Ephesus – a city with a famous library
Many in Turkey have become alarmed with the latest directive which to a host of Turks represents another nail in the coffin of a free Turkey – that of a slow death - to that of an Islamised Turkey – the reader may even recall the ban of red and pink lipsticks on Air Turkey's Airline hostesses.
A strategy of incrementation is the most deadly of all methodologies to bring about an unsuspecting pre-determined outcome, and more so, in many situations, incremental initiatives can bring about unexpected negative changes requiring measures that were never intended. By then, it is often, to late.
I have previously written about the dangers of incremental changes that can occur in Christian ministry and missions. There is no greater challenge to righteous outcomes than incremental changes, each one seemingly iniquitous by itself, but there comes a time when one looks back and finds that the landscape has been completely altered.
This it seems is the alarm in Turkey. This Sydney Morning Herald article of some time back states that Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyin Erdogan's Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party, in power for some 12 years, is often accused of creeping efforts to coerce the country to be more conservative and pious.
When Turkish Airlines banned air hostesses from wearing brightly-coloured lipsticks such as red or pink, it sparked fierce debate as the government is accused of trying to Islamise the country step by step.
Mark and Delma Tronson at Pergamum
Issues arisen
One upshot of all this was that numerous women posted pictures of themselves wearing bright red lipstick on social media websites to protest at the measure, part of a new aesthetics code for stewardesses working for Turkey's main airline.
The article stated that the lipstick ban is the latest in a string of conservative measures adopted by the airline, which have sparked the ire of fiercely secular Turks. "This measure is an act of perversion. How else could you describe it?" said Gursel Tekin, vice-president of the main opposition party CHP. Moreover the Turkish tourism minister has joined the chorus of complaints by saying that the Turkish national flag is red as is colour of Turkish Airlines which made the decision something of a laughing stock of Europe.
In an embarrassing attempt to down play the new directive to air hostesses a spokesperson for Turkish Airlines defended the ban, saying in a statement Tuesday that "simple make-up, immaculate and in pastel colours, is preferred for staff working in the service sector."
Spin is spin whatever the colour of lipstick and it hasn't washed, Turkey is a fiercely secular state, despite being a majority Muslim country. Under Erdogan's rule headscarves, banned in public institutions, have become more visible in public places and alcohol bans are more widespread including now, internal flights on Turkish Airlines.
Turkish Airlines tried on the idea of a far more conservative uniform but that was not introduced – that proved to be a step too far even for the conservatives – it may be created unintentional consequences involving community outrage. The outrage is already all over Turkish social media. The horse had already bolted.
Apollos Temple
Illustrations
Turkey had an attempted coup. The clamps tightened. The situation is dire, the sinking into an Islamised mire by incrementation, the most dangerous of all change initiatives. The education system is being rehashed. Christian churches buildings and property are being stolen.
Now Turkey and Greece are showing their barbs toward each other with claims this might well be launched into a war. Already a ship has been sunk.
If anything, the prayers of the Saints are required, as the West appears incapable / unwilling / unable / of dealing with this situation. Indeed, Turkey sits at the cross roads between a blood thirsty Arabic Middle East and a docile and inept West. Maybe Greece might be the millstone around Turkey's neck, stranger things have happened.
Delma Tronson at Ephesus
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at