Erdogan's election ad

[topum]

The events in Turkey reminded me how strange one of Erdogan's election ads looked to me when I first saw it, using people as tower building material for the flag, etc.

I also wondered what happened to that guy who jumped off that tower to raise that flag.

Comments

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

That one shot of everyone diving off a cliff and into the sea...

I guess lemmings isn't a meme in Turkey.

[topum.livejournal.com]

The whole thing just makes me very uneasy. If I had to come up with one ad to ensure that not a single person was going to vote for me back at home, I would not be able to do better than this ad.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

When I was in Turkey I noticed that the flag was ubiquitous, in a way I've otherwise seen only in the United States.

[topum.livejournal.com]

Indeed.

[bluemeanybeany.livejournal.com]

I sent my Turkish work colleague an email yesterday night because he was all like "I'm going out" - on social media, so I sent an email saying "you do know there's shooting" and he's sent me back an email this morning saying that he knows that because he was on Bosphorus Bridge. He said that to the best of his knowledge he can confirm three deaths at that location and that aircraft are still flying very low over the city and that he's taking his parents to a shelter and will contact everyone in England tomorrow.

[topum.livejournal.com]

I am trying to get over the images of stripped and beaten surrendered soldiers on Bosphorus Bridge. The purge which Erdogan is now free to do might be as scary if not scarier than the coup attempt itself.

[bluemeanybeany.livejournal.com]

yes friend is not very happy because even if he didn't want the coup to succeed, he doesn't like Erdogan and this has now given him the excuse he needs to lock everything down.

[beautesauvage13.livejournal.com]

Frightening.  Nice cinematography though. 

But frightening add. 

Athena

[topum.livejournal.com]

Frightening indeed to think that this is what they thought people would love. And that apparently many indeed did.

[beautesauvage13.livejournal.com]

No one likes to starve.  People will give up freedom in order to have food on their tables. 

Athena

[topum.livejournal.com]

Turkey is not starving.

[beautesauvage13.livejournal.com]

They don't want to be starving either. 

Athena

[topum.livejournal.com]

No one does. There is no danger of famine in Turkey.

[beautesauvage13.livejournal.com]

Exactly. 

Athena

[gneu.livejournal.com]

What crops are they plowing in those dirt fields?

[topum.livejournal.com]

I don't know but I hope not more flags to kill people over.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

....Wow. I just showed that to my husband, he thought 'Stalin', I thought 'Hitler' but yes, basically that shouted 'extremist dictator' to both of us.

I'd like to be able to say that wouldn't appeal to anyone in Britain, but probably it would have some appeal. I hope and believe though, not to very many.

[topum.livejournal.com]

I just tried to imagine this ad with Cameron's or May's voice over and Londoners as extras and had to laugh. It would not work except as comedy even with Farage for me, which is a very comforting thought. The advert is scary. And that it apparently speaks to so many people there is even scarier.

[bluemeanybeany.livejournal.com]

"and Londoners as extras and had to laugh"

maybe if the tower being supported was the tower beaming out free wifi to the city we might heed a call to go and save it?

[topum.livejournal.com]

Ha ha, that I can see very well.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

:-D yes, I really hope no right wing party could get away with it (unless with some tiny loony fringe), it would be hilarious.

But there's always potential for a group that believes so passionately that they are the good guys that they don't ever look at themselves and think...

[topum.livejournal.com]

This gif is awesome, so is David Mitchell.

A couple of years ago I made it a rule to ask myself "Am I being a dick?" at the moments when even a slightest possibility of that existed. To my surprise the answer I gave myself about half of the times was "Yes".