anything bad about Bush!” said one Kurdish man with heavy sarcasm. “He is our best friend now!”
But President Bush, for now, remains the symbol of all suffering, and this makes the case for Obama, most eloquently made by Andrew Sullivan in The Atlantic, all the more seductive. America will get a new president this year, but sometimes it seems like what America needs is “re-branding,” as Sullivan put it.
“If you wanted the crudest but most effective weapon against the demonization of America that fuels Islamist ideology,” Sullivan wrote, among many other things, “Obama’s face gets close. It proves them wrong about what America is in ways no words can.”
Isn’t that comforting: Barack Obama not only as a corrective to our own bloody history, but as a challenge to the foundations of anti-Americanism, and perhaps as a salve for international wounds, too. I don’t know exactly what Sullivan meant by “Islamist ideology,” and whatever he meant, I don’t think it applies to most of moderate-Muslim Turkey, but it’s easy to understand what he meant about Obama’s face. Americans believe so deeply in images.
Sullivan’s idea, of a young Pakistani Muslim (the article was written before the assassination of Benazir Bhutto) watching “this new face of America,” convinced me that he was right. My American inner image-response system lurched forward eagerly to receive Sullivan’s message, even as I knew we were disregarding foreigners’ complex knowledge of American domestic politics and foreign policies, and ignoring the extent to which Bush has radicalized people against the U.S. in the past seven years.
Many Turks I spoke to thought Obama would change something. Some hadn’t heard of him. While dribs and drabs about Obama’s experience or Hillary’s support for the Armenian genocide resolution or which candidate Steven Spielberg supports pop up in the Turkish media, the election is, for them, still a long way off. Next Page >
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 45.7
- 46.7
- McCain +1.0
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 55.8
- 35.8
- +20.0
- McCain
- 54.8
- 36.6
- +18.2
What Presidential Candidate do you believe is most likely to Cure Anti-Americanism around the World?
http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=1422
.
Ms. Hansen,
What is it about white people in a third world country that allows them to believe the people of that country would tell you truthfully what they think about anything?
These kind of outward looking (outrospection?)articles are what are needed in the U.S! The lack of analysis into the causes of anti-Americanism is in itself one of the causes perpetuating the movement. As a teacher of international University students I can concurr with the writers' observations that generally most people (in my case students) like Americans but almost ALL hate Bush. The students I teach are generally affluent, educated often spoiled types--so take a breath and just imagine how those negative attitudes may be hardened for those enduring poverty or whose main lens to interpret world events may the local newspaper, priest or cleric.
I actually think that Barack Obama's experience living in a developing muslim country is a HUGE asset, not just symbolic re-branding as rather cynically put forward here, but will aid aid him in having a depth of understanding of culture far beyond that which any other candidate would have gained from the window of the Four Seasons on any diplomatic tour. As the Brazilian educationalist Paulo Freire put it "I am a citizen in the world and WITH the world." Obama seems, from what I understand about the man at this point, to represent the same ideals.
You might want to check your facts on the "madrasa". It's been refuted many times but the first reporting of it seems to have stuck in every journalist's mind.
I believe he went to a majority-Muslim school, but that does not make it a Madrasa.
Nice article, otherwise.
Intriguing article. I believe that Obama can best repair America's reputation abroad, with his leadership, charisma, judgment, and moral history. His international experience and background are sure to be keen tools during his presidency.
""Ms. Hansen,
What is it about white people in a third world country that allows them to believe the people of that country would tell you truthfully what they think about anything?"
LOL. They "hate" us because of support for Kurds, not just because we have heretofore disallowed the Turks an incursion or two into Iraq. White Americans have a peculiar taste for projecting onto other people reasons to hate America they hope to hear, glossing over (eg, tip of the hat to the PKK) the authentic reasons they wouldn't like. A big one, AQ hated Americans because of the "occupation" of Saudi Arabia by 5,000 based soldiers, glossing over the "hate" is not and "occupation" but bigoted supremecism that looked t the Americans as sub-human.
I don't think the Turks gave Bush any credit at all when he went to bat for them, asking the European Union to accept them as a full member. Bush got a lot of complaints from Europe for that interference, and rightly so. The argument has been made that if Turkey had allowed a northern front as Bush requested, the former Iraqi army could possibly have been captured en masse instead of slipping away before the southern front enveloped them. This "lost" army later comprised the bulk of the insurgency. Obviously, Bush pushed the invasion of Iraq and severely annoyed every country on the planet, especially when he was trying to get them to come along. Regrettably, the Democratic opposition decided to go along with the war, but let Bush take the heat for the entire enterprise, a very cowardly position to say the least. Time and reciprocal trade will heal the wounds.
I enjoyed, and learned much from, your report. Thanks.
