Hello, Mr. Tayyıp Erdoğan

I realized it has been a while since I have talked toErdoğan, or about him. I know he doesn't read my blogs. 
Before I start this, let me say right now, I am typing in read because it is the color, with the white crescent moon and star, of the Turkish Flag. Many Turkish citizens love the color, because like US citizen who love America like to wear red, white and blue... 

My comments about Turkey right now is this. 
I feel that the leader of Turkey needs to stop throwing people in prison who have a $1.00 bill in his pocket when they enter Turkey.Or, another example, throwing journalists in prison for asking critical thinking questions, or writing the news, or writing about Tayyip, or, throwing Judges, Professors, Engineers, Lawyers, etc etc. In prison. Come on, Tayyip, you're a better person than that. Remember, I have been writing things about you for quite sometime, and , I have a really nice picture of you on my blog, so, come on, sir. Let's just hug it out. I never criticized you for tons of other things, like the time you killed and put to prison all the soldiers who were just following orders back in July of 2015. I didn't get angry at you for you know, the mine incident in March 2014, and, remember when you threw many Turkish Citizens in prison for "American ties" when, really they had married an American? Hey, us Americans didn't even put it in the news here, talk about kindness towards you .I am sure you and Trump have a lot of things in common, I mean, you know, when your body guards kicked the crap out of Turkish Americans, and your body guards got just a little, "no no" and all the apologies President Trump gave to you... Well, I bet you and he can go golfing at one of several most beautiful and absolute best Golf Courses, and you two can sit, Trump will drink a bourbon, and Trump's Secret Police can fly you in some 8 liters of Ayran, and just laugh and talk about both your sons, you know, the son you have who, according to you, had such wealthy and big wedding reception that he got tons of gold and U.S. dollars, and how His kids (execpt his youngest, Baron) are all D.B's AF... Who knows, if you allow President Trump to lose, he might give clemency  to your son, and some of your Bank Presidents who, got arrested at the JFK. Then you had made it against the law for Turkish Citizens for having US dollars. But, how you kept US dollars in shoe boxes under your bed. I can just imagine you and Mr. Trump can have so many laughs about everything. Hey, maybe someday it will be so funny, they'd make great punchlines! 
Dear Sir, with your nice mustache, your love for Ayran (Who doesn't love it, with simit... I'm hungry now!), your cool pictures of your flag, with your head, photoshopped in the right corner of the picture, very bodacious, if I can say so myself! Can you please kind of chill out for a while? 

For Turkey! 
Deej... 

The Difficulty Being a Refugee

I have been thinking about somethings. Well, I have been thinking about a lot. My dear readers, I strongly believe that here in  the U.S.A. people don't understand some basic things, and I have more readers outside the U.S.A. than I do here. However, I want to talk about being a refugee because what readers I do have who are here in the U.S.A. might not realize some important facts about being a refugee. 
I first want to say that, I strongly believe the world will get worse and we haven't seen the last of refugees. In fact, I strongly believe and am adamant (I always have been) that we will see millions upon millions more of a refugee crisis, and more than the mid- 1800's when people were fleeing to the U.S.A. I don't have statistics to prove my statement, and I don't have anything to back this up, however, I stand by my intuition, and my thoughts about this have not let me down yet. 

With that said, back in the 1800's and even early 1900's people were coming by the boat fulls and we basically allowed them here. Of course if they were Mormons, they were treated horribly, and pushed out of New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Boston, and then later, Illinois, Missouri, and into Utah, but that isn't what I am talking about today. 

Let's see what it takes to be a Refugee right now. In my last post I talked about how come my husband and I didn't register him as one. (Making things more complex for us is one of the reasons, but, here is what you have to do to be considered a Refugee here in the U.S.A.)

First, Refugees are seeking Asylum in other countries, and not in their own, because usually they don't have time to be in their country, oro they are already fleeing their country in order to survive. They are seeking help from other countries, and this is what is making them leave. There are various reasons for why people would be seeking Asylum. First the Refugee will have to go to  the U.N. and register as a Refugee. Usually the reason for leaving their country of origin in the first place is because of  Human Rights reasons. (in fact, it's 99% the cause for being a refugee in the first place.) People who leave their country are in constant fear of being harmed, tortured or even killed upon returning back to their original country of where they were born. Also, it is important to understand that The Refugee must seek the status of a refugee outside of the U.S.A. only. Ergo, they can not enter the U.S.A. and then seek the status of Refugee. (This is why they are a Refugee to begin with) There is a definition of Refugee one must meet. The standards are high, because the term Refugee is not used loosely in the U.N., Geneva Laws, and in the countries which will take in Refugees. 

