Explain Turkey to me

[Sheilbh]

I think the Turks are finding their voice.  To be honest they remind me of an Middle Eastern Brazil in that sense.  In a similar way I see Erdogan as an Islamist Lula to the more crazy versions in the region.

My view is that externally the Turks have had it made clear to them that they won't join the EU.  The only big countries who've been properly supportive are the UK and Spain.  At the same time given Turkey's economic growth she's getting mentioned in the same sentence as Brazil and India, now would you choose them or Germany and France.  Internally I think we've seen the death of the dominance of an unrepresentative elite, or of an Istanbul cringe towards pious, nationalist Anatolia.  Which is a good thing.

[The Larch]

Saying that Turks have been part of European history is like saying that Mongols have been part of Russian history.  Maybe that's correct, but it's not exactly the selling point one would want to use.

They've been around for centuries already, they don't need to sell any points.

[The Brain]

The problem with Turkey isn't what it has beeen but what it is. We don't want Greece in the EU and we don't want its bigger and more competent cousin in the EU.

[Sheilbh]

-the warning of Cyprus, to no go forward with the jew-funded gas drilling in the East Med

Ah this one is an old school dispute.  I think the Turkish Cypriots claim the oil, the Turks are backing them up.  The Greek Cypriots claim it too.  The Israelis are just excited about nearby non-hostile oil supply.

[Syt]

Problem is that many Europeans base their opinion of Turks on the migrants coming to their countries from mostly rural, conservative Eastern Turkey areas.

It's as if people were basing their opinion of the U.S. on West Virginian&Alabama hicks.

[Martinus]

-the warning of Cyprus, to no go forward with the jew-funded gas drilling in the East Med

Ah this one is an old school dispute.  I think the Turkish Cypriots claim the oil, the Turks are backing them up.  The Greek Cypriots claim it too.  The Israelis are just excited about nearby non-hostile oil supply.

I don't think "nearby", "non-hostile" and "Israel" can be used in the same sentence.

[Martinus]

Problem is that many Europeans base their opinion of Turks on the migrants coming to their countries from mostly rural, conservative Eastern Turkey areas.

It's as if people were basing their opinion of the U.S. on West Virginian&Alabama hicks.

Not really. I base my opinion on Turks on London-based, rather well dressed, pretty hot, ruthless private equity fund hot shots who I meet on transactions. I'd fuck them but they are arrogant assholes. Which is exactly how I feel about Turkey in general.

[Syt]

Not really. I base my opinion on Turks

I said many Europeans. And I doubt that Turkish migrants are as common a sight in Poland as in Austria, France, the Netherlands or Germany.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_diaspora#Turkish_diaspora

[Eddie Teach]

It's as if people were basing their opinion of the U.S. on West Virginian&Alabama hicks.

West Virginia & Alabama hicks aren't really any different from North Carolina hicks.

[Warspite]

Problem is that many Europeans base their opinion of Turks on the migrants coming to their countries from mostly rural, conservative Eastern Turkey areas.

It's as if people were basing their opinion of the U.S. on West Virginian&Alabama hicks.

Not really. I base my opinion on Turks on London-based, rather well dressed, pretty hot, ruthless private equity fund hot shots who I meet on transactions. I'd fuck them but they are arrogant assholes. Which is exactly how I feel about Turkey in general.

Yes, you have to go to places like Spain and Italy for modesty and understatedness to be considered Mediterranean virtues.

[Zanza]

If we ever get to the point where we have to ask ourselves "who lost Turkey" then the answer is not the AKP, but rather the Elyseé Palace and the German Chancellery.

And to be more exact the conservatives in both countries. The left parties in Germany support Turkey joining the EU. Austria is against it too AFAIK.

[Viking]

Problem is that many Europeans base their opinion of Turks on the migrants coming to their countries from mostly rural, conservative Eastern Turkey areas.

It's as if people were basing their opinion of the U.S. on West Virginian&Alabama hicks.

No we base our opinions of the U.S. on who WeVi and Alabama hicks vote for.

[The Brain]

I base my opinion on katmai.

[DGuller]

I base my opinion on katmai.

All of him?

[The Brain]

I base my opinion on katmai.

All of him?

The visible part.