Moving forward despite frightening tides...

We have been observing throughout the world that calamities wrap this cynical world very tightly it’s like never going to leave it to take a breath. By calamities; I do not refer to natural disasters, earthquakes, floods or tsunamis rather the calamities that are caused and fueled by humans who are inflicted with evil and inhumane ideologies, who sold their consciousness in return of worldly benefits as if they will live on this burning soil forever. 

Under these darkest storms, innocents are deprived from and subject to myriad injustice, oppressions and even genocides. Many are imprisoned for standing steel against the tyranny, many are tortured for just not accepting to be part of the guilt and rejecting to blind their eyes to evil acts that are staged. Just because of their ethnic identity or thoughts many had to flee their beloved country as the oppression reached ninth heavens. Those children who were lucky have been suffered the scary nights in the absence of their parents, and others became cellmate with mother thus sigh for a clean air and gazing at stars.

It is not easy to understand how humans are corrupted in such a way that evils admire. Then, we realize the human potential to have a grasp of this actual fact. Bediuzzaman resembles human nature to butter that we keep in our breakfast tables. The butter is more expensive and valuable compared to others on the table, likewise humans possess dignity and their level is the highest among all creatures. However, if butter is expired this valuable food becomes poison. Humans who are equipped with priceless consciousness and powerful minds might transform themselves into evils which have poisonous nature and sink in every act they perform. Quran explains such level as ‘the lowest of the low’ teaching us that they could sink beyond our imagination so that every damn act could be expected from them.

The battle between right and wrong, evils and devoted souls take place in every era. Our concern is that while we always witness this polarization of innocence and guiltiness, consciousness and heedlessness, honesty and dishonesty we rarely discuss about what could be done to resolve the imbalance. As peace builders and strong defenders of democracy and human rights what could be our role in changing the direction of myriad tides which always batter and wash ashore innocents? How can we generate awareness and empower individuals to stand strong by submitting themselves to the ultimate truth?

Well, turn around, see what you can , and draw your ‘line of action’. Mezirow elaborates the line of action as something that “… has to do with implementing the purpose and intentionality of the learner and involves the exercise of his or her conative power. Conation involves both desire and volition, the intensity with which one wants to do something”. 

Picture is quite clear and also dramatic! Not to mention dictators and oppressors ...

On one hand ,most people follow their social context that has driven them to be part of a ‘blind, death and mute community’ and gradually enabled to see everything normal as if no one is hurt, no one is oppressed, no one is silenced, no one is being left to leave or die until they become subject to such evil acts. With my limited perspective as educator, I feel like Freire’s ‘pedagogy of the oppressed’ is written for todays.

On the other hand , the deprived people. For those who are in dire need; developing an astounding resilience and determination is not an easy task. Building is always harder than destroying.

The main role of educators in this world should be preparing individuals to emerge into society in a very strong manner by developing their identity aligned with contemporary norms, awaken their inner self and thought, explore their strengths and weaknesses, showing the path of gradual personal ratification and wisdom so that they could not be manipulated by evil hands easily. Grow autonomous thinkers and responsible citizens. As humans we seek to understand the meaning of our experiences so that dictated ideologies or ‘given knowledge’ are no longer taken for granted in this contemporary world.

When we analyse the current conditions of the whole world at the core; we observe that problems arise from 'ignorance' , 'the poverty' that leads to crimes and also the 'conflicts' which are the results of intolerance among human beings regardless of their beliefs, colour, ethnicity and race. 

If we need to have permanent solutions to any possible problem within humanity, the policy makers and leaders shall start solving them at the source before they emerge and reaches to their stream bed.

In this regard, the responsibilities shouldered by the volunteers of ‘Hizmet’ movement have always carried crucial importance to create enormous reforms within the way we think, the way we approach an understand one another as humans. Hizmet people -in Gulen's words- are the people who “see, before anybody else, their own selves responsible and answerable for any work left undone, and are considerate and fair-minded to everyone who hastens to help and support the truth. They are extraordinarily resolved and hopeful even when their institutions are destroyed, their plans upset, and their forces routed, and humble, moderate and tolerant when they take wings anew to fly upward and once again soar to the summits.”

A collective thinking aims to uplift the values of humanity which has no other agenda than serving ‘so that others may live’...

I believe their call should be heard, learnt and understood in depth. The time we start practicing their message which I reiterate that it is no different than the message of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) many problems that we face in our society will vanish, many oppressions and injustice that we witness everyday will cease and finally every individual will realize their own dignity and potential.

Such people equipped with that form of knowledge and noble character may readily face any giant waves .These people may lack in numbers or even capacity. However, when they start talking they talk not on their behalf but the words of God that no evil can challenge. 

Bediuzzaman challenges the people who keep him under a great torture in prisons and isolation . He tells them that if you are afraid of me; your trials are worthless as "I’m an ordinary man may one soldier is enough to control me. However, if you are afraid of my profession and being herald of the Quran and the moral strength of belief you should be aware that in that respect I have the strength of fifty million soldiers, not even fifty thousand". Yes! He indeed had that strength and achieved what he had to do throughout his life. Many devoted souls have followed similar footprints.

In this world we need to grow a society which is composed of such noble character(s). A character that finds the strength not in their limited abilities and capabilities but the message they present to humanity which ratifies their influence to immeasurable extends.