Now, seeking Asylum are for people who are seeking protection. These people are those who:
Are already considered a Refugee (you must meet the definition of a Refugee)
Are already in the U.S.A.
Are seeking admission in a port of Entry. 

Seeking Asylum can take place for anyone and they must apply to seek Asylum, which is different than being a Refugee. In Fact, an Asylum seeker doesn't have to a Refugee, and isn't always one, but, a Refugee is always an Asylum Seeker. 
People who seek Asylum can seek it to the U.S.A. in their country of origin, or in the U.S.A. 

The other thing people here in the U.S.A. need to understand is that there have been people who have been turned down as having a Refugee Status. Most of the people we call Refugees aren't even registered as such. According to the U.N., only a few million people have registered. Here in the U.S.A. we would think, Well, of course, it is a natural reaction that when a group of people are attacking our homes and our families have all died, we would flee and find shelter, and register with the U.N. and become a Refugee. (To seek help, right?) Well, millions upon millions of people have refused to register with the U.N. because they have been so severely abused by other factions and other governments, that they have no trust whatsoever in any human being at all, and therefore this has been a huge task and very difficult for the U.N. (as well as the Red Cross, who has been trying to help people gain trust to even get medical treatment and then register as a Refugee.)
So, this is a daunting task. Not only is this really difficult, but then, there is a process to be able to come in to the U.S.A. as a Refugee, and then they have to wait, which takes about three years or longer in order to even come as a Refugee. 

I am talking about all this because people think that this process is easy and anyone can be a Refugee. 
I also have been talking to many people who think that it is something I should look into for Long Rock. 
The other reason is that with all these people coming to the U.S.A. and, Americans need to understand fully, how hard it is to become a Refugee in order to see that there really isn't as much lenience with those who are Refugees. 

Another concern I have heard people say about Refugees is that there is a heightened increase of criminal activity. This is a ploy to keep people ignorant. Criminal activity in places where there are more Refugees have not risen. However, what has happened is violent crimes and hate crimes against Muslims, Sikhs, Indians, and people who have a Middle Eastern "look" to them has risen, even spiked over the last three years. The crimes against them has spiked in droves. The first spike was in the early 2000's, after the 9-11 attacks. (Astonishing because there many Middle Easterners that died in the attacks, please check the truth about the Twin Towers. The World Trade Center hosted MANY Muslims and Middle Easterners who were, and still are, in grave fear that if they come forward and say they had families who died in the 9-11 attacks, they will be accused of terrorism, and have kept it a mystery but only to their families and among those they trust implicitly.) There have also been a high attack against the people of India, although they aren't even Muslim at all. Sikh people have also been attacked, many even stabbed to death since 9-11. The worst part about this is that the attacks tapered down, until about 2015. The started increasing again. They actually became worse than right after 9-11, and FBI has declared that Hate Crimes against Muslims and people who Americans think are M.E. origin have increased by 6%. To some people 6% doesn't seem that much, but, that is quite a bit of people. That is 60 people to every 1,000. This is significant. Attacks at Mosques have gone up. I watched a video on YouTube that was a Mosque opening in "Liberal" "Happy" California. It was horrific. I was so ashamed of these horrible people. They were protesting a Mosque opening in Santa Monica, California. The Californians were yelling and screaming at these people who were also Southern Californians (And Americans!) Yelling at them to "Go home" And "We don't want you here" and to "Go back where you came from" which a really young 12 year old was utterly confused, because, as she said, "I am American. I was born and raised in Santa Monica, so, where am I supposed to go?" 
I think if we just were educated, we would not be making huge fools of ourselves, and in fact we would be helping this world. It is our responsibility, as Americans, to be more compassionate, and more knowledgeable, this means more humane and kinder. I think that instead we have become as a people more awful towards each other. We have been less compassionate towards people who have been a lot less fortunate than ourselves here in The U.S.A. we have no idea what is going on in the world, and mark my words. There are going to be people coming from countries you have never even heard of, namely from the Central Asian region of the world. 
I highly recommend people to read up on this region. We are going to be seeing more people coming from this region than ever. It is imperative that we know and understand the people and the world in which we live. 

So- Long for now my readers. Be kind while I am offline! 

