Turkey

I asked my wife what I should write my blog about and she said turkey.  Of course, she meant the bird, cooked, because her mother is in the kitchen right now getting a turkey ready for tomorrow.  In typical Czech fashion, we are celebrating a couple of birthdays together on the nearest convenient Saturday.  Isabel will be 4 on Sunday, her cousin Patrick about a week later.  So, it’s going to be a madhouse here tomorrow.  The adults will be all tryptophanned out and the kids will be running around going crazy.  Sort of a late Thanksgiving.

Istanbul at Night

But fortunately for the art of blogging random words suggested by a bystander, Turkey, like so many words in the English language, has more than one meaning and so I can write about the nation of Turkey.  I’ve been there.  I liked it.  Had a Turkish massage where a big, muscular guy nearly wrenched my head from my shoulders.  Got drunk on Raki and left my camera on the table in a cafe near the youth hostel and it was still there when I went back the next day.  Loved the ancient ruins at Ephesis.

On the question of whether or not it belongs in the EU, I’m a bit more ambiguous.  I think the EU is a good thing, a stabilizing force in the world and I would like to see it expand.  Turkey, all of the old Soviet satellite states, even Russia itself.  But there are risks and therefore a go slow policy probably makes sense.  It’s like blowing up a balloon.  You want to make it just as big as you can, without actually making it burst.  Each country you add brings it a little closer to that point.

Of course, every country that joins also adds something to the mix.  Goods to trade, people to work, restaurants and other cultural things.  But if they are too poor, they cost the EU money.  If they are too populous, they could flood the labor market.  If they are too big, like Russia, they could quickly become dominant and nobody in Central or Eastern Europe (well, almost nobody) wants to see Russia dominant again.  If they are too Islamic, like Turkey, it could cause a serious culture clash.

I think it’s a risk worth taking.  Europe is big.  Turkey is not small but it’s only one country.  Their culture would be more influenced by Europe than the other way around.  It’s not a rich country but it has potential.  One major world port, some great tourist destinations and a lovely mediterranean climate, perfect for growing dates, figs, oranges and most vegetables.

So, while I understand the opposing point of view, I would vote for letting them in.  Mostly because I love the food.  And nobody stole my camera.