Ottoman Odyssey, Plus...

This is an interesting book.  

Alev Scott roams around the former Ottoman Empire speaking to as many as possible, at least those who would speak, about their life today, and their intriguing double life.  A double life in that so many are born in one country yet long to be 'at home' in another.

From Turkey, a nation she finds herself banned from re-entering, and the complex population, including some Afro-Turks, descendants of one time slaves, living at the poorer end of Turkish society.  Few Turks know of their existence.  We meet Greeks in Turkey and Turks in Greece, though the majority were 'exchanged' during the conflicts of the 1920s, a conflict begun by Lloyd George!  The descendants often confused as to where home lies.  Armenians, with much to grumble about, and the confusion of Cyprus and the politics involved there.  

Many do not realise how much of the Balkans was Ottoman controlled, only the war of 1912 saw them pushed back to the area around Istanbul.  This leaves a confused area behind.  Some loyal to Turkey, and Erdogan ensues such loyalty by large spending in some areas, many strong opponents.  No matter who is in charge the Balkans will always be filled with a variety of conflicts, large and small, usually between close neighbours.

What is clear is the variety of religious and language divisions in the Middle East, in this case emanating from the Ottoman Empire. For many this was no problem, Muslim, Christian and Jew, went their own way worked, ate, lived alongside one another, under whatever controlling body.  Rarely did strife break out.  Since the end of the 'Sick man of Europe,' after the Great War, the conflict intensified, thousand died in battle and massacre on both sides, many removed from homes lived in for generations, as the area is purified.  

This is a good book, it gets close to those who's families were forced to move, to people seeking a return that is never going to be possible, and an underlying image of the majority willing to just get on with their lives no matter who the neighbour is.   

This is a good book for getting to the people on the ground in the one time Empire, real people, not the high up's.  It is well worth a glance.

As the threatened rain had not started, it awaited the afternoon to arrive, I dumped my bag  by the door after returning from Sainsburys and wandered across the park.  It was good just to walk around the green area.  Not the greatest in the world, but a lot of green trees, leaves, bushes, grass, and as such is just a wee bit refreshing for the mind.  

I also met a young lass with two dogs, one friendly the other not so.  He, now 11 years of age, was interested only in chasing the ball she flung via one of those long plastic throwers things.  For an 11 year old dog he was full of life, and I suspect will be for 3 or 4 more.  The other, one of those hairy imitation 'Chow' type dogs, lovely to look at, and keen to meet people.  I suspect at home he sits on the couch on top of the lassie.  The other will just dump himself on the floor and ignore everyone.

Some colour to be seen, but the cheap camera I was using found the grey cloud cover difficult to defeat.  Most wildflowers appear hidden now, the Springtime brings them out, but these days we only have a few around.

Albert Goodwin - Venice

Hurrah! Normality Returns (If that is the right word)

I knew it was a bug that had disturbed my Blogs equilibrium not my incompetence.  All has returned to normal now so I can fill the page with blurred, out of focus, shots of rubbish that you all love, what?... oh!

On Saturday, for reasons that were not apparent, the Royal British Legion were in attendance in the town centre.  Also on parade stood this excellent wee 'Ferret' vehicle once used by the British Army throughout the world.  Owned by a local chap I was interested to see inside of the vehicle as I had seen them around for many years.  
It appears it was not that popular with the gentlemen who once drove them however.  A passing chap indicated he had driven them in Germany during 1970 on the autobahn at 70 miles and hour.  The thing was these boys did not like turning and on corners, being top heavy had an inclination to topple over.  However off road it could at slow speeds take a 45% angle easily!
Some would say this is typical of British Army approach to equipment.

 B&WT

Something strange has been happening recently.  The sun has been shining and has been HOT!  
This is indeed news in a nation used to cold, rain and hail.  
Today, while I sat indoors at the museum, people outside suffered high temperatures, at the moment it is 28%C around 82% F.  This is how it ought to be but as always we are complaining it is too hot, 70% is good enough for the UK population.  Indeed one woman went past using a brolly as a parasol to keep the heat off, something not seen outside of aged photographs!  No doubt it will not last but if it falls to that 70% level I will be happy enough. 
Oh yes, the trains are delayed as the rails are too hot and speeds have been reduced.

