Turkey, Kurds, Language: Nicholas Glastonbury at TEDxGallatin

Nicholas Glastonbury is a graduate of the NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study. His studies focused on the intersections of human rights law, nationalism, anthropology, political science, theories of representation, feminist theory and queer theory.
About New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study
Creativity, flexibility and rigor characterize the academic program of the Gallatin School of Individualized Study. At Gallatin, students have the opportunity to combine the best of a small college experience with the best of a large research university. A Gallatin education is unique. The individualized structure of the program and its relationship to the rest of NYU are part of what makes the school so special. For more information visit gallatin.nyu.edu/
About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
video produced by Charles Q. Drexler
vfx animation by Michael J. Green
opening music by Gabriel S. Beam
Hyphenate Media
www.hyphenatemedia.com

I'm a Kurd raised in Turkey, now living in London. I remember being 6 years old and going to school for the first time and when we arrived at the gates, my mum telling me "baby, remember what I told you, do not ever mention we are Kurdish to any of your friends and teachers" initially I couldn't understand why this had to happen but then learning the loyalty oath and repeating it every day came along, just as told in this ted talk. I appreciate this talk and love to see people learning about our existence which was denied for many years. It means a lot to us for people to educate themselves and their friends on this topic and gives us hope. This video briefly covers aspects the Kurdish experience but there's a lot more that's been going on and we need you to learn more about it so that we can create change all together for future generations. Thank you

[@ensarozdemir639]

That was my mom ,yours and many .... Long live the people have broken the language barriers.

[@furkanylmaz9029]

Küçükken, altı yaşlarında filan hiç unutmam yaşıtım olan mahalle arkadaşım bana terörist demişti. Ben anlamını bile bilmiyordum.. Çok uzunca bir süre dışlandığımı hatırlıyorum.. Daha altı yaşındaydım ve hiçbir şeyden haberim yoktu. Sizin de küçükken yaşadığınız şeyler benziyor..

[@kurdezaza3347]

Kurd from kurdistan

[@jasmine-gx2pq]

@@furkanylmaz9029 o çocuk nereden biliyor, değil mi? zehirliyorlar çocukları, onlar da bizi zehirliyor ve uzaklaşıyoruz, asimile oluyoruz. aşağı yukarı aynı şeyleri yaşadım, yaşıyorum. hayırlısı olsun.

[@another_random]

@@jasmine-gx2pq asimile değil, kovmak.

[@perunamuusionhyvaa5948]

as a kurd my mom always tells me to not speak my language in turkey because we could get in trouble. she always tells me about how my grandpa was tortured and she didnt recognise her dad after the torture. (keep in mind that he went to jail for being kurdish) we cant live our culture or speak our language in the country we say we are from.

[@ertugrula6291]

Perunamuusi On hyvää come Turkey and speak in Kurdish if someone says bad anything say me. We all Muslims we all brothers.

[@gamze9106]

Europe and America give people a bad image about Turkey. Turkey multicultural country. we respect everyone. Please don't let politics mislead you. We hope to see you in Turkey ♥️

[@amed2408]

@@gamze9106 He's saying he is told not to speak his own language in Turkey for his self safety. This has nothing to do with international politics, This has to do with internal politics.

[@lohrine]

@@gamze9106 turkey isn't a multicultural country LOLLL it's usually just turks. it seems that you're the one that's being misled. turkey isn't the new york you think it is

[@123meenasalih]

I’m sorry that happened:(

[@janan1108]

I am Kurdish and I am proud of my language and identity. Kurdish dance is the happiest dance in the world

[@kemaldedemm]

Kürtler bir hiçtir topraklarıda yoktur ve sadece tarih boyunca paralı askerlik yapmışlardır

[@Mervenur.-ye2px]

​@@kemaldedemmMalarzgitin yarışı Kürttü

[@aliakturk2418]

I am glad that you are the voice of the Kurds👏👏✌️✌️

[@titandangeliyorum6630]

Soyadın çok ironik

[@doublemosasaur5091]

Hahaha even his name has "türk" in it, wtf.

[@kemaldedemm]

Kürtler bir hiçtir topraklarıda yoktur ve sadece tarih boyunca paralı askerlik yapmışlardır

[@clgnbiyolog1863]

Poor people who make fun of you because your last name says Turk, this is the result of Turkish fascism, you are making fun of them instead of apologizing for this, you Turks are really very ununderstanding.

[@ashna7421]

I'm Kurdish and I learned so much from this.. It's so sad what the Turks were taught and made to do to the Kurds 😔

[@ashna7421]

@@yasingokmen9023 oh and you live in Kurdistan so you know our history right?? Yeah didn't think so.

[@ashna7421]

@@yasingokmen9023 When I say Kurdistan I mean Kurdistan not "east Turkey" 🤗

[@ashna7421]

@@yasingokmen9023 LMAO ok babe you keep being the delusion self you are. You can think anything you like but whatever you do there will always be a Kurdistan ❤🤭

[@mahsunilis6814]

@@yasingokmen9023 Kurds came from Iran? So where did you come from? 😀 Why don't you look like Asian People when we compare your phenotype:)

[@user-ss5cf3eh9w]

@@yasingokmen9023 Where did You come from?

[@watup3494]

I know the feeling. We were Kurds from Bashur and migrated to Iran because of war. My parents didn't speak Farsi so the neighbour's always found out we were kurds and they would throw rocks at us and tell us to go back to our country and call us Iraqi. They hated the fact that we were Soni and Kurd. Irani Kurds have it rough too and they don't mention they're Kurdish but because they speak Farsi they blend in. One time a persian family abducted a toddler and abused him and cut him into pieces and left the pieces in the graveyard just to send a message to the Iraqi Kurds. There were 1000's of Iraqi kurds that migrated to Iran when Sadam was killing us in Iraq. Our people didn't dare to go back to their homeland. Long story short the family was caught but the judge never send them to jail for killing an innocent child and he said the reason was because Iran and Iraq had a war in the past and that the families son was killed in the war and they were angry so they had the right to kill an innocent Kurd just because they were Kurds from Iraqi part. My parents had left when they were teenagers 45 years ago and they always had Kurdish accent so when we'd go out we'd tell my mom not to talk farsi because people would know we were kurds because of her accent. We the kids had no accent so we blended in but God forbid they found out. At school the teachers would always find out and they treated us badly. I was always bullied by the teachers. They always told me they wish I'd drop dead. They told me to shut up in class and hit me and make me feel small and the other kids started bullying me. It was scary for people like me in city full of Turks and Persians. In Tehran. I'm glad we moved to Canada 15 years ago but all that stayed with us. I feel really bad for people like me. Even in Canada the Persian talk bad about the Kurds. I heard these 3 Persians one time saying their husband's wore Kurdish pants when they had to do gardening. They were mocking our clothes. The persian call us wandering Persians, the Turks call us mountain wolves or mountain Turks. We were there before the Turks, Mongols, showed up. We were mentioned in old Greek books. We were there with the Greeks, Armenians and Assyrians. That's why the Greek people love us and we are brothers and sisters. That's why we dance the same, have same food, same music.

