Update 6

Here is what I'm reading during the limited free time I've got here:

* James Burke - Connections

* John Perkins - Hoodwinked

* Vamik Volkan - Cyprus: War and Adaptation

* Rumi - Tales from the Masnavi

* Refik Halid Karay - The Floating Garden

Update 5

I guess I've already experienced the best memory that I'll ever have during my military service.

Last week, as always, I was working in the office, doing boring paperwork about military logistics.

Then I heard a thump, thought that somebody threw something on the window.

But a small bird started to fly inside the building before nose-diving on the floor again.

So I realized that it was this bird who mistakenly trapped inside, hitting the clean window glass while trying to escape to freedom.

It seemed to me that she seriously injured herself, so I carefully placed her onto a piece of paper, as if it was a stretcher.

A commander and a private were watching my little rescue operation.

Then we all went out. I didn't want to put the injured bird on the ground as there were cats around. The commander suggested to put her onto a tree branch.

As I was moving towards a tree, the bird suddenly woke up and started to fly. She flew to the exact branch that we designed as a safe location.

This miraculous flight cheered us all up. We celebrated it with applause, like kids. The occasion that made us down a few moments ago suddenly turned out to be something that made us happy. The bird seemed OK and the life was good again.

Update 4

The military service is surely an opportunity to experience the multicultural Turkey in a way that you can't do anywhere else.

Currently, I'm the sergeant of a group of privates from every region of the country.

A few days ago, I was waiting for my turn to use the public telephone in our garrison.

First soldier was speaking Kurdish with his family.

Second one was speaking the Laz language.

Then, I spoke English with my wife and Turkish with my mom.

And I went back to the barracks, lied down on my bunk bed, started to read what was written by ex-soldiers to the metal on the lower part of the bed above me.

A cross got my attention.

It was obviously drawn by a Christian.

There was a cartoonish Jesus Christ on the cross.

Right below, it was written in Turkish:

"Do not lose your belief in God. Save us, Lord!"

Update 3

It seems that there is a reconciliation in the revolution.

It is -clearly- an oxymoron...

So those who were suspicious about what's going on in the Middle East, like me, were probably right.

Let's remember another quote from Bukowski:

"Some want a revolution, I know; but when you set up your new government after the revolt, you might see that it is still your old Father, only with a new mask on his face."

But when will all the faces be revealed to us all?

When will the Truth be available for ALL people in the world?