Bus News III

About 3 years ago, I had wrote about Bus News in the small city I lived in Turkey. I promised an update of that. Let me fill you in. 

Let's start briefly, for my readers who don't want to go looking through all my posts to find the Bus Posts I had written.

About 6 years and 8 months ago Corlu buses were told they could not run unless they were city buses (school buses were ok as well) only. this posed a huge problem because Buses could run in all other cities, however, the mayor of Long Rock's City, wanted to monopolize the bus system in the city. This meant over 2,000 bus drivers were laid off, not promised a job unless they worked for the city, and the city buses were only traveling in certain parts of the city, and not to all the suburbs, causing people to have to walk farther, and this also meant many people who relied on the private buses to walk longer, etc. etc. (now, The buses and transportation to and from Factories were exempt because this city is the factory Mecca of Turkey... The Mayor could not cut the transportation of those factories, it'd be a catastrophe) 

The owner of the private buses, along with a couple of businessmen and lawyers took the city to a Judge who deemed it unlawful for the Mayor to to what he was doing. (Win, right?) 

Mayor decided to re-run in Mayoral elections, and wanted the votes of all the men that he cut jobs from. Long Rock's father is pretty well known in the community and highly respected, among the "old timers of the city" and told Long Rock's father if he would help him win the votes of all the bus drivers and people that he had closed down. If Baba would help with this election, he would be able to drive again.

With this news, the former owner went to a bus manufacturing company and bought several new buses that were brand new, same color (Blue), and hired several people that were the bus drivers before, and putting baba in charge of the new fleet of buses. This was very exciting news for baba and our family, among several other families. 

 So, believing that this Mayor would help baba and all the people that he had brought out of business, baba went out on a limb and helped with the election. Mayor won. And then Mayor went back on the promises. In fact, he did what was worse. He made it so that men over 50 could not have a CDL for driving buses transporting people, and taking away anyone who has a CDL for bus transporting illegal. Meaning, the city took Baba's license for driving buses away from him. Triple Blow. What the mayor did was the most shameful and shady to say the least. 

I don't think that people who make empty promises like this should be made a politician. Yet alone a businessman. It baffles the mind to think that there are many people like this person, preying on other people. And, yet, I am sure it's one of the oldest tricks in the book, making promises to people and not keeping those promises. (Very familiar, isn't it... sadly, too familiar. It should not be so) 

And so, here we are, all of us, the world, trying to be honest in a dishonest world. Trying to trust in a world where we don't have trust. and trying to teach our own children that, in the end honesty and goodness wins, when we all know, we just hopes it wins, and then there are some of us that WANTS the world to be more honest, because it gives us hope that there really isn't that much bad out there. we are honest because we can't allow ourselves to be dishonest, and we are kind and believing, but not weak. Just that we are just and seek justice and good. Trying to get by in a world that has too many humans that lack good grace, and character. And those who are honest, and good and kind are considered weak. Always Do the Right Thing, and Then Do the Smart Thing... because in the end, You just have yourself to answer to, and you can't take money with you to heaven. And you can't be voted into heaven either... Too bad the bad guys can't be voted into Heaven, right?

Turkey, It's been a while

Well, I have been having a hard time posting. I think I have closed myself off more and more with recent events that are happening in the world. 
My hard times stems from not being with my husband for 3 years and 4 months. If one has never been deeply in love with their spouse, and separated for a long length of time (three months is long!) Then, you really don't know how it feels. 
Let me tell you, or help you have an idea. It's lonely. It's awful. It's depressing, it's sorrowful. When someone says to me, "at least you can talk on Skype" they aren't offering sympathy. They are actually doing the exact opposite of that. 
  Recently Turkey has been going through some rough times, and I am saddened to say that, my beloved Turkey is going to go through some more hard times and this is only the tip of the iceberg. There is so much going on that it is going to be really rough. I think that by March of 2017, we will see a lot more about Turkey.

My beloved readers, We are going to see the world in worse turmoil than ever before. 
We have gotten used to be able to reach out to one another through the internet. We have gotten used to having information at the tip of our fingers. We also have no clue that there are still parts of the world that still doesn't have laptops, computers and just barely have been able to get internet (almost freely) while other parts of the world still don't have all the information at their fingertips.
I think we need to go back to card- catalogs and slow mail. I think we need to go back to this because of the people trying to get our information through the internet. Be careful, my beloved readers, I beg you. 

