"ESDER President Mahmut Çelikus emphasized that saying 'those wearing headscarves cannot participate in the contest' is discrimination based on people's beliefs."
-- from the article above

Yes, of course it is. Pepsi is in Turkey, and the accepted range of people's "beliefs" can range from Kemalism to those who want Islam triimphant yet again. Kemalism consisted of both a recognition, and an attempt. The recognition was that by Ataturk, and by those who supported him in his efforts, that Islam was a retrograde force, and that for Turks, or a sufficient number of Turks, to enter, mentally, the great world, Islam itself would have to be contrainted as a political and social force, while it could remain as a system of private ritual and belief. It was a way to recognize the effects and danger of Islam in the only way -- an oblique way -- that could be done in a land dominated by Muslims. The attempt was that of systematically erecting a system to banish Islam, its outward signs and symbols, from the public sphere, and to make those who insisted on aggressively promoting Islam pay for it in certain ways -- not to be admitted to government institutions of higher learning, nor to the officer corps in the army.

As a system, it worked -- though the heirs of Ataturk were not sufficiently vigilant to keep on pressing, for Islam, like Rasputinl, kept coming back, and now, those who want to undo Kemalism altogether -- Erdogan, all outwardly sweet reason, but his insidiousness is clear to secular, threatened Turks (who are keen to detect what is really going on in each new demand, no matter how it is presented), even if it is not to naive outsiders, who do not understand the significance of each new demand, or each new way to undercut the forces of Kemalism.

The outrage against Pepsi is one example. It seems so trivial. The company seems, or can be made to seem, so unbending. But far more is at stake here. The Kemalists know it. And so do those who are trying to undo everything that Ataturk did, and that helped to create whatever, in modern Turkey, makes at least some of its citizens -- perhaps one-quarter of the population, people we recognize, people who inhabit the same universe, with the same logic, and something like the same grasp of things, as Non-Muslim Man.

Posted by: Hugh at February 17, 2008 8:09 AM

So true, Hugh.

I find a major, fatal flaw in many of my fellow free-market proponent's view that the spread of Western-style business will cause the sociolgical changes necessary for peace. Nope; cart-before-the-horse. A political structure must be in place to allow for the free exchange of ideas (and goods) and protect citizens from harm, first, before the peace necessary to trade freely is achieved.

Corporations with big money at stake will only accomodate, accomodate, accomodate "local values".

Posted by: Vee at February 17, 2008 10:07 AM

The Chevy Chase ad above is a little scary.

Posted by: interestinconundrum at February 17, 2008 11:26 AM

The Chevy Chase ad above is a little scary.

Posted by: interestinconundrum at February 17, 2008 11:26 AM

I didn't get it.

Posted by: darcy at February 17, 2008 11:42 AM

http://www.pepsi.com/pepsi_brands/all_brands/index.php

Drink up.

Posted by: Concerned Citizen at February 17, 2008 12:33 PM

A Turkish boycott...Gee, do you think Pepsi can handle it, without going under? (I'd better sell my shares, right now!)

I'd like to know what the photos were for, and what the contest was about. I've hunted, and I can't seem to find anything connected to this issue.

Posted by: Abscedere at February 17, 2008 4:03 PM

Ataturk did, and that helped to create whatever, in modern Turkey, makes at least some of its citizens -- perhaps one-quarter of the population, people we recognize, people who inhabit the same universe, with the same logic, and something like the same grasp of things, as Non-Muslim Man.
Posted by: Hugh

----

Suggestion: these rational 25% of the Turks should all move the European part of Turkey and pull a Kosovo on the rest.

Then we can think about admitting that useful part of Turkey into the EU. And leave the moslems out.

Now that secession at random will has been internationally sanctioned.. hey.. what's to stop the Kurds in eastern Turkey?

Far be it from me to suggest that we'd want the Kurds in Europe. Like the Turks, they follow islam and thus aren't merely useless and annoying but troublesome and dangerous.

Posted by: Allah Schmallah at February 17, 2008 5:05 PM

No Coke! Pepsi!
----John Belushi on SNL

Posted by: tanstaafl at February 17, 2008 5:54 PM

Hi darcy, it's about islamification of the US-the mustache at the end, etc.

Posted by: interestinconundrum at February 17, 2008 6:24 PM

islamification...is that a word? spellcheck doesn't recognize it.
Well, if not , I just invented it.

Posted by: interestinconundrum at February 17, 2008 6:26 PM

Looks like Pepsi could take a lesson from wickpedia..........

Posted by: ooddballz at February 17, 2008 6:29 PM

"The Americans love Pepsi Cola, we love death."

I guess it really is true!

Posted by: gravenimage at February 17, 2008 8:36 PM

Pepsi should just say that since Islam forbids making images of living things, it will only accept pictures of inanimate objects from Muslims.

They want stupid, give them stupid.

Time for Islam to utterly blind itself.

TV's, computer screens & cameras.

All haram!

Posted by: profitsbeard at February 18, 2008 1:39 AM

profitsbeard said

TV's, computer screens & cameras

You remind me of the accidental severing of the three undersea cables that provide internet access to the Middle East a couple of weeks ago.

I like your idea alot.

Posted by: special_guest at February 18, 2008 2:20 PM

Uh oh, the Iranians are onto the International Zionist Conspiracy...they've figured out what P.E.P.S.I. stands for.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q030d6Uhvfg
lol!

Posted by: kevin at February 18, 2008 2:52 PM