It is all so depressing. Bilgi--even if I visited just a few times--did have a special magic about it.
Bilgi University, one of Turkey's first private universities, which opened in the late 1990s, was shut down today by a presidential decree with no explanation. It was always a pleasure to visit there, fantastic students and faculty. This really hits hard for many.
Pure batshit crazy.
When I moved to Turkey 25+ years ago, the dominant narrative was that it and Israel were the only 2 democracies in the Middle East. That claim, even then, lacked real substance, but looking at both countries’ trajectories from today’s perspective—wow, did they go off the rails.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Union Square, New York City in 1874. The first parade was held on March 17, 1762.
#StPatricksDay