[@kemaldedemm]

Kürtler bir hiçtir topraklarıda yoktur ve sadece tarih boyunca paralı askerlik yapmışlardır

[@ninathomas9856]

this is so sad, I am sorry you and your community had to endure that

[@seyedmohammed3575]

خیلی عجیبه ایرانی هیچ وقت همچین کار هایی با کرد ها نمی کنه شما با خیال راحت تو خیابون های تهران لباس کردی بپوش کردی برقص کردی حرف بزن کسی کاریت نداره ولی اگه همین کارارو تو استانبول کنی همه نگاه چپ میکنن در ضمن توی ایران کرد ها به دلیری و غیرتی بودن معروفن زبان فارسی هم نه زبان برتره نه زبان قوم خاص بلکه زبانیه که همه اقوام بتونن باهم باهاش ارتباط برقرار کنن

[@Yusufsnmz07]

As a Kurd,firstly thank you for making our voice heard on this issue. No identity or language is recognized in Turkey except Turkish. The situation is the same today, but the thought of assimilating the Kurds existed before the foundation of the republic. It goes back to the last years of the Ottoman Empire, but despite the passing of 100 years. We are still standing and we will always be. We have been always Kurds and we will be always Kurds❤

[@kemaldedemm]

Kürtler bir hiçtir topraklarıda yoktur ve sadece tarih boyunca paralı askerlik yapmışlardır

[@peshawaykurd313]

Kurds cannot self-identify as Arabs because they're NOT Arabic. They are of Indo-European origin, like most Europeans, Slavs, Balts, Germanics (English, Scandinavians, Dutch, Germans, Celts, Greeks, etc. The Kurdish language is distant related to English, Latin, French, Welsh, Lithuanian, Armenian… it is in the same IE subgroup, Indo-Iranian as Persians (Farsi, Skythian, Hindi, Urdu, Pashto

[@kemaldedemm]

Kürtler bir hiçtir topraklarıda yoktur ve sadece tarih boyunca paralı askerlik yapmışlardır

[@zaraakpinar8017]

I watched this a few years ago and I’m watching it again. Such an important topic that hardly anyone knows about and as a Kurd I’m so proud and happy that Nicholas who isn’t Kurdish himself, took the time to research about things that have affected us. 🙌🏻

[@kemaldedemm]

Kürtler bir hiçtir topraklarıda yoktur ve sadece tarih boyunca paralı askerlik yapmışlardır

[@ZeinaIan]

I'm from the Iranian part of Kurdistan so thankfully I retained and can speak Kurdish but I know a couple Kurdish girls from the Turkish part and they can't speak any Kurdish because their grandparents were banned from doing it so their parents were never able to learn it and in turn they were never able to learn it and can only speak Turkish and English now (since we live in Australia). It's so sad to me that such a huge part of their culture and identity has forever been erased.

Can relate to this a lot, now that I live in the UK, I'm trying to learn my mother tongue from foreign resources. It's heartbreaking

[@jasmine-gx2pq]

@ i can so much relate. i'm dreaming of traveling to erbil and learn kurmanji or sorani there. how ironic :d

[@janan1108]

I am Kurdish and I am proud of my language and identity. Kurdish dance is the happiest dance in the world

[@umranyildiz4968]

Türkiye'de Kürtçe konuşmanın yasak olması kesinlikle yalandır

[@carpediemmementomori1643]

@@umranyildiz4968 daha dün gercekten dün youtubeye ac bak yine dayanamamis ama sen inanmazsin sana link atayim polis gelip sokakta sarki söyleyen gence burasi benimdir heryer felan kürtce konusmasina tahammülü olmayan bi sürü densizz var bide utanmadan bu halka yapilan zülmleri hicleyerek gelmis burda insanlik tasliyorsun sen ve senin gibilerin namazi da yalandir kilsanizda gecersizdir Göz yumun bakalim

[@yorunge3980]

Thank you Nicholas. i really appreciate your speech as a Kurdish. i hope turkey will understand what humanity is.

[@enesugur6279]

Thanks you from kurd🙏🌹

[@abcdfghabcdfgh8167]

I was as Kurd in Turkish school Our teacher says us we should say him if our comliitans speack Kurdish at home.

[@merlindabubu9181]

oh my god.... so scary...

[@mortezaaminii67]

We are kurds, im kurdish from big luristan , for many yesrs say us iranian government that lure is persian and i belived that, but i knew something is wrong when i was in university i found im kirdish and leaened pure kurdish language im so proud that im kurdish

[@matrixxx3662]

You can be a kurd and Iranic.

[@mortezaaminii67]

@@matrixxx3662 yes but im not persian , im iranisn kurdish

[@mortezaaminii67]

@@matrixxx3662 i love other iranian i love gilaks ppl turk ppl , even i like persian ppl and i respect them but im not persian

[@matrixxx3662]

@@mortezaaminii67 I know. Not all Iranians are Persians,

[@mortezaaminii67]

@@matrixxx3662 where are you from

[@RebwarMohamadLLM]

Be proud that you are Kurdish

[@mertcanaslan9898]

Ok

[@roj1512]

@@mertcanaslan9898 yo! That offer does not include assimilated Kurds.

[@mertcanaslan9898]

@@roj1512 I am not kurd so whatever. I think race is not a thing to be proud of. My English is bad sorry if I did mistake at grammar. Loves to kurds and all humankind.

[@roj1512]

@@mertcanaslan9898 cool. Happy life.

[@alvinbernstein1045]

@@mertcanaslan9898 Right. You should tell this your fellow Turkish people.

[@dalyaahmad6724]

Appreciate your speech, it’s makes me very proudly . You can kill kurd ,but not kurdistan we are not turkish not arabic not Persian we are kurdish we are fight to show who we really are 🙏🏻

[@cemasikoglu9597]

Dalya Ahmad you are iranic your motherland is Iran zagros mountains

[@kurdistanm8245]

cem asikoglu and you are from Mongolia 🇲🇳 😂go back to Mongolia

[@cemasikoglu9597]

Kurdistan M donkeys boyfriend , we have fought and defeated Roman Empire to take anatolia with blood and swet try to take it !!

[@cemasikoglu9597]

Dalya Ahmad dalya you got lost too haa??

[@kurdistanm8245]

cem asikoglu turkgay mogul 🦃😂😂😂

[@Qingeaton]

The scene of the children reciting the pledge in call and response form struck me as like that of communist countries. Turkey is now on the way to becoming more intolerant of minorities and less secular, which I personally believe will be a drag on its future.

[@onurcevik53]

Turkish children reciting the pledge since 1933 and trust me we are now much more tolerant towards minorities compared to the past.

[@Qingeaton]

@@onurcevik53 The genocide of the Armenians in the past would make anything current look good. Still becoming more radical Islamist all the time though.

[@oog3411]

@@Qingeaton They don't recognize that a genocide happend to the Armenians or to the Assyrians or to the Greeks of Pontos so yeah leave them live in their world

[@Qingeaton]

@@oog3411 Yes, I just like to remind people about it because too few understand what was done and by whom.

[@Leaf682]

As someone who doesn't support Erdogan or the current government, Turkey is not becoming more Islamist and has become more tolerant in the last 20 years. But we are starting to buy weapons from countries other than the US, so your media makes us look like we're getting worse :) That's not to say that we dont have MUCH more progress to be made, but your comments show that you dont know much about Turkish history

[@kardokh4896]

Nothing but the truth , honest talk

[@SaeedNebo]

thanks for revealing part of that what happening to a kurdish people by invaders

[@another_random]

You werent invaded, the greeks were.

[@mastan4935]

long live kurdistan

[@thatsablackperson4708]

Ahhahhahahahh

[@xhawse10]

It will remain a dream

[@cgeyik]

@@xhawse10 A dream for the Kurds, but a nightmare for Turks like you.

[@smyrnianlink]

Where is the Scottish language? What happened to American indian languages? How did they dissapear? What is the state of Turks in Iran? Turks in China? Turks in Greece? Turks in Bulgaria? At the moment Kurds have free press, literature and even TV channels (one of which is public channel, spending our taxes) IN KURDISH. Do american indians have TV channels in their own language? Any Turkish press in Iran? Anything being published in scottish or welsh?

