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Monday, December 13, 2010

Weimar Istanbul?

My Man on the Street in Istanbul tells me that my blog is blocked there.

Go figure.

Anyway, who doesn't find a comparison of Turkey with the Weimar Republic to be of interest, especially on a Monday morning?

Writing in City Journal, Claire Berlinski examines the subject. An excerpt: Could there be such excitement without danger? I doubt it. Never was the Weimar Republic viewed as legitimate by its enemies, and never has the secular state been viewed as legitimate by its enemies here. Both societies have been destabilized in turn by leftist subversion, right-wing militias, assassinations, endless coup plots, the savage repression of protests and strikes. The Nazis evoked nostalgia for a social and moral past that they proposed to restore, and so does Turkey’s AKP government. Just look at the map of the Ottoman Empire, say its diplomats. Turkey is returning to its rightful place.

The Irving Connection

Sometimes, memory is a bank shot. This post about Washington Irving at Cultural Offering reminded me of a passage in Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin:

"Every room of his [Seward's] palatial home contained associations from earlier days, mementos of previous triumphs. The slim Sheraton desk in the hallway had belonged to a member of the First Constitutional Congress in 1789. The fireplace in the parlor had been crafted by the young carpenter Brigham Young, later prophet of the Mormon Church. The large Thomas Cole painting in the drawing room depicting Portage Falls had been presented to Seward in commemoration of his early efforts to extend the canal system in New York State. Every inch of wall space was filled with curios and family portraits executed by the most famous artists of the day - Thomas Sully, Chester Harding, Henry Inman. Even the ivy that grew along the pathways and up the garden trellises had an anecdotal legacy, having been cultivated at Sir Walter Scott's home in Scotland and presented to Seward by Washington Irving."

Colors for Men

Two decades ago, a very popular business guy here in my town always wore the same thing, a sincere blue suit with a vest, white shirt, various ties, black shoes. He confessed he owned three of exactly the same suit. He was my hero. I adapted his idea and now only wear black pants, black belt, black shoes, black socks. I go crazy with the shirt. I am telling you, this is a tip you know you will like, at least until Garanimals For Men hit the market.

Read the rest of What Would Dad Say here.