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Posted on by Rick Steves

Our Turkish Finale: Quality Time with Ataturk

After the rough and rustic small towns and countryside, we finished our Turkey shoot in the country’s modern capital, Ankara. It feels like a boom town and the traffic was horrific. No trip to Turkey is complete without spending a day in one of its thriving and cosmopolitan big cities.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, one of the greatest statesmen of the 20th century and the father of modern Turkey.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, one of the greatest statesmen of the 20th century and the father of modern Turkey.

After six weeks of travel in the Middle East, I’m acutely aware of how important a forceful politician is for emerging democracies. When a country is blessed with a strong and charismatic leader — who is above corruption and pettiness, who can speak to the people as a nation, not as rival segments — the sheer political force of that single person can raise the fortunes of the entire society. And, conversely, a single person not deserving of power can abuse the trust of his or her people and run a country into the ground. The father of modern Turkey is Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Even though he died nearly a century ago, I believe he is the reason for Turkey’s success relative to its neighbors today. And, understandably, you see him everywhere you go in this country. He moved the capital city from Istanbul to the center of the country, to Ankara. I can’t think of a person in the 20th century who had a greater positive impact on his homeland than this man. Can you?

The Mausoleum of Ataturk strives to fit the greatness of the man it is designed to honor and memorialize.
The Mausoleum of Ataturk strives to fit the greatness of the man it is designed to honor and memorialize.
After two weeks of TV production in Turkey with our wonderful van, driver, and local guide Lale, I am spoiled. We’ve never enjoyed such a smooth process. I’m sure it was not all peaches and cream, but for the crew and me, it seemed like every door in Turkey was wide open for our camera. The result: Turkey will be looking really good to a lot of American travelers when our new series debuts in the fall of 2014.
After two weeks of TV production in Turkey with our wonderful van, driver, and local guide Lale, I am spoiled. We’ve never enjoyed such a smooth process. I’m sure it was not all peaches and cream, but for the crew and me, it seemed like every door in Turkey was wide open for our camera. The result: Turkey will be looking really good to a lot of American travelers when our new series debuts in the fall of 2014.
One of the luxuries for me with my crew is that, with Simon, I never need to worry about gear or the safety of our precious footage. The only time I see Simon get religious is when all our hard work is done and stored on a little digital brick that’s ready to fly home to our editing suite. It seems like a long time now since we traveled with cassettes. We’re in the wonderful age of small cameras and everything recorded on hard drives. Two shows fit on one of these orange bricks. We’ve got a backup just in case we need more than Simon’s prayers.
One of the luxuries for me with my crew is that, with Simon, I never need to worry about gear or the safety of our precious footage. The only time I see Simon get religious is when all our hard work is done and stored on a little digital brick that’s ready to fly home to our editing suite. It seems like a long time now since we traveled with cassettes. We’re in the wonderful age of small cameras and everything recorded on hard drives. Two shows fit on one of these orange bricks. We’ve got a backup just in case we need more than Simon’s prayers.
Comments

13 Replies to “Our Turkish Finale: Quality Time with Ataturk”

  1. Thank goodness you didn’t perform any more circumcisions.

    “And, conversely, a single person not deserving of power can abuse the trust of his or her people and run a country into the ground. ”

    Take Wisconsin for example.

    BTW – can’t wait for the new series! LOVE Sunday mornings, waking up to where ever our DVR found you next! Thank You

  2. Rick, I would agree with you on Ataturk. Do you think that he led from behind or would he have called that following?

    Rod, has Wisconsin been run into the ground or are you referencing what the union thugs did to the Capitol building and grounds?

  3. Turkey is beyond an emerging economy. It is I believe a G16, with hopes of becoming a G6 country in the near future, by 2020. There is only one political party in the country so politcal agendas get reached easier. And there are common goals and a predominate religion. But one thing about Ataturk and his alleged political incorruptibility is how could he afford his lavish lifestyle on military and political pay scales. I saw his Saville Row suits, vicuna coat, pictures of his personal yacht and cars, and pictures of his 10 adopted children recently in his masolem. His children were all educated in France. I will concede that he was a great unifying force for his country and one of the great politicians of his time. But, he was also a chronic alcoholic and a chain smoker which lead to his early demise. I wonder how much greater he could have been had he not been in a perpetual fog of insobriety?

  4. There were/are no “Union Thugs.” There are school teachers, librarians, and others who have been stigmatized and have worked hard to educate children and provide information to the citizens of Wisconsin. I know them personally. And, no I’m not a teacher or a librarian, but I can recognize a politician who is driven by the need to have political power and could give a flying leap about the citizens of his state, which is, of course, the antitheses of Ataturk.

  5. Hate to politicize everything, but when you have divisive politicians such as Wisconsin’s Governor you can’t remain silent. Oh, BTW, really enjoy your posts from the Middle east Mr. Steves.

  6. Seems quite funny that when the oppressed ‘majority’ in the great state of Wisconsin had the opprtunity to overthrow the ‘overstepping’ governor, he was re-elected. Can someone from the ‘mahjority’ explain this ‘travesty’? Looks like democracy at work to me.

  7. Pam, were the teachers and the librarians the ones riding in the large purple buses? I hope and pray the teachers and librarians were not the ones with the poorly spelled signs and of course they were not the ones damaging or destroying the grounds and property surrounding the capitol?!? I love and respect dedicated teachers (I am married to one) but when they damage and destroy other peoples property they go to the very bottom of my list. And speaking of running into the ground has anyone looked around the 57 states lately?

  8. The teachers and librarians were walking around the State Capital. I spoke with them and know them. The signs they carried were spelled perfectly. The square was over flowing with people from all over Wisconsin. Sure there were some from outside the state, but most were local.

    The grounds weren’t destroyed. It was winter. It was muddy. The grass survived. It was much ado about nothing.

  10. I just noticed this… Ataturk looks scarily similar to Bashar al-Assad in that picture.

  11. I hope to return to Istanbul in the near future..can’t wait to see the updated edition this fall.

  12. This is probably the only web site where you can have the free exchange of opposing ideas that has occurred the past few days. Thank you Rick Steve, PBS and viewers like you!

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