One morning, as I was walking to school, I noticed an elderly but very elegant man sitting in the park. He was wearing a dark suit with a star and crescent on his lapel. His eyes were bright, but there was a profound wisdom in his face. I approached him and greeted him.
“Hello, my son,” he said, smiling. “I am the Republic.”
I opened my eyes in surprise. “The Republic? The Republic Atatürk founded?”
He nodded. “Yes, that’s exactly it. I wanted to chat with you today, because you are the light of the future.”
I sat down next to him, my heart pounding with excitement. “So, Uncle Cumhuriyet, what do you mean when you say, ‘I am the helper of the helpless’?”
His eyes grew distant. “My son, this is a prayer from Atatürk’s heart. The Republic is a system where no one is alone. Poor, rich, women, men, children, the elderly… everyone is equal. No one is excluded. Everyone’s voice is heard.”
I thought for a moment. “So how were you born?”
Uncle Cumhuriyet took a deep breath. “Those were difficult times. The people were weary; the country had just emerged from wars. But there was a leader — Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. He trusted his people. He said, ‘Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation.’ And I was born — on October 29, 1923.”
“Do you ever feel sad?” I asked.
“I do, my child,” he said softly. “If people don’t treat each other fairly, if they are denied education, if they can’t speak freely… then my heart breaks. Because I exist for the people.”
“So how can we protect you?” I asked.
He smiled. “By not being afraid to ask questions. By seeking the truth. By reading books. By voting. And most importantly, by respecting one another.”
At that moment, I realized how valuable the Republic was. It wasn’t just a word — it was a way of life.