[@hamajaff8236]

turks are fucking occupying our lands and w if it wasn't for pkk no one would be talking kurdish in turkey don't try to justify your massacres and discrimination by comparing your people to others

[@smyrnianlink]

So called Turkish "occupation" took place 1000 years ago and historically contemporary to the Anglo-saxon "occupation" of Britain. (Much much older than white occupation of america and Russian occupation of Asia) Kurds have been subject to political pressure for only the first 60 years of the republic. Before that (and since then) they have always been free. That is WHY : Unlike the languages of britain or america (and many in Russia) Kurdish still exists. (and that is why they make a problem of it) It has not been destroyed.

[@hamajaff8236]

smyrnianlink i stopped reading after you wrote "since then they have always been free"

[@hamajaff8236]

Emine FİLİZ i don't think turks know what peaceful means

[@hamajaff8236]

Emine FİLİZ is banning other people's language,their culture and committing massacres against them peaceful? because those things happened before pkk was created and these things are the reasons why pkk was created int he first place

[@thetagang6854]

Thank you for shedding light on the horros the kurds have faced

[@aribakur4245]

Thank you as a Kurd.

[@jasmine-gx2pq]

wow, it's rare to have this kind of turkic name like nationalist turks as a kurd. good luck :d

[@muuezza5588]

@@jasmine-gx2pq because even kurdish name was banned in the past thats why most of them have turkish name i knew so many kurds from there their name was murat or bayram or fatih which its turkish name but they were kurdish even super nationalist..

[@jasmine-gx2pq]

@@muuezza5588 yeah, i know that. even my name is turkish/persian. it's common and totally understandable to have turkish, arabic or persian names and ofc kurds should have the right in which language they want to give to their children. i just said atilla is really rare toward kurds :)

[@aribakur4245]

@@jasmine-gx2pq Well it depends how you look at the picture. Yes, it is nothing that I like but it is also nothing that they will love to see I believe. Because I may have a turkish name but I am totaly diffrent from them. You have to see their faces when they find out I am Kurdish and I support Kurdistan with such name:). It shows us they may ban our names or whatever they can do but we will always be Kurd and Support Kurdistan...

[@jasmine-gx2pq]

@@aribakur4245 yeah i can imagine it lol :d even still some stupids think if you're blonde you can't be a kurd or if you speaking turkish well (sometimes even better than turks lol) you can't be a kurd... the list is crowded and complicated but i appreciate to have someone like you in my folk. thanks.

[@psikares8065]

Her biji Nicholas ! 🙏🏻

[@kemaldedemm]

Kürtler bir hiçtir topraklarıda yoktur ve sadece tarih boyunca paralı askerlik yapmışlardır

[@roniisar]

Xwedê di serê wan dagirkeran de xerab bike. nahêlin.

[@lohrine]

h

[@muammersar8472]

Amiiiiiin

[@roycenord9659]

Em ké kurm bine û mejî wana kevin heta wana ji welatè me dernekevin.

[@Kurdistan4JesusChrist]

Real Kurds are Medes not Arabs or Turks

[@asakura5110]

Whatever bro we are bloody bro in turkey

[@ag-py6to]

not only, also hittites, sumerian, assyrians and urartians

[@am8516]

No real kurds are mitanis Medes empir come after mitani kingdom about 1000 years

[@roj1512]

@@am8516 Medes are Mitanis and Gotians plus some others united. Foff

[@asirnewazkhan4172]

The one thing I've understood from this thread; Kurds are a diverse group. They have no single root, no single ethnic source.

[@mabast007]

Neat and informative thank you Nick.

[@mustafaunsal]

What has been said in this video is somewhat true. As a Turkish, the national pledge irritated me since the first day just like obligatory religion classes did in school. I wish that Turkey had more protective policies towards any minority group of language or religion because it is proven many times that not the oppression is what is going to keep you strong and in peace but justice and prosperity. As a Turkey born living in Canada as a Canadian Citizen, I can say that Republic of Turkey failed to provide these two things to its citizens in the grand scheme. I still love my native country though and respect all minorities and believe that there is always a middle way that can be found to keep everyone happy.

[@ersgtr3421]

That was basically impossible at the time. They had the simplest solution by calling everyone as Turkish. It is the very same thing that Canadians do today by calling every citizen as Canadian. They accept your dual citizenship and native country knowing that your grandchildren will no longer have that identity.

[@SunaAoimori]

somewhat? LOL

[@rahrjiyanin8072]

IF you were denied your language and turkish identity in Canada, would you and your family accept? Turks invaded the land of Kurds, Armenians, and Greeks and mandate their mixed farsi and Arabic language on the indigenous people, how is that right? how can you be proud of a nation who violates every single human right? a country that is build on fascism, racism, and hypocrisy? I would be ashamed to be a turk.

[@mustafaunsal]

@@rahrjiyanin8072 You don't need to ask me more about this:) I already expressed my feelings, however what Ersgtr said is also true about the situation at that time.

[@mustafaunsal]

@@rahrjiyanin8072 Pffff c mon I dont have time for this, feeling ashamed or bad etc...Read my initial message my friend and get the main idea from it.

[@Cryptoversity]

Almost every major problem in the world traces back to England, most that aren't can hold the US or Israel to account. Anyone else notice that?

[@alifeghehmajidi8377]

Amazing speech. Thank you for the information.

[@RaterXKing]

Thanks for the Video. Good job.

[@mortezabahreii6030]

im kurd live in lorestan if iran , we want kurdestan country

[@xalokayou1164]

Bzhi lurestan dili kurdan le Kirmaśan

[@RenasAb]

Kurds were there thousands of years before Turks come to middle east , they occupied them and tried to destroy kurdish identity as hard as they can ..... their racism is unlimited....... thanks for saying the truth 🙏🏻

[@dilskawm4333]

kurdstan❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ ILOVE YOU KURDISTAN

[@Hunar1997]

بۆ هەموو ئەو تورکانەی کە لەخوارەوە لێدوانی قۆڕیان نووسیوە .. بڕۆن گو بخۆن لەوە باشترە

[@rekeshorey5571]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@freezeyou1953]

ama ba englizy bnusy bashtra ba Aw gawadana gueyan lebet

[@renasarian4410]

Please English or Kurmançi ❤

[@kurdi2959]

تركي گه وات

[@renasarian4410]

@@kurdi2959 Erdogan=Isis

[@Leaf682]

As a Turk, I always respect people like Mr. Glastonbury who are actually educated about Turkey and are able to share nuanced information about the complicated problems related to Turkey. There is just one issue about the talk, I do think it was historically dishonest to mention the conflict in the Eastern side of Turkey and OHAL without mentioning things like the PKK. We need more people talking about these issues in an honest and educated fashion so that we can can unite as a country - not as a country of ethnic Turks who speak Turkish, but as a country with a beautifully diverse history and population who speak Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian, Greek, Arabic, Persian, Zaza, etc. When we realize our diversity is what makes us great, we will truly be great.

[@RavenTheGrayWitch]

That beautiful moment when you see an educated person from your country

[@user-yc6vr8vn5j]

@@RavenTheGrayWitch its so rare ☹

[@ChocolateRuko]

PKK only exists because you banned their language, dont play the victim 😂😂

[@Leaf682]

@@ChocolateRuko actually that’s not true, I have never banned any language; I don’t work for the Turkish government

[@ChocolateRuko]

@@Leaf682 when i say “you” i meant “your government”

[@nameqhashemi591]

kurds are kurds not Turkish.

