In praise of folly

Folly was obsessed with intimidating his critics. When the voices of reason were in, Folly was out.

Hurriedly.

Furiously.  

In writing “In Praise of Folly,” Erasmus found himself extremely disappointed with the overwhelmingly authoritarian and corrupt nature of the Church elite. Perhaps Said Nursi had similar feelings when he was forced to be treated in a mental hospital due to his vocal criticism of the corruption in the late Ottoman times. “What you perceive reasonable is insanity to me,” he said in response to the attempts to buy him off, “I quit from such notion of rationality.”

It seems George Orwell got it right. Why not join the mass propaganda: “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength.” Join the chorus, praise the folly: Corruption is purity, investigation is an act of thugs and the voices of reason are foreign puppets. And don't forget: The timing of these allegations is a global plot against the government.   

Take it easy. There lies the peace of mind.

So, that's why I praise madness after the firing of Nazlı Ilıcak.

Are you nuts, Ms. Ilıcak? Why did you not join your colleagues in “defending your country” against evil forces? Why did you not shrewdly perceive “psychological warfare” against the government? Instead, you positioned yourself with “a bunch of gangsters” within the state. What a pity! You could have been paid very well otherwise.

Look around for a moment. Some of the columnists are paid by pro-government organizations such as the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) and share their “independent” voice in public. Some others are paid by public funds due to their rank-and-file position somewhere else. What is wrong with this Ms. Ilıcak? They are altogether defending our beautiful country against global sinister plots to overthrow the government.

Why now join çapulcu, the riffraff, and fitneci, the mischief-makers? And lose your job as a result?

No, no, no. It seems not sane to me.     

Are you treacherous, Ms. Ilıcak?