NationStatesBoard

July 21, 2015

Some eighteen months ago my girlfriend and I decided on Turkey as our next travel destination. As such we contacted Austin Community College to enroll in Conversational Turkish classes. These classes were held at the Raindrop Foundation in Austin, Texas where not only were we instructed in Turkish but got to partake in the wealth of hospitality and cuisine typical of the Turks. In June we experienced a most wonderful 16 day tour of Turkey via the exemplary G Adventures organization. From Istanbul to Ankara to Cappadocia and the coastal cities of the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas the hospitality of the Turkish peoples ~ Muslim and Secular alike ~ gave me a warm and loving feeling for the culture and peoples of this Nation.

Yesterday, a terrorist attack in Su·ruç, Turkey, near the Syrian border, targeted young activist who were rallying to bring aid to the embattled city of Kobanî, Syria which has been the scene of much fighting between ISIS and Kurdish forces. The current casualty list is 32 dead and 100 injured. The attack has sparked demonstrations in Istanbul which were met with water cannon, tear gas, and flash bombs by the police.

Nations are often carved with arbitrary borders. The Turkish-Syrian-Iraqi border has long been the home to the Kurdish peoples. (Iran also boasts a large population of Kurds).Historically, they have often been repressed by these Nations and have fought back in kind. Recently, however, the Kurds have been inclined to participate within the Turkish political framework for change and acceptance. Nevertheless, there are some within the political hierarchy that continue to have a distrust if not a de facto racist attitude to the peoples. As such, some say the current President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has collaborated with what we call ISIS disregarding the security of the Kurds.

It has long been suspected that Turkey, a member of NATO and thus an American ally, has had a tacit hand in supporting ISIS given their dislike of the rule of Bashar al-Assad who is Shia Alawite. Turkey has seen ISIS as strong opposition force to Assad amongst an assortment of weaker groups. Unfortunately, ISIS has not brought down Assad’s regime rather they have become the Monster of the Middle East evoking outcry from most of the world. And Turkey’s continued reluctance to take a stand against these atrocities has been a blemish to their global standing.

In my recent travels to Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain and even Oregon and Mississippi, the underlying example of the peoples I have met is hospitality. Most everyone I have ever met in my life is basically good people seeking a serene life. Yet many use labels to denote peoples and philosophies. Opinions and prejudices are based on terms such as Republican or Democrat; Christian or Muslim; Black or White; Female or Male with nary an understanding of what these terms mean. The discord I see in the world is a reliance on misunderstood labels in lieu of the humanity these labels camouflage.

The regional problems exemplified by ISIS are incredibly complex and multifaceted. Thus the solutions are not simple or immediate. Nevertheless, it is my hope the leaders of the great nation of Turkey find a way to embrace and make safe all of their peoples regardless of past regressions and absent of external political intrigue.

Rangi rongo wrote:

Yeah NZ is pretty great! Where do you reside now?

Back in the UK. Can you guess which part of the UK from my NS nation name? Still hoping to return to the Land of the Long White Cloud some day though. Who knows.

Darkesia wrote:

I missed the day I was a featured Nation! I could have demanded pie or something. Ah well, next time.

I was vacationing at Acadia National Park. Had a great conversation with God while I was there.

How did that come about, then? I've become somewhat "spiritually apathetic" over the last 12 months or so; like I want to believe but struggle to (or don't want to believe and struggle not to).

Today’s Featured Nation:
Xi e

“ The King is the sheep and the people, its shepherd!”

WA Category: Civil Rights Lovefest

Civil Rights: Excellent
Economy: All-Consuming
Political Freedoms: Superb

XI E's national animal is the Lion, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to widespread deforestation.

XI E is ranked 124th in NationStates and 34,748th in the world for Longest Average Lifespans, scoring 15 on the Enoch Index.

Mikeswill

Yesterday’s Answer: Who is T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia)?

Congratulations:
Arithei
Sunsailia

Only telegrammed responses will be considered

MILITARY HISTORY

THIS COUNTRY SMALLER THAN ENGLAND WAS A COLONIAL RIVAL WITH WHICH ENGLAND FOUGHT 4 WARS, THE LAST FROM 1780 TO 1784

What is… ?

Darkesia wrote:

I missed the day I was a featured Nation! I could have demanded pie or something. Ah well, next time.

I was vacationing at Acadia National Park. Had a great conversation with God while I was there.

I'm dreaming of the day where I my nation is featured.

There will surely be [s]bloodshed/s] ahem, parades and such. Tsk

Just a few questions on Education in your nations?
*Is education free, is it compulsory?
*How many years 1-13? (ages 5-18 or shorter or longer)
*Do students require uniforms?
*Are there private schools? or are all schools public?

Basically in my nation (Rangi Rongo) education is ENTIRELY free, books, laptops, etc. School is compulsory and you normally start school at age 6 and you graduate at age 18. All students require uniform and a special government branch called the Educational Policy Group designs uniforms, school buildings, crest, motto's etc.
There are no private schools in Rangi Rongo. Schools are often huge! With school campuses being massive, however, this is because schools run a one school building system so we don't have separate schools for elementary (primary) middle school (intermediate) or high school, you just have one school that caters for all children in that area.
A maximum school cap is 9,000 students, once a school reaches or is nearing that cap a new school is to be established in that area. Student teacher ratios are 1/15 so for every 15 students there has to be one teacher.etc. (Probably unrealistic but ohwell!)

So yeah basically that's the basics of the education system in Rangi Rongo.

Regards,
Fredrik Tyyne - (Education Minister) - In relations with Isak Murris (Prime Minister of the Royal Kingdom of Rangi Rongo)

feel free to get some inspiration from this v

The Secular State of the Philippines, as of 23rd of July, 2015 officially declares war on Vatican City, rendering it as a hostile state. The SSP freezes all estate holds and financial relations of the target objective within the state; all religiously affiliated are required to denounce their faith else sent to the Chinese held Luzon region, head officials of any religion are detained, a national campaign against ISIS Militants is issued, all captured objective are executed publicly.

All Churches and Mosques within the Visayan region including the Archdiocese of Cebu are seized and compelled as government property until further notice.

The Mikes Hope Essence of Mikeswill graciously extends a warm welcome to our newest Nations:

Altered image
Tinfoiltopia
Loylandia
Loulouyokoland
Aldoland
420 quickscopers

Our Esteemed Region continues to attract the Most
Enlightened Nations in the JenGov Land.

MH

Rangi rongo wrote:

Are you from Newcastle ? Just a wild guess. Not sure if i'm way off but ohwell.

Yes, near enough. Did the whole Northumbria thing give it away? :P

Thursday, 23 July, 2015 :: 54

Whoever is planted in the Tao
will not be rooted up.
Whoever embraces the Tao
will not slip away.
Her name will be held in honor
from generation to generation.

Let the Tao be present in your life
and you will become genuine.
Let it be present in your family
and your family will flourish.
Let it be present in your country
and your country will be an example
to all countries in the world.
Let it be present in the universe
and the universe will sing.

How do I know this is true?
By looking inside myself.