There are people and groups of people that don't want you receive any information, because knowledge is powerful. Knowledge leads to thinking freely and there are people that don't want you to have that.
Don't believe everything you see or read. I say this because I have been reading news from all types of web pages, and I have noticed that journalists these days are few and far in between. Journalists are like false prophets. They keep saying, "I know this, I know that" and "I predict this and I predict that" all the while feeding and feasting on the the people, who become sheepole. And We, the people are the ones who lose. False Journalism is worse than people who don't know the truth. 

Readers, You have been warned. 

Big News For Turkey: Dear Turkish Readers, Please Read!!

My Dear Readers, and Especially my Turkish Readers; ğ
   As you all know about the failed coup attempt this past weekend, I must say, we all know where this beautiful country of Turkey will be headed. 
Let's not think of that right now. Just a couple of hours ago, Recip Tayyip Erdoğan madae a speech and said he is announcing something big on Wednesday. 
If you want to know what it is, please read further. 

I have friends in the U.S. Military who are stationed in Incirlik. They are no more. The Turkish President had just Three hours and 40 minutes ago told the U.S. Government and all her Allies to leave Turkey immediately for face prison. One German is detained in prison presently, and there are two more who are suspected to be detained, yet I can not confirm that. What I DO know is that the Nuclear Weapons are currently being removed in an undisclosed location and All the Troops who were helping Turkey (namely the US, but there were Germans, Dutch, Norwegian and other Military Soldiers)to defead ISIL, and Syrian Government, as well as all the other Political unrest in the region. 
Do not be fooled by Erdoğan. he is cunning, charismatic, and can be highly emotional. He is not to be trusted. 
What other news he will be announcing on Wednesday, we will have to see, but pay attention, my Readers, American Soliders have been forced to evacute TODAY and they have left as we speak, to Kuwait. 
I will bring more information as I have it. 

Please be safe. I love my Turkish country. I am so sad to see all the suffering there. I hope my former students (Exactly the ages of the soldiers) are safe, and did not die in the hands of this great weekend of terror and sorrow. 

Peace Be Upon you

Beloved Istanbul

I have been weeping. Tears streaming down my face for 27 hours. Once I feel I can't cry anymore, I drink water, just so my eyes will produce more tears. 
My beloved Istanbul, my beloved Turkish readers. My heart has never left you. My heart is broken in so many pieces, I can not wrap my head around how much I miss you, want my in laws to be ok and want my Beloved husband here. 
  I knew about the coup as it was happening. My beloved was not sleeping as F-16's were flying over his head, and bombing. Roads blocked so he wasn't able to get home to a Western (for proction of his family) In Western Trakya. Friends I have not heard from. I don't know if they are dead or alive. I pray they are alive. I don't know. My beloved Husband is OK but, beheadings on the Bosphorus Bridge, Soliders jumping off the Bridge to avoid being beheaded. And younger than some of my own kids. I stand behind the people. I condemn the beheadings of the soldiers. I condemn the autrocities the Turkish Prime Minister has done the to the people over the last few years. I condemn those who have terrorized the people of Turkey. There is no excuse to what the Dictator has done to the people and there is no stopping him either. I was hoping the Military would over throw the vicious cycle of the PM in Turkey. For all the crimes he has committed to the peoples of the Turkey. 

My beloved Istanbul. Never lose your fear. Never use fear and keep your mind and body in control, and you will defeat this master manipulator. 
There are many people with you. Never give up hope. 

Beloved Istanbul, you have Mustafa Kemaml Ataturk in you... Remember him and his words: 
"Tehre are two Mustafa Kemals. One the flesh-and- blood who now stands before you and who will pass away. The other is you, All of you here who will go to the corners of our land to spread the ideals which must be defended with your lives if necessary. I stand for the nation's dreams, and my life's work is to make them come true." 

Please keep in mind Ataturk's words when he said:
"Those who use religion for their own benefit are detestable. We are against such a situation and will not allow it. Those who use religion in such a manner have fooled our people; it is against just such people that we have fought and will continue to fight."

How wise beloved Ataturk, Baba Turk was when he wrote everything he wrote. Turkey will rise. Turks bleed the Turk blood of your fathers and your land you have fought to preserve. 

Barış to my Turkısh readers
Mustafa Kemal is the true leader of this beloved land I love. 

