A historic speech. "The most correct and true order is the order of civilization" — Atatürk

Historical Speech. "The truest and most genuine order is the order of civilization" — Atatürk

October 29 is celebrated in Turkey as Republic Day, one of the most important national holidays. On October 29, 1923, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey declared the country's form of government a republic. At the beginning of this stage of statehood stood the founder of the new republic and its first president, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Having led the national movement after the First World War, Atatürk, along with the new state structure, put forward a series of changes aimed at reorganizing social and cultural life.

The text presented below is taken from Atatürk's speech delivered during his visit to the Kastamonu and İnebolu region in August 1925. In this address, he outlined his views on revising the social structure, customs, and civic image based on modern standards.

This speech later served as the basis for a number of important decisions encompassing the legal and social life of Turkey, including:

Gentlemen!

The most valuable aspect of my observations is that the sincere people of this beautiful land are extremely enlightened, broad-minded, and possess high intellect. I must admit, my expectations prior to this trip were quite different from the conclusions I have now drawn for myself. If it were not for esteemed deputies like Ali Rıza Bey and Mehmet Fuat Bey, who knows how much further those attempting to portray you as completely opposite to who you truly are would have gone in misleading people's minds. This high worldview of yours, the practical results of which I see with satisfaction, naturally did not form in a moment or a single day. To put forward such a claim would be sheer ignorance otherwise. Undoubtedly, the esteemed people of this region have long been advancing along the natural chain of cultural development. They are advancing still. Today I am happy to witness the natural expression of that development.

I believe that those who claim the opposite of this truth and attempt to paralyze our steps toward progress relied on their half-baked knowledge, decayed logic, and weak minds in passing their judgments. If these miserable, selfish individuals, instead of doing so, had appealed to the sound mind and conscience of the people and drawn inspiration from it, they would not have committed such unpleasant mistakes today that have put them in a position both ridiculous and embarrassing. However, recognizing the importance of sound intellect, which stands superior to mind, logic, and knowledge, does not suit fake scholars.

Friends!

After the great and practical events in which our nation was the main hero, no one has the right anymore to doubt that it possesses a firm consciousness.

Consciousness always leads forward and toward novelty. Considering that it is a quality that absolutely does not accept retreat, the people of the Republic of Turkey will continue to walk toward progress and renewal with swift steps. As long as consciousness is not harmed, it is impossible even to think about turning back or stopping. Although treacherous attempts over the centuries periodically plunged the nation into the sleep of heedlessness, they never succeeded in paralyzing its consciousness. This truth is proven by itself through the conscious efforts the nation is displaying today. If this consciousness had been weakened or diseased, even the greatest power would have been helpless to restore it to such a lively and vigorous state as it is today.

Gentlemen!

We paid no attention to those given to doubts and suspicions contrary to the genuine will of the nation. I am especially pleased and proud of this today. To reveal the secret of how correct our decision was, I must state immediately: our source of inspiration was, and always will be, directly the conscience of the entire Turkish nation.

As long as we draw all our courage, abundance, and strength from the national conscience and consider the sound mind and intellect of the nation as our guide in these efforts, we are confident that, as until now, hereafter too we will lead the nation to the right goals.

True revolutionaries are those who know how to find the way to the genuine aspirations in the spirit and conscience of the people they want to lead toward progress and renewal. In this connection, let me also emphasize: the owner of the miracles demonstrated by the Turkish nation in recent years, of the political and social revolutions it has realized, is the nation itself—that is, you. If our nation did not possess such capacity and potential for progress, no force or power would have been sufficient to create it. There is no need to explain that it is naturally impossible to take a society at a certain stage of development from its state and suddenly, out of nowhere, without any preparation, lift it to a level of progress.

…Gentlemen! The idea of the revolutions we have made and are making is to transform the people of the Republic of Turkey completely into a modern social society that is civilized in every sense and form. This is the main principle of our revolutions… Worldviews that cannot accept this truth must be destroyed. Until today, it has been people with such concepts who rusted the mind of this nation and paralyzed it. Whatever happens, existing superstitions in minds will be completely removed. Unless they are cast out, it is impossible to instill the rays of truth into consciousness.