[@Torsengi]

Turkish isnt a nationality just like american. People who lives in america are american usually usa and people whole lives in turkey are turkish. Its turk what kurds arent that is a nationality

[@Torsengi]

@Said Seyda turkish occuppation? Since when kurds ever had a place to get occupied by others? Kurds are just another iranian group

[@Torsengi]

@Son of Mountain dear mountain person. I advise you to check some dictionary if you can find in your cave

[@tpragile]

@Said Seyda it is for u too dear person who can't think normally ve bu arada selamlar burada böyle Türkçe konuşun değil mi biraz. Nasıl olsa biliyorsunuz

[@encantevole]

@@Torsengi In the continent of America there is North America, Central America, and South America, and within, many countries, nations, and languages. USA citizens are very diverse, the difference is that they have been trying to become a real Democracy since after their independence from Great Britain in 1776...

[@GM-ny9zd]

Thank you and God bless you🙏🏻🌹 ❤☀️💚

[@edriselectrical]

Good information in this video, Ill translate to Arabic if its ok with you?

[@divinejusticefeelsgood]

Also can this guy tell why so many people are speaking English?

[@Marmer]

Colonisation.

[@divinejusticefeelsgood]

@@Marmer that's the one. Well done. I like smart people.

[@Marmer]

@@divinejusticefeelsgood I'm not that smart, your question was easy. Now what is the point of your first comment?

[@hamhai0]

its high time that Kurds too have their country of their own.If not than UNO should be made illegal

[@rohotmogor6747]

Kurds didn't have country for 2500 years even before Turks came. They blame other people for everythingand no one in middle east likes them.

[@ericberg9673]

Rohot Mogor you cleary have not read a single thing about kurds 😂

[@apaxx3950]

If you think so why don't you give land to them from US? You know like Texas or some other land? Just like how USA planted Israel just between all of the Arab states? I dare you, if you are so humanistic maybe you should be so in your own soil as well! Stop making one brother shoot at another in a land you have no idea about. We live under harmony with Kurds but America provoke them for their own gain and they resort to being a terrorist on a god forsaken mountain. Where they shoot at Turkish soldiers and occasionally suicide bomb Kurdish majority towns. Biggest terrorist organization in the world is USA.

[@hamhai0]

@@apaxx3950 Israel is not planted in the Middle east. Israel is the oldest nation in the middle east. Read and learn history.

[@ericberg9673]

Apax X harmony shut up the turkish state recently killed à Young kurd for just listening to kurdish music

[@pauljmeyer1]

A nation's culture is at its strongest when it can be inclusive. The reasons for the contrary are all political.

[@kemaldedemm]

Kürtler bir hiçtir topraklarıda yoktur ve sadece tarih boyunca paralı askerlik yapmışlardır

[@cgeyik]

Quick update: Nowadays you can speak Kurdish freely in Turkey. Some years ago my farther and I had our conversations in an army hospital (GATA in Ankara) in Kurdish and guess what..... nothing happened. We were there for at least for 4 hours.

[@crazyboyattantire2694]

Quick update we're still not able to practice our culture and we can't get education in our native language moreover if we speak our Language in public probably we'd be insulted.

[@cgeyik]

@@crazyboyattantire2694 education in our own language will not happen in the close future. Kurdish culture is thriving in Turkey and is not being oppressed.

[@WunderWaffleman]

@@cgeyik why cant.there be education in the Kurdish language Mr.Ottoman

[@cgeyik]

@@WunderWaffleman Because you will get a domino effect which is highly damaging to the Turkish state (in 5 steps): 1. Allowing Kurds to learn their own language will mean that the state recognizes the Kurdish language. 2. When the state recognizes the Kurdish language, other minorities would want the same for themselves (Zaza, Laz, Assyrians and so on). 3. Being exposed to your own language will heighten your sense of identity and chances are that you will reject the current government, which doesn't have the same ethnicity as yours. 4. You will then develop nationalist ideas and get separatist ideals. 5. If the Kurds get their independence from one of the four countries (Turkey, Iran, Iraq or Syria), Kurds of the neighboring countries will want the same.

[@WunderWaffleman]

@@cgeyik all you are doing is showing why this system is despicable and how the Turkish state cannot survive without oppressing people and limiting democracy

[@IvanaKupala]

Russia forced its language during the Soviet "union". Russification policies were strongest against Ukrainian language and culture, because Ukrainians had the strongest resistance against soviet rule.

[@aligurata8374]

I was born and grew up in Ankara into a "Turkish" family, but when I see some of my citizens make some senseless and inconsiderate comments here, I feel ashamed of being "Turkish". In the first place, I don't think we, the Turks, should be offended with the remarks of this guy in the video. If you just try to have an objective perspective over Kurdish question (and yes, I do believe it is the most important problem of Turkey right now), most of the things this guy is saying are facts. If only we could stop talking with the mindset of a guilty person who is trying in vain to defend himself in the court, and for once try to empathize the party we acted badly upon, and for god's sake say that we are sorry. Only then we might start to get the respect of other nations. Maybe I am a dreamer but I'm not not the only one :) I hope I have managed to get myself understood correctly. "Peace at home and peace in the world." M. K. Ataturk

[@user-vr6io5xb9e]

Save your breath. Neither Atatürk nor Erdogan is subject to their objection or approval. Theirs is pure hate of everything about Turkey fueled up by imperialists for ages. So nothing new here.

[@revankasm6604]

As someone with a Kurdish background it warms my heart that a Turkish person acknowledges that assimilation against Kurds is cruel. Bless your heart

[@brayehemu8889]

Thanks bro 🙌 💚🌞❤️

[@JojoBojob]

Ya Turkey has a fierce assimilation policy bordering on ethnic and cultural cleansing. The Kurdish youth that are 18 and under today rarely know how to speak fluent Kurdish. Estimates have been done that place the number of Kurdish speakers in that age bracket around 20% or lower. Which means that in a generation or two, the Kurdish language might have gone extinct in Turkey.

[@user-ww8ou5bq8n]

What is the name of the person giving the lectures and can he communicate with me ???

[@janan1108]

Please note that Kurdish dance is full of words and meanings. This means identity, antiquity and history (material). The handkerchief of the first and last person shows the equality of all members of the group by the unity of the women's group in dance, the symbol of brotherhood and sisterhood between all men and women, and the social role of women in the group. The group becomes a hooray and a collective voice to scare the enemy in a meeting means to persuade the enemy and the hated group to surrender. Raising the head means seeking help from the pure God. Chains are another way of dancing in Kurdish The manner and color of the handkerchiefs means that white means we are at peace now, when the red handkerchief was lifted and the legs hit the ground faster and the rhythm danced or it was time to declare its readiness for war.

[@merlindabubu9181]

uuu interesting, thank you!

[@robertberger3475]

In Iran , at least a quarter of the population are ethnic Turks, Azerbaijanis, Turkmen, Qashqais, etc . The Iranian government has been treating them at least as badly as the Turkish government has been treating Kurds .

[@AlanXalil]

No that's not true because Turks in iran are wealthy and most of iran authorities are turk like Ruhani or Khamini

[@seyedmohammed3575]

yea and i think this is why they rule the country 😂😂

[@zhizhixoxo]

Excellent talk, great job & thank you for speaking the truth

[@pauserepeat787]

Exactly WHERE has Gallatin been all this time I was applying for college I'm a sophomore somewhere else now and I feel so gutted I didn't know about it earlier :(

[@muratg9395]

everything explained clearly in 11 minutes. this is great. thank you for sharing mate.

