A nation confined to home

The other day Turkey’s economy news noted the most popular online food ordering website in Turkey, Yemek Sepeti, “had a historic turnover this weekend.” 

The data from the website’s record high turnover could be helpful in quantifying the tension, the introversion and the voluntary home confinement created by the recent terror attacks.

Instead of “Eat, Pray, Love,” another slogan, “Eat, Pray, Stay Home,” has been activated and practiced. Let us assume that the first wave of the trauma of staying indoors and at home was passing time and eating at home; well then, what next? 

Society’s morale has taken another blow that is beyond hitting and shaking the restaurant and entertainment (theater, cinema, concert, etc.) sectors. Souls are going through a tremor like an earthquake.  
There was a shrink speaking on a television newscast calling on society to “continue with life and go out.” He was giving this message in the living room of his house with the curtains drawn. I’m not criticizing, please don’t misunderstand…

Those who were able to overcome social media blocks were sharing photos on March 19 of the quietness on Istanbul’s İstiklal Avenue, the seagulls along the Bosphorus Strait, empty breakfast and brunch venues, deserted city squares and plenty of selfies in pajamas, slippers and cats…

In short: The images of “a nation confined to home.”  

Of course the streets will again be trodden by us; you know, the ones outside, walking under the shadow of anxiety. 

We will not actually be leaving the streets empty. What’s the point in living then? People do not live only to stay at home to be alone with their concerns…

Even though we do not feel like it today, even though we are not quite able to process the incidents, even though we may feel that we have been chained by pain and fear, we will again hit the streets…

Having gone past the stage of asking “how will tourists come?” officials will, on the other hand, have a hard time trying to find the answer to the question: “How will the citizens go out on the streets?”

It is not exactly a confidence-generating stance to attempt to have a derby game played without spectators only two hours before the referee’s starting whistle and then later think about postponing the game.   

It is as if the official message is: “Go out on the street but it would be better if you do not go to the game…

Live life but stay away from bus stops… Live without demoralizing yourself but on the other hand, report those who act nervously around you…” 

We will live life, even if it does not happen due to increased trust in those who are telling us to “live life…” 

However, it would be so much better if we see those who make these calls themselves are actually living life, so that when they declare “I am not afraid,” their words are a bit more reliable and a bit more convincing…
Of course, they will go out with their security, the opposite is unimaginable, but they should eat out, buy tickets and see a movie, watch the game in a stadium, or stroll up and down İstiklal Avenue (though it would be better if their security does not close the street, whatever…) 

Instead of saying “do not be afraid,” they should show the entire world in such a way that it would demonstrate that they are not afraid and that streets, squares, restaurants and cafes are secure…

Not for me, not for us; this is to show to their own selves that they are not afraid…