Seeking help from graves, fake saints, and the dead is a disgrace for a civilized society.

…What else can be the purpose of existing orders than to bring their followers to happiness in worldly and spiritual life? Today, in the face of the scope of science and the bright beam of culture, I absolutely do not accept the presence of primitive people in Turkey's civilized society who look for material and spiritual happiness by the direction of this or that sheikh.

Gentlemen and O nation! Know well that the Republic of Turkey cannot be a country of sheikhs, dervishes, disciples, and followers.

The truest and most genuine order is the order of civilization.

To do whatever civilization commands and demands is sufficient to be human. The leaders of the orders will understand this truth I have spoken with all its clarity, will immediately close their lodges of their own free will, and will certainly recognize that their disciples have finally gained sense. Friends, while expressing my gratitude before you, in front of the whole nation, I consider it my duty before history and conscience to say what I have felt and seen as it is.

In the government of our Republic, there is the Presidency of Religious Affairs. There are many official employees under this department, such as muftis, preachers, and imams. To what extent the knowledge and virtue of these responsible individuals stand is known to all. However, I see that many individuals who have no official duty in this field continue to walk around in the same attire. Among them, I have encountered extremely ignorant, even illiterate ones. Especially, such ignorant people in certain places present themselves as if they were representatives of the people and take the lead among the public. They are attempting to become a barrier, as it were, to the government's direct communication with the people.

I would like to ask such individuals: from whom, from where did they receive this status and authority? As is known, the true representatives of the nation are the deputies elected by the people and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey formed by them, as well as the Republic Government that has earned the trust of the Assembly. Likewise, there are local authorities and their councils. I want to remind the nation: allowing such lawlessness and disorganization is absolutely inadmissible. Whatever happens, I personally bring to the attention of the government the harm in such people, who possess no authority, walking around wearing the same special attire as official duty-bound employees.

…I said it in İnebolu and in some other places as well. Since it is considered an urgent issue of today, I want to dwell on it here too. As in every nation, we too had a national attire, but the undeniable truth is that the clothing we are wearing now is not that national attire. Very few among us even know what our national attire is.

For example, I see a person in the crowd in front of me: on his head is a fez, over the fez a green turban, on his body a shirt, and over it a jacket just like mine, while I cannot see the lower part. Well, what kind of dressing is this? Does a civilized person enter such an appearance and make the whole world laugh at him?

…State employees, as well as the entire nation, will regulate their attire. A modern, civilized outfit tested in every respect from the standpoint of science, health, and comfort will be chosen. There is no room for hesitation in this matter. We no longer have the patience or endurance to repeat the bitter lessons of the heedlessness that stretched over centuries. To be stubborn and obstinate in taking the steps necessary to prove that we are humans, that we are civilized people, does not suit perfect humanity at all.

Friends, the Turkish nation has proven through the huge events it experienced that it is a nation striving for novelty and a revolutionary nation. Even before recent years, our nation did not fail to strive to follow the path of renewal and realize social changes. However, the expected real results were not seen. Have you thought about why the reason for this was?

In my opinion, the main reason for this is that the work was not started from its true foundation. Let me speak openly about this. Society, that is, the nation, consists of human beings of two sexes called man and woman. Is it possible to achieve the progress of the nation as a whole by developing one part of society and looking with indifference at the second part?

Can one half of a community remain on the ground in chains while the other half can fly to the heavens?

Undoubtedly, the steps of progress must be taken side by side, in solidarity, by representatives of both sexes I mentioned, and the stages of development and renewal must be passed together. Only then will the revolution end successfully. We observe with satisfaction that our walk today is approaching this vital necessity. Be that as it may, it is clear as day that it is necessary to be even more courageous on this path.

…In some places I see women: throwing a yemeni, a headband, or something similar over their heads, hiding their faces and eyes; if a man passes by them, they either immediately turn their backs or squat on the ground. What is the meaning and essence of such behavior? Gentlemen, does the mother of a civilized nation, the daughter of a nation, fall into such a strange appearance, into such a wild state? This situation is a sight that makes the nation look extremely ridiculous. This must be corrected immediately!