[@ZAGROSRODI]

Thank you 🙏

[@sinannn000]

Another Kurd here! Thanks for enlighting this topic, we have been denied for a very long time but we still exist! Hope one day we will have a homeland which we will sth to be proud.

[@Garibanmarti]

Thank you bro

[@ghoostmann6945]

great speech!

[@ciwan_dildar]

thanks for the video .it's all true.

[@fatosarnes]

Ciwan Dildar You must realized that western people doesn’t give a dam on who is who. All they care is the resources on the land that they want to exploit. For that they create hostility among the social groups, provide them guns to have them fight and kill each other. Remember recently instead of protecting the Kurds Trump pulled his army to protect the oil fields... we (all minorities) lived in the area in centuries. Intermarried, we are cousins. We HAVE TO SEE the big picture and stop killing each other.

[@brayehemu8889]

@@fatosarnes and? We will not stop to tell the truth to everyone how you treat Kurds 💚🌞❤️

[@fatosarnes]

@@brayehemu8889 Dear Braye, do you really believe that this guy in the video really care what problems you have? He is in an American University paid by the government to come up with this kind of videos to create more separation between us. So that we get in to wars so that they can sell their weapons and create instability in the region to exploit the oil resources. This is what I am trying to underline and bring some awareness. In the video he is NOT TALKING FOR YOU, he is talking for their interests.

[@StayHuman2011]

I am not remotely Turkish, I am British and I have to say this was SO completely Bias. A lot of what he said could apply to a number of nations including his. I would be interested to see one done on Israel.

[@fatosarnes]

So well said. I agree with your statements.

[@roycenord9659]

Because it reminds you of Irish Scottish and how you did the same thing to them as Turkish did to Kurdish?

[@yekbirasti5054]

So, what's your point?

[@ChildOFmars1996]

Yeah when i studied in Turkey we had to read the pledge i guess. " i am a turk, i am honest i am hard working..." which was odd because i am a Kurd and my classmates were of diverse heritages. There are Greek, Bulgarian and çerkez people who live in Turkey. I don't speak Kurdish, nor do my parents. Since it was illegal to speak it my grandma never taught my father. Two weeks ago my friend told me she was disgusted by my ethnicity and that it wasn't a "personal problem" rather she was just "prejudiced towards kurds." In Turkey a common insult is calling someone a Kurd. Yes our nationality is an insult. "Look at him, what a kurd!" I was embarrassed of saying i was Kurdish. Embarrassed of it because my friends would not believe me due to my pale white skin. Apparently kurds are supposed to be dark skinned and barbaric. Whatever that's supposed to mean. So to people who are commenting and denying what happened to kurds, the systematic assimilation- stop it. There are millions of kurds in Turkey most don't know Kurdish. How can you explain any of these things without saying yes, there is exteme nationalism going on? You can't. Because the fact is, as a Kurd EVEN I AM a nationalist Turk. Can you believe it? As a kurd im a Turkish nationalist? My grandma hides that shes a kurd. My friends hide their nationalities all because of the stigma they will face. It's tragic that the world has come to this state. That my friend can openly say she's disgusting by my nationality. Or that someone can say "oh but you don't look like a kurd" (a comment i get much too often) as if kurds look a specific way. Or some say"kurds are turks" which is ridiculous, but that's another discussion. Thank you for this Ted talk, I'm glad that there are people who don't say my nationality doesn't exist. WHEN I AM LIVING PROOF THAT IT DOES.

[@blgram]

+Earth To Mars It's not illegal to speak another language other than Turkish in Turkey. It's your parents fault that you can't speak Kurdish. I know many Tatars who can't speak their mother tongue. They don't revolt. I'm sorry but from the beginning of the republic Kurds has become a big problem. They demand an independent state. I'm so sorry but Kurds have chosen their way.

[@outlaw6261]

+Ramazan Bilgin are u so naive stupid or just ignorant, didnt u watch the clip, didnt u hear how kurdish or other languages were forbidden and assimilated for almost 80 years and u still want to say something stupid like that, wtf is wrong with u? just fir one moment forget u are a turk and consider urself just as an human and now think and speak ( again forget u are a turk) , now u will speak something fair and sane!

[@cemerturkan8089]

+Earth To Mars Keeping in mind that I only read the last two sentences of your comment, I would recommend you to have a look at my comment to perhaps avoid the misunderstandings that the whole world have in mind for this minority against Turkish nationalism case.

[@anaisraelyan8438]

"Armenian" "Greek" and "Kurd" are used as insults in Turkey

[@ashleyjohn9427]

Earth To Mars long live Kurds and Kurdistan

[@velatacar3425]

Everything true

[@melissamuller2363]

This comment section is contaminated with hate! All i can say is that i visited turkey and i know many turkish people who also hate the government too. Don't invent any excuses for hate about a country you definitely dont know.

[@ekindanacioglu9696]

% 60 of Turkish people hate government.Do you think we love that ignorant people?Hey,come on!We are not European or American but we can think too.

[@allsalls8022]

Melissa Müller u r smart..

[@kursatcantelli8331]

she is right.

[@rainhawk5264]

seriously? before the islamo-fascist came to power the fascist were on power. hm... anatolia is a nice country. defintely. but as well as left-wing or right-wing fascism and islamism are bad systems and definitely no oeaceful solution..

[@Sinan97082]

Hm... difficult.

[@murathankale]

According to professor Arnold Ludwig’s 18-year long study, examining the nature of political leaders in the world, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk stands out as the greatest leader of the century due to the fact that he was the leader of one of the earliest struggles against colonialism and imperialism, that he was an exceptional reformer in almost all social and cultural fields of modern times, that he set an outstanding example in promoting the spirit of mutual understanding between peoples and lasting peace between the nations of the world and that he had advocated all his life the advent of ‘an age of harmony and co-operation in which no distinction would be made between men on account of color, religion or race'. He transformed Turkey, with a population of 98 % Muslims, into a secular and modern country with institutions and a social and political substructure like Western countries in the middle of the Near East. Well, that's not what some people want to see. Why? Now imagine all the Arabs in the Middle East would turn into something like that. That region needs to be exploited because of its vast resources and an enlightened nation is the least that is needed over there. Underdeveloped, tribal minorities are the best instruments for this purpose. So, today it's the Kurdish card, tomorrow the Armenians, the next day something else. Well, this young "wanna be" perception manipulator is trying to do his job. It seems that he is new in this. Keep on working, Nicholas Glastonbury! Eventually, you'll find some people who will buy this shit.

[@murathankale]

itin duası kabul olsaydı, gökten kemik yağardı.

[@rainhawk5264]

First of all, this statement was made about 30/40 years ago .... at a time were FASCIST TURKS DENIED THE EXISTENCE OF KURDS AND THE WORD CLOSED HIS EYES to this... Second, Kemal was just an Macedonian-Albanian Islam convert and a european thief who immigrated from the Balkan to grab autochtone Anatolians land. The Christian Europeans were just happy to sent out all the slavic converts from the Balkan out of Europe. They should have been sent back to Albania, Macedonia or Bosnia where they came from.

[@murathankale]

@@rainhawk5264 As an ethno-nationalist beloning to a feudal/tribal culture you won't be able to understand the mindset, vision and all the greater good that Ataturk brought upon the Anatolian people and the hope he gave to oppressed people throughout the world. He once said, "It's not important to see the horizon, what counts is to see beyond the horizon". A tribal culture, lost in ignorance and centuries-old false convictions can't see beyond the curtain that covers their worldview.

