Remembering Atatürk on November 10, 2020
Published:
November 10, 2020 arrives during an extraordinary year.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed education, work, health systems, travel, and daily life around the world. It has also reminded societies of the importance of science, institutions, public responsibility, and collective action.
These ideas give this year’s remembrance of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk a particular meaning.
Atatürk placed great importance on science and education because he understood that national progress requires knowledge and institutions capable of responding to new challenges.
The problems of 2020 are very different from those of the early Republic, but the principle remains familiar: difficult periods require reason, discipline, cooperation, and confidence in learning.
At 09:05, wherever we are, we can still pause.
We remember Mustafa Kemal Atatürk with respect and gratitude.