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This is the translation of two articles that appeared on December 22. The first appeared in the Turkish mainstream daily, Hürriyet, and the second in the conservative, religious daily, Zaman.
The articles were, of course, translated by the Bridge.

THANK HEAVENS Turkey hasn't gone the way of Argentina.

Let's just hope it never does.
For, even if its economy is similar, Turkey is a different country from Argentina.

However tough the going gets, Turkish people are not reacting in the same way as the Argentineans.

There is some sort of deficit in our social genes: we don't like producing, we are great fans of living at somebody else's expense, and if that fails, then falling back on the state. Moreover, we do not exhibit the social reaction demanded by certain situations.

But, thank heavens, we are not looters.

Not only do we not think it clever to covet our neighbours' property and honour, we find this shameful and even reproach those who just contemplate such a course of action even in the hardest of times.

Turkish people do not like living in constant conflict among themselves.

Moreover, however great the anger felt by Turkish people towards politicians, they wouldn't dream of putting their lives or property at risk.

In Turkey, conflict is all at the top.

The people have no problem with one another.

The people have no disputes with one another. From time to time anger has been felt between Kurd-Turk, Laz-Circassian, Muslim-Jew-Armenian-Greek, secular-religious, but nobody dreams of laying a finger on anyone's life or property, nor is there any toleration for those who do.

The conflict is at the top!

Whenever there is trouble in Turkey, you can bet that somewhere there is a squabble among those at the top for a share of the cake.

In Turkish history both the Armenian question and the Kurdish question were the result of the personal policies of a handful of people at the top.

If the people were left to themselves, this land is so rich that nobody would bother about anybody else.

We are one of the countries with the most disgraceful income distributions in the world.

However, the people have never paid any heed to the call to arms by the communists in their day and the fundamentalists now.

Indeed, they steer clear of those spoiling for a fight.

Interestingly enough, serious research shows that in this country roughly ¾ of those people who stated that they voted for parties whose policies are based on religion are happy with the benefits brought by the republic, and that even if they are against certain practices they do not wish to replace the republic with a different regime.

Certainly, the politicians and bureaucrats managing the economy have also played a part in preventing Turkey from going the way of Argentina.

But, we have to reserve the greatest accolade for the people.

It goes without saying that these people do not relish suffering, but under no circumstances do they wish to turn suffering into conflict.

Among the most valuable capital that a country may possess is for the people to steer clear of conflict even under the worst of circumstances.

I was sitting at home in the evening when a scream came from outside. I rushed to the balcony. A 60-year-old woman was shouting, she wanted help. Two youths had snatched her bag and run off. Everyone came out into the street. The muggers had long since made themselves scarce. Muggers can grab bags from people's hands and make off at the busiest times of day in the centre of the city. Those who have been released as a result of the pardon have now started to attack homes. Posing as salesmen or the like, they press the bell and rush in as soon as the door is opened to grab whatever they can and flee. Over the past nine months 50,000 crimes have been reported to the police of which 20 percent have been solved. One thing is clear: the safety of people's lives and property is no longer guaranteed. Every day the number of unemployed, hungry and hopeless people increases a little more. Ten million people are unemployed. This means that 30-35 million people are deprived of a regular, adequate income. Official figures confirm this. Thirty million people in Turkey are trying to eke out an existence well below the poverty line.

In Argentina, scene of a social explosion, 14 percent of the population is unemployed. There is turmoil now that the government is unable to repay the 132 billion dollars it owes to the IMF. People attacking department stores, workplaces and shops have begun to loot openly. Two days have seen 16 dead and hundreds injured. The poor are rising up in this country where a state of emergency has been declared. They are setting light to government buildings and the economy ministry.

Those who draw comparisons between Argentina and Turkey are basically on the right lines. This country that today is wobbling on the verge of starvation, poverty and hopelessness was pushed into this state of affairs by unemployment, unequal income distribution, state deficits that proved impossible to stem, the internal and external debt burden and corruption. All these points apply in equal measure to Turkey. Unemployment is endemic in Turkey. The share of national income accruing to the bottom 20 percent has fallen to around three percent. The size of the hole that will be made by the budget deficit in next year's budget has already been announced. The external debt burden continues to grow. Interest payments on internal debt, on which a significant portion of income goes, adds to the wealth of the rentier class that lives off the state and looks on productive effort with disdain. Corruption has taken on massive proportions. Even without the heavy burden caused by the private banks that were taken over by the fund, the loss made by the state banks since 1995 amounts to 42 billion dollars.

In Argentina luxury restaurants, bars, nightclubs, entertainment centres and shopping malls are open and packed full. But just behind the rich areas millions swim in an ocean of poverty. The situation in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir is no different from Argentina. Debauchery, wild consumption and insensitivity go cheek by jowl with poverty and hunger. In Argentina the government laid claim to the salaries of civil servants, and when they then laid claim to pensions people poured onto the streets, looting began. In Turkey the state lays claim to earthquake money, educational contribution shares and compulsory savings, introduces new taxes every day and brings in one price increase after another.

On all these counts, there is total similarity between Argentina and Turkey. Where they differ is on Islam and the rent provided to Turkey in the aftermath of 11 September. The month of Ramadan has halted the deep pain that has shaken the foundations of society for at least three to four months. The main factors preventing a social explosion are the continuing strength of the family, mutual social support and the responsibilities that religion imposes on the individual and social groups. Turkey owes a great debt of gratitude to Islam and religious communities, yet singles these out for the harshest treatment, thus cutting the ground from its very feet.

Turkey is like Argentina; a different version, however. People probably won't pour onto the streets and loot stores; but if things go on like this there will be a different kind of explosion.