Republic of Turkish violence

You know I don’t like to talk about myself and what has happened to me. Nor do I ever give examples from my own life. I generally write serious political articles, sociological analyses and macroeconomic projections to the future; you know, heavy stuff… This week I will make a change and tell you about the meaningless attack I suffered last week.

I live in a relatively upscale, new housing complex in a very poor neighborhood of Istanbul. Gypsies used to live here before these semi-posh tall buildings were built. Or shall I call them Roma, to be politically correct? It used to be a Roma neighborhood. Now, we live there.

Many journalists and media professionals live here, as well as all kinds of people from all walks of life. Newlyweds, young couples with kids, grandparents looking after kids… We have been living there for three years. We moved here to be close to my office, leaving our neighborhood on the Asian side of Istanbul. (We will go back.)

I say “we,” but I practically live alone. My husband works overseas so he is mostly abroad; my son moved out a few years ago… I don’t even have a cat. I foster some sick animals for a charity from time to time…

A woman living alone makes a good target for potential aggressors, here, in this part of the world at this time of history, believe it or not… Regardless of her age, a woman living alone - it doesn’t matter if she has a husband or a son - is a threat to both men and women nearby. Men hate her because she sets a bad example for their wives; women hate her because they cannot have what she has, things like freedom, less housework, mobility and full independence. This may sound like an exaggeration, but try and see. 

Well...