The teachings of Dr Mirzeler

Last week a special guest came to talk to us. His name Dr. Mirzeler, and professor at WMU a man quite full of knowledge. He can speak nine language which is quite impressive. I can speak two and a thought a was some hot shot. But born in Turkey Dr. Mirzeler tought us Turkey and its culture talked about his up bringing, how Turkey has changed throughout the years. I learned a lot of things like the castles in his small village, changes in the country and its land scape. The evolution of people and their thoughts. One thing that i learned the most is not what he said but how he transcended his feelings with his words. I am a person that noticed details in people, their voice patterns how they feel about certain subjects etc.. And when he talked about his village and past it was like he traveled back in time you could feel how he really enjoyed talking about the old days, how he misses the Turkey days. But ofcourse what we were all looking forward too was the "Honour Killings".. He told a deep and moving story of how when he as a kid of ten years old his family (the males) told him and in way forced him to kill his sister because she disgraced the family by divorcing her husband. He remember that one time they had a tree behind their house and he went outside late at night to be in shock of what he saw. He saw his father crying, and in pain because of the pressure he was feeling about killing his daughter for "honour killing" he was clearly in a lo of pressure to make the decision of this kill. He was torn up inside and a young Dr. Mirzeler didnt understand it at the time but he realized what his father was going through after all these years, he also remembers sleeping next to his sister that night in a way the executioner spending his last night with the soon to be victim his sister whom he loved. When Dr. Mirzeler said this you can see how his voice cracked for a split second, but i cought it, it was not an easy story to tell but he did it because he is a strong man. I thought for a second that he would have cried but he didnt which i found amazing, but he was clearly sad about the entire ordeal. But his story ended in a happy ending his mother, aunts etc.. Found a solution to marry his sister away to another man and ship her out so she wouldnt have died in the hands of her younger brother Dr. Mirzeler. The plan worked and a young Mirzeler did not have to kill his own blood, his own sister. I can only imagine how Dr. Mirzeler is haunted by those nights when his father came up to him to ask him or force him to kill his sister, and seeing his father and family torn up because of this. I learned a lot from him. But one thing i did also notice that he did not clearly say was that he was proud of his little village, he said when he was young that the government tried to help the village because the village was "poor", but in his heart he was not poor. He had his family his friends and his village and the amazing beautiful sorroundings that he showed in his slides. He said that one might see it like a poor village but he has everything he wanted and he was happy with it, he never said these things but you could see it in his body movements in his voice he was excited like a little boy re- living his childhood.

The lesson i learned from Dr. Mirzeler was the poorness has nothing to do with your economic status. He taught me how humbleness comes into effect. He taught me that a man that has everything may not he as happy as a man whom has nothing. He didnt have much growing up, but his childhood was rich in good memories (for the most part) he lived humble but his mind and heart was filled with happiness and endless adventures. You see you dont have to have it all to be happy in heart and mind. You only need to look around and see that you have it all and thats what i learned most from Dr. Mirzeler appreciate what you have because in one way or another we are all blessed with beauty and happiness and i know that Dr. Mirzeler didnt take anything for granted and he has lived a wonderful life because of this.. Thank you so much Dr. Mirzeler for your teachings i will take them into heart, and those lessons i learned that day i will keep with me for a long time.. Thank you..