[@haifa.mustafa]

well done mr. Necolas..you are right that kurds cannot speak thier mother language kurdish because of turkish goverment mony kurds killed every year because they speak kurdish..long live kurds in eveywhere in the world

[@tr.b.-edits9268]

you idiot. kurdish is just not an official language in turkey. you can speak it, and its even allowed to teach on kurdish majority schools. read the goddamn article from bbc if you dont believe me. www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18410596

[@mihaelcanbegi5203]

"and its even allowed to teach on kurdish majority schools" I've lived in turkey for 20 years and there is no this such thing! Kurdish is clearly under press! and they even close our children channels only shows cartoons and children proggrammes. Do you know what they want us to keep this children channel! they want us to make the channel 40% turkish! isn't it funny! go and live in that freaking out of mind country!

[@Sikader]

That was in 2012, when your Sultan was indeed trying to reach out to the Kurds. Not anymore...

[@k-1m-230]

Great presentation

[@haniyaomer7934]

I am kurdish from iraqi kurdistan I have mad respect for other kurds in other parts of kurdistan and kurds all around the world ❤️☀️💚

[@abuhammad]

That's very terrible. I hope Kurds in Turkey get full autonomy. I am from Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region in China, where we have evolved from Soviet influenced independent Republic of East Turkistan found in 1944 to incorporation into communist China in 1949 for pressure and fake promises of high autonomy and no colonization by Chinese, to dissolve Turk army in 1962 just after vicotry over India in the Battle of Aksai Chin, to today's concentration camps for Turks (Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kirghizs mainly), it's full appartheit, and no one can move around freely, not to mention leaving China at all. Only left the name of autonomy, and the laws of autonomy as decorations.

[@nerminacelik6638]

Thank you

[@Secular_kurd]

Her Biji nicholas

[@ashleyjohn9427]

hello Nick thank you for your valuable info you studies this really hard you got it very right good luck with ur studies

[@Sayu277]

Regular(daily) Pledges of allegiance to a nation in schools disturb me in general regardless of the nation... But then again I'm german...

[@ersgtr3421]

On this day pledge of allegiance is officially removed from schools in Turkey while it continues in the USA.

[@arkdark5554]

Weldon, young man. A very clear presentation.

[@ChildOFmars1996]

Oh and btw, instead of making stupid comments such as "but turkey helped the islam world" "but America did stuff to native Americans" Why don't you people acknowledge the fact that what's beautiful about north America is that Here they ACCEPT what they have done and i have professors who apologize in public health classes for what the first nations went through. They aren't saying the first nations didn't exist. And secondly, no one denies turkeys hand in development, this Ted talk is about language and how by enforcing it on a people, you may be enforcing FASCISM. And lastly, for God's sake its 2015 i can't believe there are still people who are using kurds and pkk interchangeably. Then no one should complain about muslims being called terrorists or Turks being called barbaric in Germany.

[@Azadkurd86]

This guy is talking 100% sense and facts. Only the uneducated and people who are ashamed of their past will not accept this guys knowledge.

[@noworldlikethisone4762]

Almost all Anatolians have accepted the idea of being Turkish. Being Turkish means being Anatolian and having been influenced by Central Asians and others around this beautiful piece of land. The Turks today are the children of the Anatolians that have been living in Turkey for many millenia. They have been influenced ethnically and culturally by neighboring regions. The only people who didn't wanted to be one with the others were the Kurds. If somebody is fascist than it's certainly the Kurds who don't want to live peacefully with all the other Anatolians.

[@Azadkurd86]

+Noworldlikethisone turks have not been in anatolia for many millenia, if you know how many years in a millenia theirs a 1000 years and turks have not been in anatolia for MANY millenia and being anatolian does not mean being turkish thats where Your wrong because being anatolian is older then being turkish and been populated by many empires way before the turks started to migrate to anatolia with their suljuk mongol horde. I dont think you know the meaning of fascism to define kurds as fascist and you must be blinded by how fascist the turkish regime is and how its creating an ignorant society. Kurds didnt accept being turkish because we are kurds not turkish. We dont bend over to forget our identity for comfort. Peace.

[@noworldlikethisone4762]

+Azadkurd86 That's exactly my point, dumbass. The Turks today are mostly Anatolian. Anatolian blood runs through their veins. They are the Greeks, the Phrygians, The Luwians, the Hittites, the Laz etc. from older times. The Anatolians have intermarried the Central Asians that came after the first millenium and took over their culture. They assimilitated without force to the Turkish language. The only ones who didn't are you. Instead of being strong and united, you choose to be fragmented in a historically very hostile region of this world. United we're one. Without you'll be just like Iraq and Syria: wartorn, helpless and begging for help.

[@Azadkurd86]

+Noworldlikethisone first of all your the dumbass and second of all please dont bull shit me about turks integrated with anatolians with out force thats plain rubbish because you people spread islam with the edge of the sword. You people always go on as if everyone opened their doors for you with flowers yh. Just like you most of us anatolians are related to urartu, hittaite persian, greek median etc but only difference is we didn't bende over and forget our identity for comfort and ease to be turks unlike you. If you love your country so much why have you and many turks like you immigrated to europe? The joke thing is many of you have applied for asylum as kurds any way i had many debates with ignorance on these forums and its like talking to a wall because because people like your self only understand one side of the coin, cant think beyond the spectrum you are stuck in.

[@noworldlikethisone4762]

+Azadkurd86 There are also a lot Kurds that migrated to Europe and we all now why: for the money. If you don't know this than you must surely be really stupid. Second: the Anatolians didn't bend over. It's a process. Before the Greeks they were Hittites and before them they were others. It's only since the Republic of Turkey exists that we are closer than ever to a nation that is truly one. Nobody asks you to forget your identity. The Laz people in the north are one of the most patriotic people of Turkey, yet still speak their language. Same goes for the Arabs in Hatay and the Circassians of Eskisehir and Bursa. The few Greeks and Armenians are the only peoples besides the kurds that resisted this unity. All Anatolians are grouped as one, even the Kurds in the central plains of Anatolia near Konya and Ankara. Only the kurds from the southeast are falling prey to the intricate games and strategies of foreign powers. And you did too. When all the oil in that region would dry up, you'll have nothing. As a unity we stand together. Alone, we'll fail. The region that we live in is shaking in war and has been this way for millenia. Only the ones who stand united will remain. Others will be lost in vain.

[@firad1030]

very very true !

[@MiddleEast-4Ever]

long live 40 million Kurds and an independent Kurdistan in turkey iraq and syria, living in europe here.

[@Regalya]

You wrotten 30 wrong.

[@raniauniverse]

Thanks for your Documentary about turky and kurdistan

[@ahmetkaraca2960]

Tolchering is not allowed in Turkey (or at the Ottoman Empire) since the 19. century lawful. And the nationalism which Mustafa Kemal Atatürk had advocated was not taking the rights of the minorities. His ideology was only to categorize everyone who lives in Turkey as a "Turk" independently of his origin, religion, gender, language or anything else. He supported the "Turkish Nationalism" to protect the country of the colonialising from the western states (England, France, ...). If you have really believable sources, that Kurdish people have been tolchered then you have to show it. Everyone has the ability to say anything without establishing it.

[@infostar8177]

And when Ardogan apologise about what turkish army done againt kurds ist than not enough for you. and whay Ataturk didnt said i fight for my turkish nation 1915 when he was fighting against UK France with help of kurd . If kurd knew about ataturks plan they could call for free kurdistan in 1915

[@ahmetkaraca2960]

The nationalism that Atatürk supported was an "Anatolian Nationalism". The Kurds and Turks fighted against Western States for their indipendence. The Kurds KNEW what they were doing. Kurds and Turks lived in brotherhood and they will keep living so if the terror organisation PKK gets illuminated.

