[v4dok]

Respectfully disagree. The line is not arbitrary. Turkey is the beginning of Asia geographically, culturally and historically. Hagia Sophia is not Turkish-made (obviously).They have an offensive military dogma towards all their neighbors and routinely fail every measure of "democratic" law. Erdogan still represents the majority and the government is in bed with the extreme right party. They invaded Iraq and Syria, they routinely suppress their Kurdish minority.

It's not Europe, as much as I wish it was

[mrtksn]

Can you give some arguments instead of statements? For example, maybe you can explain your reasoning why do you think that Turkey is geographically in Asia? Maybe you can explain why do you think that Turkey, the successor of an empire with more than 500+ years in Europe is Asian? A country deeply integrated with Europe is culturally asian?

Then we can see if you have a point. There's no use to disagree by just saying something different and give no reasoning.

And the "They invaded Iraq and Syria" statement is so ridiculous that I don't see point in arguing over it. If it's not clear, Google the topic and look closely at the dates of the military activities of UK/France/USA in these countries. You should also Google for George Bush and Tony Blair. Check out the British sentiment for Tony Blair's dealings with Bush. Look closely, why the British leftist are still bitter with Tony Blair's affair with George Bush? Look for videos of "Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf".

[_dain_]

Boers have been in Africa for 400 years, so I suppose that makes them just as African as the Zulu?

[mrtksn]

Of course they are. There are a lot of Europeans that are descendent of Africans too. What's your argument here? Skin tone not satisfactory?

[tsimionescu]

> They invaded Iraq and Syria

So have other NATO countries, so, if anything, I would say this makes them MORE European, not less.

[skinnymuch]

Invading other countries? That’s as European as as you can get besides colonizing as a whole.

In bed with hard right wing? Welcome to a lot of Europe.

Suppressing minorities that aren’t white? Again. Welcome to Europe.

Failing democratic law? Welcome to multiple European countries.

You just gave the best endorsement for Turkey to be European. Unless the real truth is simply “not white” (to you).