Reply #49: You Shouldn't Be Surprised by that. [View All]

[StreetKnowledge]

Turkey for the better part of a century has tired to base its identity not on Islam (as most muslim-majority states do) but on secularism, Turkish nationalism and its own progress. That has some downsides (Turkey is rather more nationalist and militant than some Muslim nations) but it has allowed them to have a much different view of many things compared to the Muslim world. For example, only them and Egypt among Muslim nations recognize Israel.

Turkey abolished capital punishment and has changed much about themselves, because they are aiming (successfully, I hope) to get into the European Union. At current rates, and providing another dimebag European leader doesn't veto it, they will join in 2015, which will forever end the idea of the gap between Muslims and the West being impossible to bridge.