[@ahmetkaraca2960]

KURD MEANS STRONG! Here in Turkey are still living many Kurds my dear. I have cousins who are half Kurdish and I have many other friends who are Kurdish or have Kurdish origins. We live in brotherhood and we will keep living so. You say: "Turks betrayed Kurds badly". And I ask you: "Why should Turks betray Kurds? For a piece of Land which just brings disadvantage with it? Or is that something else? How did the "Turks" betrayed the "Kurds"? Why should "Turks" betray the "Kurds"?

[@ahmetkaraca2960]

KURD MEANS STRONG! When did I say that Kurds are Turks? I just said that Atatürks "Turkish Nationalism" was an "Anatolian Nationalism". He was never a racist and he always wanted that all "Anatolian Folks" (Turks, Kurds, Arabs, etc.) live together in peace. Making people identify themselves as "Turkish" does whether mean they will get assimilated nor they genetic will change. I pesonally don't have a 100% Turkish origin.

[@ahmetkaraca2960]

KURD MEANS STRONG! That you have such Turkish friends doesn't mean that all Turkish people are thinking the same. I hope that you get "true Turkish friends" in future.

[@ahmetalpergultekin]

What language do Kurd's speak in the United States schools and public?

[@Tacsizkral17]

The same language as the Turks in the US does. Your comparison of the two situations are not relative. The Kurds don't pay their taxes in the US but in Turkey, so therefor they should have the right for education in their own mothertongue in Turkey and not the US.

[@lohrine]

@@Tacsizkral17 i don't get how you've come to the conclusion that all kurds evade taxes? judging from your name i can see you're a turk so i'm not surprised that you're spreading false information about us

[@gamze9106]

@@lohrine her yorumun altındasın. Siktir git

[@brayehemu8889]

@@viqeth perhaps she meant turks 🦃🦃🦃 don’t pays their taxes... lol.

[@ahmettas2190]

Thank you bro from Kurdish

[@isim0]

Ne diyor biliyon mu

[@isim0]

@@brayehemu8889 mal cq. Bende Kürdüm.

[@brayehemu8889]

@@isim0bi bure 🙌 ne zanıbum ku tı Kürdi. 💚🌞❤️ Ahmet teşekkür ederken sen niye soruyorsun??? Birde çok ayıp Kurd Kurde “mal” demez..

[@isim0]

@@brayehemu8889 yorumunu silmişsin. Ama işte Müslüman Müslümana onu dermi?

[@brayehemu8889]

@@isim0 kürdüm deyince sildim. Ama keşke silmeseymişim??....oraya tırk olduğunu sanıp bizi nasıl asilimize ettiğinizi yani foyanız ortaya çıktı diye yazmıştım....eee haklı değilmiyim? ...yani aynı dinden olup kalkıp Allah’ın verdiği dili konuşmayalım mı???....ve eğer onlar müslüman ise madem kardeşiz diyorlar neden eşit değiliz? Neden benim çocuklarım dedesinin dilini değil tırkın dedesinin dilini öğreniyor hamde kendi öz memleketinde?

[@stelladonaconfredobutler9459]

DUH the English did the same. Wipe out the language of whom you have colonized and their culture will follow. I cant believe it took him 7 minutes to get to the beginning of his talk

[@alvinbernstein1045]

Did he deny it? And what is your point in saying it? It won't make the situation in Turkey better. You are just trying to talk the racism and discrimantion in Turkey out.

[@ersgtr3421]

@@alvinbernstein1045 no it’s not that. It’s accusing other nations while yours truly did the same or even worse.

[@el-mehdibenchaib9950]

That happens now in too many countries where people and their identities suffer from this kind of assimilation in a stranger culture and nation. The Arabism had did the same thing with Kurds and its criminal atrocities had gone to far, by chemical bombing of kurdish villages. What the Turkish state did and continu doing is a sort of a cultural genocide. Many states want to assimilate people in one nation even if the culture and the language of that state hasn't any relation with the indigineous people but they'll be terrorised and persecuted until they give up their identity to a fake one to be controled by a few people. In this world you live in two nations, the nation that you belong to and the one who you find established by force. The former soviet union and Youguslavia were another example and we've seen what happened after their falling apart. This kind of cultural genocide is perpetuated for political reasons and we've a responsibility to act and to defend the right of all people to speak up their language. Nationalismcan can turn to an oppressive ideology.

[@dhitikabarua1779]

Very true... Cultural genocide is a huge problem... Anatolians to be honest have no cultural links with central Asian turks.. They have more cultural similarities with Armenians, Greeks,Kurds and nearby countries... But due to minority elitism (oguz Turks),Anatolia turned into TUREY. These Anatolian turks succumb more towards alien turks than to their brother cultures.

[@selimucar2177]

İngilizcem yok pek malesef ne dediğini anlıyamadım ne hakkında konuşuyor neyi savunuyor biri açıklıyabilirmi ?

[@rainhawk5264]

siktir

[@brayehemu8889]

Türklerin nasıl okullarda çocuklara bir çok etnik kökenli olduğu halde onlara türküm diye and içerek asimileye ettiğinizi. Yani mesela Kürt olduğunu bile bile Zihni’ni Türk’üm diyerek işkal ettiğinizi ve o 80 yıllarındaki Kürt’lere yönelik kart kurt hikayesi anlatıp onlara mobbing uygulayarak dağ türkü diye tepeden bakışınızı anlatıyor... ve maalesef anlattığı her şey doğru. ..And içmekte, kart kurt hikayesi ve dağ türkleri ve bazıları bunu hala sürdürüyor ve sürdürmek istiyor.

[@cemyuceturk2939]

he study on turkish but I think he had not been in turkey as well. İf he will come he can see the kurdish people lives in city center. And what the fuck is that "cart, curt"?!! Im turkish but I never heard it before. And its not academic there is no proof, just talking

[@funpack]

There's a great saying: "Turks have no other friends than Turks". I can easily say tha t because everyone other than Turks has a prejudice against Turks. Please be careful! You're not speaking about one person, you're talking about the whole nation. Please mind the history and the manners. As Selcuks, as Ottomans and as Turkey Turks, they've established states, ruled people peacefully across the world and most importantly served to Islam. Catering for so many varieties isn't that easy, you all know that. Say, the US still struggles with racism, or take the example of Israel. They carry out daily violation of human rights there. In Africa, the authorities are in favour of particular clans rather than all. I guess you have seen how much effort Turkey's putting in order to save the rights of its people in Balkans, in the middle east and across the Europe and Asia. How much effort put to establish a friendship as they call "Çözüm Süreci" (Resolution Process).... How many of you can love having a party in your country which seems very humanist yet supports the killings of people from both sides, I mean the Turks and the Kurds. I always hate the idea of being one nationality. That's a mistake and has been a mistake. But being a nation is easy. Everyone working for the goodness of one country, like US or France and so on.

[@markberg5541]

***** im sorry alan wrong post mate im not a racist person and I have nothing against decent americans I just cant believe all the negative and hatred for us turks on here just few posts just got the better of me and got under my skin sorry again I guess it really hurt deep

[@jjlulu6235]

+mark berg believe me as a Kurd no one believes that all turks r like this everyone in every ethnic group has some people we just have to ignore the ignorance because not all turks move on from the past like how not all Kurds I understand that some people do get under our skins mate and from what you write you Aussie or kiwi hahah just like how Aussies compete with kiwis that's how people are at never mind that some people are racist they never learn and I'm only 15 good on you

[@levongevorgyan6789]

No its because you killed or betrayed everyone around you.

