Turkey Protests

[Josh]

Additionally I don't think the Turkish Army gives 3 shits about joining the EU.

Given that the whole Greece-Ireland-Spain-Cyprus-Portugal-Italy (GIPSCI) acronym keeps growing, I can't blame them on that end.

If the Germans couldn't think of anything else they'd argue that the name "Turkey" was too hostile and that the country had to be renamed "Knockwurst" before it could be admitted. I think the army knows that even if everyone else don't.

Never, ever let the Germans rename your country, y'all.

Given the nature of the German language I'd actually be surprised if it came out so short. I'd expect it to be sixteen syllables at a minimum.

[Charon]

If the military is used to squash the protesters that will kill whatever misplaced hopes of Turkey joining the EU are left.
Turkey's EU appliciation as long been a running joke to most Europeans as it is.

I never said he *would* use the military to crush the protestors. I said he is either bluffing with the threat, or he is making sure/showing that the military is not going to get involved. And as the military is currently his only real threat that could basically mean he has free reign to handle these protests in whatever way he sees fit.

Really the military knows that if they get involved in this at all their EU application will go down the drains, and yeah, I know that Turkey's application has been the laughing stock of Europe. Mainly on Germany and France in that regard in recent years (though I don't know the new French president's take on the matter). They dare not consider the "threat" of having more muslim's in their countries and consider Turkey to be an Asian country (ridiculous nationalism ahoy!).

Additionally I don't think the Turkish Army gives 3 shits about joining the EU.

Eh, that's trickier, joining the EU could benefit Turkey in a lot of ways economically. Hell, even the current mess could be seen as good in some ways as Turkey is less likely to fall into the spell that the GIPSCI did (thanks for that acronym) due to size but also it showed that if you are an EU member you have at least a semblance of economic security.

If the Germans couldn't think of anything else they'd argue that the name "Turkey" was too hostile and that the country had to be renamed "Knockwurst" before it could be admitted. I think the army knows that even if everyone else don't.

This, definitely this.

[Josh]

(thanks for that acronym).

Not mine, read it in other places. People figured that once Cyprus was added it'd only be natural for the acronym to be arranged in the most insulting fashion possible.

[frigidmagi]

Eh, that's trickier, joining the EU could benefit Turkey in a lot of ways economically. Hell, even the current mess could be seen as good in some ways as Turkey is less likely to fall into the spell that the GIPSCI did (thanks for that acronym) due to size but also it showed that if you are an EU member you have at least a semblance of economic security.

So what? Look man, we're talking about the viewpoint of the Turkish Army. The main concern of the Turkish Army isn't the economic boost they would get the EU (although bluntly these days that boost is questionable). Instead their concern is gonna be how the EU would limit Turkish sovereignty. Look how being part of the EU really limited Greece's options. Not to mention the various security concerns. Again, look at this from the viewpoint of a Turkish Officer.

As for economic security, I don't see it. Not for the guys on the street anyways.

So I repeat. I heavily doubt the Turkish Army gives 3 shits about joining the EU. If you have evidence otherwise, by all means share.

[frigidmagi]

Meanwhile

A Turkish protester dubbed the "standing man" has led a vigil on Istanbul's Taksim Square days after the authorities evicted demonstrators.

Performance artist Erdem Gunduz stood silently for eight hours, facing a portrait of Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern, secular Turkey.

Hundreds of others joined him in the square, which was reopened on Monday, before being dispersed by police.

Mr Gunduz later told the BBC he had wanted to take a symbolic stand.

Two leading trade unions held rallies and a one-day strike in defiance of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday.

Mr Gunduz appeared in the square at around 18:00 (15:00 GMT) on Monday and remained there until 02:00 when police moved in

Ten people who refused to be moved on were detained.

"There are many, many young people on the streets," Mr Gunduz told the BBC.

"I'm nothing... The idea is important: why people resist the government. The government doesn't want to understand, didn't try to understand why people are on the streets. This is really silent resistance. I hope people stop and think 'what happened there?'"

His protest quickly captured the imagination of the protest movement. The hash tag "duranadam" ("standing man") dominated Turkish-language Twitter on Tuesday morning.

Mr Gunduz's protest contrasts sharply with the violent clashes of recent weeks, in which some 5,000 people have been injured and at least four have died.

The protests began on 28 May against a plan to redevelop Istanbul's Gezi Park, on the city's central Taksim Square, but it snowballed into nationwide anti-government protests after the perceived high-handed response of the authorities under their three-term prime minister, Mr Erdogan.