PENNED BY NEŞE ERDİLEK

I Have a Word to Say as a 65+

President and ruling AKP Chair and the Chairs of MHP, main opposition CHP, Felicity Party, Patriotic Party, İYİ Party… Or the Minister of Defense and Chief of General Staff… Do you know how old they are? Do they abide by the curfew imposed for the 65+?

Neşe Erdilek

* Photo: Nadire Mater / bianet - Infographic: Korcan Uğur

Click to read the article in Turkish

When this issue of 65 years of age came up, I was curious about the ages of those who rule us. Then, I have seen that none of them would be permitted to go out on the street. I return the ways in which official statements refer to citizens aged 65 and over to these politicians.

CLICK - Hate Speech Towards the Elderly and Media

President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is 66 years old, Nationalist Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli is 72. Their new ally Patriotic Party Chair Doğu Perinçek is 77.

As for the opposition, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is 71, Felicity Party (SP) Chair Temel Karamollaoğlu is 79. İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener is almost 63 now.

Of the most dynamic opposition party chairs, the Co-Chairs of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Pervin Buldan is 52 and Mithat Sancar is 57.

While Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar is 68 years old, Chief of General Staff Yaşar Güler is 65.

Till the century that we live in, advanced age was regarded as maturity and wisdom and it was considered to be a reason for respect in itself. In preliterate societies, the entire knowledge acquired by the society was held by the aged and passed on to the young. Their experience smoothed the way for young people for centuries. Their hands were kissed, not a word was said before them unless allowed, no cigarettes were smoked...

Whatever happened, it happened in the 21st century. We started to experience changes that no normal human brain could process properly at the speed of light. The ones aged 65 and over would listen to the agencies (news) from the radio lamps. But now, wi-fi and god knows what else...

My late mother would renew her driving license at the age of 70 and keep on driving her car, she would underline the books that she read and took down notes. When she felt tired of running around and sat, she would remember her mother and grandmother and mock herself, saying, "I am now at an age to sit in the corner with her coffee given to her hand."

Our generation is quite an odd one, we should admit it. But, the young should also know that we are not to be underestimated. We went through coups, revolutions, wars, earthquakes, economic crises, massacres. We tried to change the world. At least, we tried...

It is not only the technology that has changed, the human organism has also responded to this swift change.

When we were children, the ages of 65 and 20 were different. We would declare our independence from our family. We had high ideals. We would attempt to make a revolution, for instance.

We did not want to depend on anyone, we were proud. We used to work and have children and our families knew nothing about our problems. The young grow up too late now, it needs to be admitted.

In our day, the ones aged 65 and over were considered to be old. As for us, we care about what we should do, what we should learn. Which course should we go? Should we learn sirtos or go to pilates?

Please, stop pestering us, the ones over 65... It is a shame on you and please have some pity... If you know whose words they are...