Istanbul News

This morning I woke up to my husband calling me on Facetime and it was really nice to talk to him. I worked on the documents I am sending to the NVC and he was simultaneously doing the things he needed to send me. It was about 9 a.m. for me about 6p.m. for him. About 10 p.m. his time his father came in the living room and said to turn on the T.V. quickly, there was an attack at the Ataturk International Airport. How grievous. So, what the news got there is different than here. Let me tell you what happened.  

According to reports from eye witnesses, and employees of the airport (who were also eye witnesses) A man was in the International Arrivals leaving the airport, and had to check in his baggage through airport security. He was getting aggitated because he wanted to get through quickly. However, the airport security asked for him to please be paitent as they were looking in the scanner in his bag. The man threw some hand grenades into the where his bag was (the bag was a bomb inside,) and burst through the security line yelling and throwing more hand grenades.He had an assult weapon and was firing it as well.  He had strapped to himself a bomb and as he was yelling and throwing hand grenades, he blew himself up. Others at the scene said there were two people, and one was firing assult weapon while the other was throwing hand grenades.The one who was firing the A-K 47, ran around, and would try to shoot anyone he could see. There was no method of whom he was shooting at. Eye witnesses said when he was done shooting, he simply turned, walked down the escalator, and went out of the airport (there is a metro in the lowest floor the airport, most likely to catch a metro?)  One man tried to grab, and threw down the suicide bomber who had explosives under his vest.  60 (count may go higher) people died, and more than 125 people were severely injured, more than several people were in critically injured. The largest marjority amoung the dead were Turkish Citizens. 

Within 30 minutes of this taken place, a Government Offical (Husband recognized him as the Secretary of State for Turkey) was already on the scene and addressing the situation, and many people were on their phones with what happened as well. 

This act of terror is one of so many, it is hard to count now, in Turkey. I hope that we stop giving notice to those terrorist groups, and call htem for what they are. Cowards. They are terrorists, but don't deserve for the media to say who they are. So far, people are specualting, but thinking that Da'esh is responsible. 

One man that spoke to the camera, in turkish said that he was going to the Duty Free store to buy some alcohol, when all the sudden he heard the bombs go off, and most of the bottles in the store came crashing to the floor, everyone in the store was terrified, and they knew it was bombs going off. 

This is one of the many terrorists attacks, whose lives have been taken (most over 150 lives) in the past year, and this year alone Turkey has been suffering so far, 5 attacks before this one on the 28th of June 2016. Of course those are reported attacks, and who is to say there have been more. 

Turkish Citizens: Our heart and prayers are with you and your family at this horrible time in history.  

A Brief Explanation of The Syrian Civil War Crisis

Syrian Citizens joined an uprising, called the Arab Spring. One group of 13 year old boys wrote a collaboration of an essay called “The Government Must Go”. The movement started, and was intended, to be an uprising for democracy. 5 years later, there is a full out war, and over 7 million Syrians are displaced. The crisis of the Syrians losing their land, heritage and culture is going to have lasting effects on the people and the world.

Bashar al- Assad

Bashar al- Assad is a Doctor, trained in Britian who inherited Syria on the death of his father,Hafez al- Assad. Hafez al- Assaad was a harsh and cruel dictator, who claimed Syria in 1971 in a coup d’etat. Bashar at first, would talk about not allowing the citizens to have democracy, however, he would sometimes in speeches hint between changing, and he would go back and forth between the two, of keeping Syria in Dictatorship and Democracy, even sometimes hints of reformation.

On March 15th 2011, Syria joined the uprising. In a small southern town of Syria, students protested the torture and beatings of students who wrote anti-government graffiti. People hit the streets with protests, (my Dena Uzunkaya account had Free Syria as my cover picture... for those of you who might remember) Assad declared Syria a state of emergency a couple of decades before. But, by much of the peoples shock, by April 2011 , Assad had lifted the state eof emergency and within a few days of that, he set off the first of what began to be a series of harsh crackdowns, by sending tanks into the cities more resistant, and “security forces” (Police and Army) opened fire on the demostrators. To many people in the news, he hid behind the lies that said he was trying to restore peace to the demonstrators, in reality he was escalating force, and perpetuated the state that Syria is presently in .