I'm curious. The quotations in this article suggest that the author added the language indicating that Obama "attended a madrasa and had a Muslim father". Is this just another way of bringing up this issue without seeming to be against him? First of all, he didn't attend a madrasa, from what I understand. CNN discredited that claim, which was put out by the GOP and has recently been recirculated by the HRC crowd.
So, where do the quotations end in this sentence?, as selected and copied:
“Turks know that Obama represents something quite different—they’ve seen Roots,” he said. (Roots was very popular in Turkey.) “They know the history. So an African-American with an African name and a name like Hussein—the fact that people are willing to give him a chance, despite that he attended a madrasa, and had a Muslim father, would represent a huge change in the U.S., compared to the Bush-Clinton dynasties.
I WOULD VERY MUCH TO SEE THAT THE NATIONS BEHIND THE HILLS TO BE LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES TO MODERNISE AND ESTABLISH THEIR OWN DEMOCRACY AS THEY SEE THEM FIT. THEY MIGHT NEED THE AMERICAN HELP BUT WHAT THEY WOULD NOT WISH TO SEE IS THE TOTAL AMERICAN DOMINATION BECAUSE THEY ARE THE SUPER POWER.
LION IS A POWERFUL ANIMAL IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF A MOUSE DECIDES TO TAKE UP A PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN ITS EAR!AND SUPPOSING THE LION FINDS IT TOO DIFFICULT TO DISLODGE...!
Turkey is a muslim country! The turks have been loathed in the West for 1000 years and they have in turn despised the West.
Obama is not the typical American politician, WASP. But who expects that a president Obama will be any different in the foreign policy. Withdraw from Iraq? After establishing bases in Kurdistan? Be sure, the Turks wouldn't like it!
shortly, america's politics in the middle east makes it at the top of the world forces requires many colonis such as iraq, afghanistan etc. to continue his way. and it seems that america will never give up from this bad habit.. because "a man who used to is worse than a man who is furious" as a Turkish poverb says.unless you try to give up these, you re gonna get crazy and disappear.. if obama will not continue bush's politics his politics life will be very short i think.
I fail to understand why Americans are so obssesed with their image in Muslim world. Do Muslims care what their image is in other parts of the world-Medieval , Theocratic , women and minority hating etc. They think of it as a badge of honor. Anyways I think McCain would be best bet for President. Obama is too inexperienced.
McCain? Are you kidding? Get real!
First let's look at the false conventional wisdom. Candidates short on experience can't be good leaders. Following that logic, the corollary would be. Candidates with a lot of experience make good leaders. Although he's not running, a politician with a lot of experience would be Dick Cheney who has decades of experience. Not worth much though because he's unethical and a pathological liar. Good judgement is more important than experience. Now here I'll say that Obama needs to show more. Saying that we need to change the status quo resonates (because it's true) but Obama needs to show more specifics. He didn't vote for the war resolution and that shows good judgement. However he was absent or abstained from some key votes in 2007.
Hillary Clinton has experience but as a Bush enabler has often showed bad judgement. McCain bucked the GOP in the past. He may have deserved the 'maverick' moniker in the past but those days are long gone. Now he kowtows. He blasted Bob Jones university when he ran against GW Bush in 2000. More recently he has sucked up to them.
The war is a disaster. Bush wants to fund it to keep it going indefinitely. This is obviously bad judgement which is shared by McCain and Giuliani. McCain, Giuliani & Clinton play the fear card. They want you to be afraid of change. But it is the status quo that is the disaster. I think the voters in Iowa sensed that. They may feel that way in New Hampshire. We'll find out.
I feel sorry reading some of the comments over here refering to Turkey as a "third world country" and "un-democratic". Please educate yourselves because this is embarrassing. Stop generalize every country with a majority of muslims as some kind of terrorist state or something. I see that you guys don't know anything at all about Turkey and the situation over there.
Turkey is not a third world country. It could be called "developing," or second world, but is not third world in the sense that some sub-Saharan African countries are. While it may be true that Turks do not enjoy the freedoms we do, there is no reason for them to feel abashed about speaking their minds about a particular American presidential candidate.
The reason Americans are rightly concerned with our image in the Muslim world is that when moderate Muslims have good reason to hate us, they support and sympathize with terrorists. The tragedy of 9/11 taught us that we can no longer afford to ignore what people in other nations think of us. My many friends in Turkey, Tunisia, and Qatar are actually quite concerned about the image of Muslims and Arabs (not the same groups, but often conflated) in the U.S.
"Madrasa" (medrese in Turkish) means "school" pure and simple. Just as in the USA, where the are parochial schools and private schools, and public schools, madrasas come in all flavors.
Turkey is not a third-world country. And Turkey is not a Muslim country. Turkish Republic does have no official religion. You're just showing how ignorant you are by talking about something you know nothing about, and I, as a Turk, support Obama.