[@affye3127]

@@levongevorgyan6789 Says the Armenian who is the real traitor.

[@levongevorgyan6789]

@@affye3127 Says the invader Genocidal Turk who stole from countless peoples.

[@slymnlts]

It is really hard to disagree with most of the points Mr. Glastonbury mentions during his talk, but what is really unbelievable is that none of the remarks he makes about the status of Kurds & the language policies is original; all of his observations and notes have been noted elsewhere (in academic journals and books as well as in domestic and foreign press) and for a very long time. Then, the question is, what is the point point behind his talk? Why did the TED invite him in the first place?

[@KM-bh1me]

Because he wants to share with people that Turkey has a fascist government and it does not recognize basic human right in 2013, that was his message, and he also wanted to say that too much nationalism becomes fascism.

[@nicksautosales8313]

You got an A++ from me ,thank you

[@serkanyaman5154]

Why you are not talking about the Kurdish Freedom act that started by President Erdogan(the person who take out the The Pledge of Allegiance from the schools). You are falsifying the truths or you are doing your research with some prejudgements.

[@mrdennsiewillja]

viva kurdistan from germany

[@sahinguntekin4093]

👍

[@iheydo4942]

bravo Nicolas

[@nitzanshreiber6210]

One of the best ted talks I've watched. Thank you!

[@finduxcan]

I'm Turkish and I feel terribly sorry about how Kurds are treated in our country for years. A lot of discussion has to be made today to come to an agreement between our nations to solve these issues. But I think that American citizens should really be primarily concerned about their own national politics. Enough of addressing other countries' problems while the politics in the US has a lot of responsibility to take.

[@PhiloAmericana]

Quit bombing the Kurds!

[@terror-turk6713]

You are not a Turk !

[@markberg5541]

PhiloAmericana why don't u americans give back your land back to the indian u fucked off American if the kurds don't like living in turkey simple fuck off out from turkey its not there land and nerver has been

[@diakokn6888]

If you are honest that is something good to hear,and yes i agree the first thing that usa has to do is correcting the sykes-piccout agreement and rebuild great kurdistan then maybe we can all live in harmony and peace.

[@fatiakpi]

Like Vietnam, Iraq and AFghanistan Right? if americans give their supports, It means more blood and more tears. First they will take all petrols. Your nations and your leaders ll be control by them after they will take all lands from you to build great Israel. You will understand it but hope not too late?

[@ahmedk6207]

Unfortunately for us we are surrounded by ignorance where the only dialogue the know is killing

[@lp4480]

Or looking the other way.

[@lp4480]

To not be a victim

[@AlinaTowers]

I live in Turkey. I didn't understand a word that kid said. And my kids who attend Turkish school have never said that pledge. They sing the İstiklal Marşı. Can anyone explain this to me??

[@begumoral716]

I can explain, we used to say that pledge every monday and after that we sing İstiklal Marşı and in 8 October 2013 it abolished by government. It's been 6 years since we don't say that pledge. I was like 9 years old when it abolished. Now we're just singing İstiklal Marşı.

[@vuralgorgun21]

Young rookie Nicholas, you need to come and live here, be a part of the conversation first, then you can speak whatever you like. I could make a video about American indians and your grandfather easily as well. But I won't because its your homeland and so you guys should solve the problem. All I can do is to respect and we wait the same from you!

[@infostar8177]

If they lose the support of Nato EU USA RUSSA Can they force kurds to lern turkish ?

[@cagrsengul5701]

info Star definetely we can

[@cagrsengul5701]

info Star kurds are not angels most of them dont pay taxes in east of turkey and in west they are robbing people

[@cagrsengul5701]

info Star and usa supports kurds not turks they give weapons to pkk

[@evensterk1330]

@@Diego-og7nk my grandpa killed because of Turkish soldiers found an Kurdish book in her home. You are the ones who are not angel

[@Cryptoversity]

@@cagrsengul5701 Paying taxes is not the measure of good people, it is the measure of good system-slaves. I am from Scotland, I will never pay England taxes while they rule my country, steal our resources and oppress our cultural identity.....my guess is many Kurds feel similar about Turkey. A foreign oppressive govt forced upon them against their will.

[@htas6888]

Why is English the official language of USA? Why should Turkish not be the official language of Turkey?

[@rebazali9886]

English is not the official language of the US, as the Arabic is not the only official language in Iraq.

[@htas6888]

@@rebazali9886 I have been living in the USA for over 50 years, all schools are taught in English starting with kindergarten. Students who enter schools not knowing English are taught English. How is English is not the official language of USA :) Once we take US citizenship, we are all Americans... This is democracy, We can speak and study other languages too if we want. I copied this from Goggle search: " To become a naturalized U.S. citizen, you must pass the naturalization test. At your naturalization interview, you will be required to answer questions about your application and background. You will also take an English and civics test unless you qualify for an exemption or waiver. " To become a USA citizen, you have to pass an English language test as well as a civics test, which is knowledge of some American history as well as how US government structure works. There are exemptions, I believe one of them is age, if a person is very old they may be excused.

[@rebazali9886]

@@htas6888 i have never been to the US. And you are correct, at least for the most part of your claims, while some states has adopted English as an official language, the majority did not. of course we all know such as yourself, in North America people speak(work) English (commonly).However, the US does not have an official language, this may come shock to you after 50 years living in a country knowing so little about, but relax a simple research of yours should confirm my claims. I dont want to go off tracks, the reason i was motivated to reply to your comment; is even in Iran, Iraq, Canada, India and surprisingly the US, the democracy driven from the support of the equality, demarginalization and respect for minority identities, the question you should be asking Sir, why Turkish is the official language of the diverse Turkey? Still nobody wants to make German the official language of Poland.

[@htas6888]

@@rebazali9886 I don't understand what you mean by official language, I suppose. If all citizens are required to be able to speak that one language and all public schools teach in that language and if you can not become a citizen without being able to speak, read and write in that language this defines it as the official language of that nation/country. Maybe you have a different definition, and you are free to do so, I suppose.

[@sutube10]

The United States does not have an "official language" it is what is widely spoken but no where is it written that it's official. Other languages are not outlawed or repressed.

[@gangsak]

no nation or state behaves fundamentally different towards its minorities, as a nation-state naturally seeks uniformity. just look at the feelings of some Americans towards the Mexican minority and their language. these feelings grow nastier with the growth of the minority population. Western countries so far have had insignificant minorities. but now we can slowly see the possible future policies. Imagine if Turkey had not changed the language of the majority of the Turkish people. there could have not been a Turkey. I still support a Kurdish independent homeland.

[@Marmer]

You're wrong. Western immigration policies, in Europe at least, are aimed at integration, not assimilation, since a few years now. We can speak our language as long as we also speak the dominant language too to be able to participate in the society. Your comment looks like your accepting the way Turkey tries to create a homogeneous society, while Turkey could've accepted people's identity AND expect them to learn the language. There are always ways to reach a goal, it's just the HOW that determines whether it is appropriate or not. Forcing someone is NOT appropriate. The Kurds would've accepted learning Turkish much easier if they were allowed to keep their identity in the process, just like many European countries allow foreigners to speak their language, and Turkey would've still existed. It's not a language that defines a uniform nation, it's how you treat your citizens that does. And if you treat them well, they will accept what you expect of them. Yes, it's that simple. Sadly, Turkey went the other way, most probably because they can't get over the fact that they lost the empire, which also explains their pride.

[@junnuravikumar]

how many came to know about the kurds after the US left syria where the kurds are the allies to US.