This one is good.  Turkey President Erdogan is attacked by a Coup.  The people stand up and halt the coup although many die during it and a round up begins of those who have rebelled against the state.
However it now becomes obvious the President is rounding up all opponents of his reign, not from anger at rebellion, nor from Islamic zeal but just to keep himself in power.  WikiLeaks, those nasty folks that steal secret documents from folks such as he, promises to release thousands and thousands of Turkish emails many implying this 'coup' was staged by the President himself and he was behind it all the time.
Gosh who would have thought...?
Of course having been an Ally of the west for a while he has some room to maneuver and those US bases watching Putin's Russia will prevent the US indicating dislike, or indeed much else at the moment.  
Don't ya just love a dictator?  Come back Ataturk, your country needs you!   

He's getting closer,I wonder if he will reuse any of previous Presidential contenders speeches the way his wife did the other day?  Maybe he can afford to hire scriptwriters or possibly just spout any old rubbish from the lectern as many of his audience will cheer him anyway.

Theresa May 

Talking of problems here our new Prime Minister has finished establishing her right wing government taking time to lie in her teeth to Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and revealing the emptiness of her concern for the poorest.  She had said she offered a vision,  "A vision of a country that works not for the privileged few but works for every one of us," yet the new Secretary  of State for the DWP, that's the benefits people, is a Minister who has little concern for the poor having voted against every benefit and voted for every cut to any and all benefits introduced by the previous Dickens character Ian Duncan Smith.  Damian green, for it is he, now has the opportunity to ensure that those with debilitating illnesses, loss of limbs, sickness or death are declared 'fit for work' and their benefits removed from them post haste.  We will see soon whether this woman really wishes to serve the entire nation, maybe we are again 'all in it together?'

We might need this...

 

 

Arab Uprisings

Book Depository

If you wish to understand the Syrian situation, or indeed the Middle East today in any way you need to read this book.  The BBC Middle East correspondent Jeremy Bowen has 12 years experience of the region, sometimes in great danger, occasionally being shot at and occasionally hit.  
Bowen takes us through the last few years of 'revolution, from the beginning in Tunisia, through Libya, Egypt, Yemen, and of course a great deal of the book covers the Syrian situation.  The whole area is split into many factions, religious and political.  In some states such as Tunisia a 'secular' approach is found even though the majority call themselves Muslim.  In Egypt the Muslim Brotherhood won the first election because they had a well ordered organisation that had been working since the time of Nasser, the middle class secular city dwellers did not possess such and lost out through squabbling amongst themselves.  A violent uprising in Libya, supported by the western air forces, removed Qaddafi from power but has not led to a peaceful settlement.  Militias, Islamist''s and criminals hold much power yet.  Saudi has thrown £100 billion at avoiding rebellion in the state, more on offer in an attempt to keep the Kings position safe. Yemen alone has begun a six month 'conversation' to decide the future of that troubled state. Some secular people find themselves at odds with Al-Qaeda types from the mountains in the north. Iraqis seek to go their own way in spite of being allies but not lackeys of Iran, and Iran aids Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon while saying little.  
Iran finds itself Saudia Arabia's main enemy, and the Saudi's have attempted to invite a US invasion.  This has not found much support in Washington where foreign adventures are harder militarily and public opinion opposes violently!   Iran is of course Shia Muslim, Saudi Arabia Sunni. That sectarian divide runs through the region threatening to explode and involve many nations. Syria, led by 'Alawite' Assad who finds himself supported by rich Sunni businessmen and minority Christians now is being opposed by Sunni extremists who are proving stronger than the original rebels, who just wanted a more prosperous and safe life without the secret police beating them. This conflict falls over into Lebanon where the delicate balance is under threat. Here some 18 groupings share power.  Already sections of some towns are unreachable because of the conflict there and almost anything could lead to this part of the world giving us a war of First World War proportions.  That conflict was savage enough, this would be much, much worse! 
Bowen provides no answers here.  This book merely covers the ground, explaining the background, allowing us to see from both sides and here the words, often truthful in spite of the dangers, exposing the immense difficulty anyone has in producing peace quickly in this area today.   The west has little understanding of what to do, William Hague the UK Foreign Secretary spouts comments often but Bowen leaves us in no doubt as to the limited information and government double speak on offer here.  The west wish to support the good side and now, after Iraq, find they have an Iraq government that is friendly to Iran the west's enemy, support by the million given to rebels in Syria, the strongest of whom are Al-Qaeda types, the types that threaten our troops and encourage bombs and murder on UK streets!  The confusion does not stop there just look at the Islamist's in Libya who we provided air cover for!  
To understand the Middle East it is imperative to read a book like this.  No doubt there are others around but I found this book full of clarity on the situation from a man who risks his life, carefully, to meet the people and report the situation.  One of the BBC's better journalists his writing enlightens the minds of those who wish to see the Middle East as she is today.  
  
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