An interesting article has appeared in the Ukrainian paper 'The Day' that details the important role
Fethullah Gulen (Honorary President,
Rumi Forum) has played in bringing together communities and educating a new generation of socially responsible people. Some quotes from the article appear below.
Link to full article is at the end.
Are we to wait for our Fethullah Gulen? /ДЕНЬ/
By Serhii LASHCHENKO
.....“
Gulen is a spiritual personality,” states Shokalo with admiration. “His heartfulness and cordiality became the motive for the growth of his incredible ability to communicate! He became the pioneer of wide-ranging activity in the field of dialog with representatives of other religions in Turkish society, which has for long centuries been dominated by the Muslim population. Gulen’s meeting with the leader of Catholic world, Pope John Paul II, the Sephardic rabbi of Israel Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, the Armenian Patriarch Karekin and leaders of other communities have found their response in society and prepared the foundations for close cooperation among the various groups. Due to this Gulen became a favorite and honored figure among the leaders and members of other religious communities.”
How we lack such a person, who would be able to unite… well, at least the Ukrainian Orthodox population. Or who would help to establish a constructive dialog between the intellectuals of our East and West. Whose voice would re-sonate to the quarrelling parties and scattered public organizations… Hasn’t the time come for the rich to listen to the pleadings of the poor? This can’t be done without negotiators. It is a pity that Ukraine doesn’t have a person of Mahatma Gandhi’s caliber. Turkey, a country which we snubbed for 30 years, has such a person. And this person is
Fethullah Gulen — our contemporary. Incidentally, the Turks have never been set a task of liberation from the colonial oppression. Save perhaps the need of modernization, speeding up economic and spiritual development. The fact that a potentially powerful country has stepped out of shadows is partially to Gulen’s merit.
...
Gulen’s schools are also highly prized in Russia. In particular, the academic Rybakov described his impression of [
Gulen’s] pupils as follows: “Young, active, Europeanized to the highest extent — if one were to use this word in a positive meaning — broadly educated and wonderfully brought up. To be honest, I must say I first came across this new generation not even in Turkey, but in Central Asian nations, including the Kirghiz and Kazakhs, who were born in the Soviet Union, but started their lives in the Turkish schools that were opened there.”
...Thus, if there is a basis, we just have to learn from the Turks how to effectively create social networks, as they are the foundation of success. In any case, the Turkish example does give Ukrainians hope.
Fethullah Gulen could have become a symbol for us. As he was the one who, according to Rybakov’s words, “without dramatic effects, slowly, quietly, as a gardener, changed the inner life of his country, transformed it beyond recognition, and, in the end, brought up a generation of free people.” Needless to say that Ukraine now requires renewal no less that Turkey once did...(READ FULL ARTICLE BELOW)
SEE OUR
BLOG Suggested Links FOR OTHER ARTICLES IN THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA:
http://rumiforum.blogspot.com/2010/09/rumi-forum-suggested-links-has-been.html
FULL ARTICLE :
http://www.day.kiev.ua/317042
ORGINAL 'The Day' PAPER (in pdf format) - SEE PAGE 4:
http://www.day.kiev.ua/img/katalog/12/297479/258_3.pdf