By May of 2011, hundreds of Syrians were leaving their homeland and seeking8 shelter in Turkey. As Bashar Assad’s relenting force was not easing, thousands of soliders of the Syrian Army defected to join the “Rebels”, and the Rebels by this point were called “Terrorists” by the Syrian Government and in a speech by Assad himseslf. These Rebels by this point were not Terrorists. The Syrian news reporters were being captured and tortured by Assad, and so the Syrian people would use their cell phones to record what was happening to them, while Assad blocked access to YouTube and other social medias, Those who knew how to hack and crack the governments code to post things were the ones who were able to show the world what was really going on. This was also the time where Syrian Army (Assad’s Army) were firing missiles into Turkey and in the areas where Syrian refugees were living and going to school. Homes and schools were the main targets, and hundreds of people died, including men, womena nd children. 48 Turkish Soldiers died,a nd were stationed there solely to protect the Syrians and make sure that Syrian Army does not come into Turkey.

December of 2011 The United Nations called the Syrian Crisis on the “verge of civil war”. Again, more Syrians were making their way into Turkey, and the Turkish Prime Minister anncounced the construction of new buildings for the refugees, as the Turkish people could not stand by to see such atrocities. Syrians were fleeing into Jordan or Turkey, as there were no other options for them to go. Some who were wealthier were able to f, and Sunni Muslim. flee to Britian, because they already had homes there, but the majority of the population of Syria are Middle Class Citizens. An opposing Government in exile was formed (In a small town outside Istandbul) called the Syrian National council. But the council’s division has kept Arab and Western Governments to not recognize it. It is not exactly sure when Assad fled Syria, however, he did, with his wife and childrenand is presently residing in Russia. His accounts and assests were frozen by the British Government (where he kept his money) in December of 2011 also. Syria was expelled from the Arab League at this time, because Assad’s refusal to stop fighting with the Syrian people, and his inability to st ore the peace. Assad did agree to allow the Arab League Council to visit and inspect, howeverm their presence did nothing to end the violence.

January 2012

U.S.A., Germany, and many other countries condemned the actions of the Syrian government and called for peace. The U.N. General Asssembly voted to approve of a unbridled crackdown on President Assad’s regime. China and Russia voted against getting involved (WHY Are they in hte UN at all?? Another Blog of mine!) Rumours had been floating around that in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan Al- Qadea Cells were being formed, and there were evidence found of suicide bombing being planned through out Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, scaring the reugees to coming. By this time, more than a million refugees had left Syria, and more missiles in Turkey. u.S.A. and The Neatherlands came into Turkey with over 600 of their Soldiers to help defend the borders of Turkey, Iran and Syria.

February 2012

The United Nations General Assembly voted to approve a resolution condeming President Assad on the uprising. China and Russia blocked all efforts for stronger security action (Why the heck are they in the UN? Another Blog!) The refugees became more tense because Al-Qaeda had moved into Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon. Fears were increased when evidence was found to confirm that Al Qeada was involved in suicide bombings in relation to Syria, Turkey and Jordan.

By Summer of 2012, Syrian people had already been suffering for over a year, and Assad’s regime unrelenting. Thousands of soliders from the Syrian Army defected to the people’s side nad began large number of attacks against the government. The conflict had greatly increased the tempo, and in June of 2012 alone, more than 3,000 civilians died. (June 2011 400) This year was also the time the government rages an unrelenting campaign to systemacially wipe out tens of thousands of people that had no opportunity to leave Syria, and were thrown in prison. They are presumed to be dead. Cities throughout Syria opposition had coalesced around army groups. They identified themselves as the Free Syrian Army. From the basis of the Turkish side of the reguees camps, aide had increased, including hospitals, medical care, food and more shelter.

As the rage continues, over the last four years, one Terrorist group is named completely incorrect. People call them “ISIS” This comes from a news reporter and news anchor in U.S.A. that had grossly missed read the prompt. They are I.S.I.L. for the Islamic State of the Levant. This terrorist group is actually using the name of God and religion to kill Muslims, Arabs (Da’esh are NOT all Arabs:: Most are Kurds!!), Iranians,Turks and Shi’ites. They were originally helping the cause of the Syrian people to democracy. They are terrorists though. It is been odd, however, many Germans, Americans and British (some women) have left their homes to fight with Da’esh. There are several people fighting this war. U.S.A., France, the Neatherlands, Britian, Saudi Arabia, and a colation called the Gulf States (Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait) are fighting along side each other. Syrian government is fighting along side of Russia,China (China has been in there since 2011, because my husband and I saw reports of them being there, but hten you don’t hear of them in there. However, there have been reports that China illuded to being there longer than they have admitted before) Hezbollah, Iran are all fighting together. People have said that The Free Syrian Army and Arabs are killing Christians in this War. There are Christian Militias in the war, and they are made of Assyrians, Syriac Arameans, and Armenians. They are fighting along side the Syrian Government. (Poor Christians, right?) They are fighting against American Soldiers...