I am a master degree student in Chicago, which is the home of Barack Obama. Obama has a very nice personality and I am really impressed by his background and the work he did in social services. I am favoring Barack Obama in this elections. However, his last statement about Armenian Genocide made clear that he won't be different in international policies. I think Turkish people may choose to hate him as well if he supports Armenian Genocide when he becomes president.
I am of Turkish origin and was Obama fan, simply becase he represents a hope for change in US foreign policy. In the same thime I am aware that it is naïv to think simply Bush is to blame and Obama to save the US and rest of the world.
I disagree with comments suggesting Obama good or bad a based on his position about individual international policy matters from only Turkish or US interests. If he only brings America together and forgets the rest of the world, he will go no longer what than Bush left in the world opinion.
I wish Obamas US unification message come to good for all world nations..
For the case of Turkish people, I can say that while Clinton consoling disaster victims after the earthquake in Turkey, he was the kindest leader in the world and America was the closest ally of Turkey thanks to a photo of him bouncing a baby in his arms. A survey in those days might result with a significant positive image of USA. However, after loosing many citizens in an attack of PKK, a newspaper heading emphasizing USA policies trying to stop an attack on Northern Iraq may shift all the opinions about America. In one way or another, almost everyday, newspapers publish an article discussing American policies.
After forming an initial opinion about USA based on those comments on newspapers or TV, two years ago I moved to USA for my PhD study. What I saw in America was so different than what I used to hear. People are friendly; nobody is judging my beliefs, nationality or religion. I feel my self most comfortable and free in USA (I also lived in several countries in Europe). Unfortunately, it is hard to see the same image in the eyes of people whose opinions are formed by the news in media or the “America” conversation on the street. So, without criticizing or commenting on any politician or strategy, I just want to state that the gap between the reality and the image is so large. Despite America's success to market its brands to the rest of the world, I think it falls short when it comes to market itself.
I've been to Turkey a lot of times and i should say that the foreign countiries like the US or the European countries do not even know how the life is in Turkey. Maybe its the most complicated country of the world. (PKK, Iraq, Russia, secularism, Armenian Genocide, European Union...) Actually they do not even care if Obama is black or white. It is absolutaly not a problem in Turkey. As Alper's said Turkish Republic does have no official religion... But most of the Turks are Muslim. Becouse of this reason they can support Obama.. In the other hand he says that he will allow Armenian Genocide.... I think its more important for the Turks and if Obama wont change his policity about that, The Anti-Americanism will be huge in Turkey.. I think that Turks will support McCain this year. Being Black or white or being Muslim or Christian is not as important as Armenian Genocide.
WE ARE SICK OF BEING CONTROLLED BY AMERICA, WE ARE SICK OF OUR WEAK GOVERMENTS, WE ARE SICK OF IMPERIALIZM AND WE ARE SICK OF THE GAMES THAT AMERICA PLAYS IN OUR COUNTRY!!!!
I think that I just screamed for the half of Turkish people.
We can see nothing will change in America. The system is the same and one man can't change it. Like in England. A comunist party was elected but nothing changed. Big, capitalist country's goverments have their own way of working. No party can(or try to) change it. And capitalism brings imperialism and we hate America because of its imperialist moves. What America need is a revolution, what the world needs is a revolution.
But good writing...
They're all crooks. Obama is running for his benefit, not for ours, nor the US image abroad (as if it had crossed his mind). He hasn't done anything as a Senator because he is busy trying to crown himself King - lookup "getting a little of yourself" in the dictionary next to Obama's picture. His followers are nothing more then trendsumers who have all but sanctified him, and the guy hasn't even accomplished anything of substance - EVER. He is just great at moving up and appeasing and will say anything to become "somebody" to fulfil his self-loating - even leave his own pastor/church of many years. That is the worst kind of leader you can have, an a@@ kissing Harvard wannabe, a little boy longing for his father, a mere symbol of protest, a pet, a tool who helped to divide a party. Hope? Change? When are Americans going to realise that once an empty shell, always an empty shell (a la Bush)? Great leaders aren't celebrated BEFORE their accomplishments, they're aren't reasied to the occasion, they rise to the occasion. Obama is made of fluff and marshmallows and fuzzy feelings and cinnamon rolls. I suppose if you wanted somebody very well rested for the tremendous task that awaits this country, he would be the perfect guy. He hasn't done anything to wear himself out! No wonder he's so energetic. Lastly, If Americans want to learn about leadership from the Turks, study Ataturk - forget about the cab driver poll.
Obama is an Armenian appeaser. There is a reason why the Armenians are pouring millions of dollars into the Obama campaign. Armenian lobbyists own Obama and Hillary, but thank GOD Hillary is out. Turks should unite against Obama.
T.A.C.O or Turks-Against-Clinton-Obama.
I also believe Obama is a racist, sexist, incompetent, inexperienced and too unpatriot to be the President of the most powerful, yet the most tolerant country in the world;USA.