Is It Possible To Forget?
Image: Nil Taskin Digital Art
The human mind has a remarkable capacity to remember traumatic events with vivid clarity, known as “flashbulb memories.” These memories are so detailed and intense that they feel as though they happened just yesterday.
We vividly remember decades-old public traumatic events, such as the Challenger space shuttle explosion (January 28, 1986), the death of Princess Diana (August 31, 1997), and the 9/11 attacks (September 11, 2001). These detailed recollections, known as “flashbulb memories,” can be as clear as if they happened yesterday. Every time there’s a public trauma, our minds “take a picture” of the circumstances in which the news was learned.
Like many others, I have several such unforgettable events. One of them is the Sivas Massacre on July 2, 1993, which resulted in the deaths of 37 people (33 guests, 2 hotel staff, and 2 attackers).
A group of people who had gathered for a cultural festival in Sivas was killed when an enraged mob of religious extremists set fire to the hotel where they had assembled.
I remember this event clearly. We were in the office in Bakirkoy, Istanbul, with my mother and other staff members. Normally, we would leave the office around 6:00-6:30 PM, but that evening we couldn’t leave until late at night. We couldn’t take our eyes off the news on TV. Statements from the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, discussions with the governor, and directives were all flying around. After seeing Aziz Nesin descend the fire escape, we were able to leave the office a short while later.
In this day and age, it was incomprehensible that a dark group of people could act with impunity. For many of us, it was unexplainable and unacceptable (although, as we know, some were pleased with the event). In this day and age, some people set others on fire! It’s hard to even write about it.
Can you imagine that most of these people never faced any penalty for their actions? One of their attorneys served as Minister of Justice, another as Minister of State, some became Members of Parliament, others served as mayors, and some even reached the Constitutional Court. They were proudly supported.
I know that the Anatolian people, who value personal gain and money above all else, have not changed one bit from that day to this. Back then, I was young and these things seemed horrifying. Today, I know that backward, desperate crowds ready to lynch those who don’t think like them exist in many parts of the world. The more time I spend on this earth and the more I witness, the more the world seems like a scarier place today than it did back then.
Yes, I remember it as if it happened yesterday.
We didn’t forget, and we will not.
#Sivas #Madımak #Justice #unutMADIMAKlımda
Nil Taskin