To date, the Syrian war has displaced 23 million Syrians. Over 7 million refugees, only 4 million have registered as a refugee, but there are over 4 million remaining to register. They are of deep concern to the U.N. most of the refugees are in Turkey, and 1.3 million have been trying to get to Europe, but they are continually being kicked out. 62% of the 1 million in Europe are in Croatia, and Serbia, and Kosvo some Germany (before Germany said no more). 27% refugees able to make it to Europe are residing in Sweden, Austria, Hungary, and Denmark. 11% all other E.U. countries. turkey has continually asked for help and have continually rovided help to the refugees. The U.N. have asked for help. It will cost over 4 billion to help these people. So far the U.N. has raised 997 million in helping the refugees.

Ages of Syrian refugees. 52% of all the Syrian Refugees are ages 0-18. 43% are ages 18-50. the remaining are 50 and older.

The Syrian heritage has been at risk for the last 5 years now. Aleppo is one of the world’s oldest civilizations going back to 4,000 BCE or older, when the Hitties resided there. Damascus was an Ancient city that is over 2,000 years old. Clips and news reels of the anicent city of Palmyra are only pictures now as it was bombed by terrorists.

The Civil War: USA, Turkey, Gulf States, Islamic Front, Fatah Halab, France, Turkmen, and many other sects.

Iran, Hezbollah, Russia, Syrian Government. (with many sects) And back up by North Korea.

My sources came from all over, and I also had personal experiences seeing it which I documented in my Journal. I also went onto Humanitrain and Civil Rights webpages for the remaining. I have done my best to write this without putting any of my personal feelings to keep it as objective as possible. this is a taste of what I blog about. I treid to not show all the political nuances because Syria has a long history, and this is the shortest version I could come up with to help you realize the severity of what is happening. I am so glad that I mayself have saved many things that were given to me by my exhusband’s mother who would sent me things from Syria. I have been able to help my daughter preserve her heritage this way. Interesting how a few years ago she told me to throw out everything from Syria. I did not listen to her, and now, there are hardly and civilians there now. Anyway, Thank you for reading this.

(My Name Here)

Another Misconception ::: Turkey

I have been posting a lot about Turkey and my adventures here. I have grown to love it here and I have grown to aprreciate the culture here. 
With that said, I wanted to write some more about things that people don't understand or are not aware of here. 

Let's get started! 

Camels are in Turkey. 
NOT! I can assure you that this is a misconception that we Americans might have gotten from "Camel Joe". Remember him? He is a Camel from the cigarettes, "Camels". Now, what is really annoying is that they have what is called a "Turkish Blend of Tobacco and Domestic Tobacco" (from Virginia). What they did with the packaging is added a camel, added an oasis (which are not here in Turkey) and stuck a Pyramid behind a Camel. Say WHAT??? It is CLEAR that the producers ofo this cigarette had never been to Turkey and had NO CLUE that Camels are not here. But why the Pyramid and the Oasis? Because they actually used Turkish paper to roll the cigarettes and they fashioned them out of the "Egyptian Style Cigarettes" which were the fashion in Egypt at the time in stead of rolling your own cigarettes. 

Turkey- Greece... They're the Same
Turkey and Greece are neighbors, but they are not the same. They have different cultures, languages, and music, and there's differences in some of the foods, too. Some are the same, but some are different. When you go to a Greek restaurant, you are not going to a Turkish restaurant. Somethings are similar. The sea side cities in some historical places have mad eit a law to white wash all the buildings. This is also common in some Greece cities too.
There have been Greeks have occupied Turkey and you can see in many of the Historical places. Bodrum is an example. Halicarnassus was an ancient Greek City. 

Turkey doesn't have different religions
This is really truly false. There are Synagoges here. There are Churches here and there are loads of Mosques. In fact, many Jewish were invited to seek sanction here in Turkey and safely during WWII. 

The Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople and that is why it is Istanbul 
 This is another misconception of Turkey. 
Before the fall of the Great Roman (or Byzantine) Empire, Muslims and Christians and a small amount of Jews lived peacefully side by side in Constantinople (which is now Istanbul) The fall of the Byzantine Empire was slow and metitculous. People like to think that it was the Seljuck Turks, however, if you were to read about "The Fourth Crusade", you would understand better, the demise of the Roman or Byzantine Empire. The Seljuk Turks came and accounts of the treatment of the people of Istanbul uppon arriving were horrid. In fact, many Soliders wrote accounts  of weeping and disbelief that the "Great Byznatine Empire" could treat it's citizens in the captial with great disregard to their lives. The city, by the time the Seljuk over threw the city, was in shambles. 
Here is a starting point of where to read about The Fourth Crusade 

I think that will do for now. If I hear of more Misconceptions of Turkey, I will be happy to post them here. 

Until next time::: I'm out!           
     

Excursion To Istanbul

So, I got a notification in the mail on December 25th that a package was waiting for me in Istanbul from USA. That meant my parents.
Well on December 26th my Turkish dad, Baba M took me to Istanbul and showed me how to get around a bit on the Metro system in Istanbul. An invaluable lesson.
He is sick, and I needed to be home by 4 or 5 because Long Rock is going to be home at that time. So, I we couldn't do any sightseeing. Well I love Istanbul so much, I did what I call Window Sightseeing. (Similar to Window Shopping)
And here are the lovely pictures that I took from this adventure with Baba M

I want to call this the Fatih Mosque In Istanbul it is easy to find and  near Tramways and Metro stops.

Another part of the Castle Wall

From the Autoban to the Marmara Sea: View from my bus.

This is called Lake Büyükçekmece (pronounced Bookcheckmege the e sounds like the e as in "egg")

Adding Color

Let me add a little color to my posts. I have noticed I have not added pictures recently. I must rectify that :

I went to Marmara Ereğlisi on Sunday. Marmara Ereğlisi is a good place to spend the day but I do not think I would want to spend more then one day. However, there are some things to see. There are a lot of little café's and there is a park that is actually going into some decline, but someone moves the lawn. It is a place that has lots of columns and I some artifacts that are worth seeing. Little things though. There is more in this city I think than we can see because I think that through out time things have been covered. I say that because as we were leaving there was a HUGE project going on to uncover what looked like part of a village. It was about a block size or maybe a half block and it was being excavated. Like much of Turkey, I am sure a family decided to build, dug up some ancient walls and brought in some experts, closed it down to do some more digging and that is what it looks like. For more information on this fascinating little sea side city, here is a link: Click here to read about Marmara Ereğlisi I have some pictures of another day I went, but here are more:

This is the Cake I bought with Long Rock for Mother's Day for his mom. I put the fresh flowers on

The Flowers are in full bloom. These are on our balcony

Turkish Countryside.

Ever wondered where canola oil came from? Here you go^^

This is ruins of the Ancient Castle that was here in the Greek and Roman Days.

The Fisherman's Docks

the Fishermen live in those little living quarters where those red doors are.

More of the wall. There is a Castle up there and this is part of the castle which is now a barn

My Turkish Mother and Law to be and Grandma. Aren't they cute? I love them.

Turkish parents. I call them Mom and Dad. Anne and Baba it s easier.

Now us girls.

This is from the Byzantine Days.

Some things are as old as Greek and some Roman. This is Titus, And I believe he was alive in the Byzantine Days. There is also his wife and Maximilian. He was a Gladiator- Turned Monk.

This is Greek Tablet.

Another Greek Tablet.

The Beautification Project in Various Sea Side Cities in turkey. This one is in Marmara Ereğlisi.

This is a typical little home with a wall surrounding it here in M. Ereğlisi.

I noticed this little Farm and next to it is the home with a beautiful garden. the family stores their Farm Equipment there. 

Poppies grow all over Turkey.

Farm Equipment

Statues of Kemal Atatürk are found all over Turkey and even in little villages. He is the founding Father of Turkey.

Roses growing up a Gazebo in a park in Marmara Ereğlisi

Flowers blooming all over. Daisies grow like crazy here in Turkey. The yellow of these daisies are the inspiration for the colors of the beloved Soccer team Fenerbahce.

Those Orange Ships are the Turkish Coast Guard. I wonder where the road there leads.

Another view I am above the old ancient wall. See waaayyy down there? That is the Fisherman's Dock.

A Farm house. This is the wall for the barn but it connects to the family's garden. I thought it was so pretty.

Another Farm house. With Fig Tress. So very pretty.

We had tea near the fisherman's docks. We thought we ordered Rose Hip Tea but got hot Kool- Aid tasting tea which was very very sweet. Even too sweet for my mom. (That is VERY sweet :)  )

View from the Fisherman's Docks.