Mustafa Ataturk: The Father Of Turkey

892 Words4 Pages
In almost every country, there is a figure that is attributed to being the “father” of that country; the one who seized control and “raised” that country into what it is today. Some of these well known and important people are praised for their accomplishments, and others are shamed for their brutal ways of rising to power and ruling under a strict dictatorship. Mustafa Kemal was the “father” of Turkey, and glued the pieces of the broken Ottoman Empire into a unified nation. Kemal became the first president of the Republic of Turkey, and is one of the most prominent, and admired leaders in Turkish history. Mustafa Kemal should be viewed as a revolutionary modernizer because he reformed the nation in many areas, supported the idea of a democracy,…show more content…
This admiration transcended his death, which spotlights the fact that Kemal was a fair ruler to his people. In The New York Times, an article was published about Andrew Mango, who lived in Turkey until he was 21. The author, Stephen Kinzer, described Kemal’s popularity, “A potent shadow, a legend that has grown into an officially sanctioned cult, envelops every aspect of Turkish life. It is the shadow of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic and a virtual deity here” (Source 9). Kinzer emphasizes that the Turks adore their founder, and even compare him to a god. In another article published in The New York Times, Andrew Finkel highlights the pride Turks have for their country and founder, “A Turkish flag with the portrait of Turkey’s founder…floats above thousands of people celebrating Republic Day in Ankara” (Source 10). The Turks obviously credit Kemal as being the “father” of their country, and celebrate his victory. Kemal was recognized by many people as a wonderful leader. The Mark Twain Society of America praised him, “You have left a more glorious name in history than that of Alexander the Great, Julius Cesar and Napoleon. Your military and civil genius has deeply affected human history” (Source 12). Kemal is compared to some of the most successful and prominent leaders to ever walk the Earth. Kemal was, and still is adored by the Turks, which further confirms that he was a modernizer and not a
Show More
Related

  • Atatürk's Secularism In Turkey

    982 Words  | 4 Pages

    1.1. Problem area Turkey is a central actor on the global scene and lies at a crossroad between all four cardinal points, hence between Western values and Muslim culture. It has undergone historical changes that have had great importance, not only for its population, but also for its political, economic and social factors. Turkey moved away from the Ottoman Empire in 1923 when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk established the modern Republic of Turkey. Indeed, Atatürk laid the groundwork that would allow the

    Read More

More about Mustafa Ataturk: The Father Of Turkey

Open Document