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yesilay.org.tr
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YEŞiLAY
•
SPRING 2015
PARENTS SHOULD BE CONSCIOUS
March is a very special month because of the Red
Crescent Week. You also contributed with a concert on
March 7. We have a serious problem, addiction, which
especially threats youth. Addiction is a field the Green
Crescent is interested in. What should families do for
their children not to become addicts out of curiosity,
imitation, feeling of being lost and so on?
First of all, parents should be prudent, cautious and
aware. Their communication with their children should
be sincere, real and intimate. I think, the first necessity
is to draw a true picture of addiction. The matter is not
as easy to just say, “Do not do this, as it is very bad” or
“Do not get into these stuff, they will ruin you”. “How
on earth can you do this!” is not an escape, either. First
of all, parents should be conscious. They should be
aware of the way to establish the right communication.
Otherwise, it will not be possible to take a sound step
forward. Let’s assume it is too late and the child is
already an addict... Then the case requires professional
consultancy as well as the family’s support. Not to
mention, all these should be in a sound and healthy
circle.
Howwould you describe addiction?
The primary effect of all addictive substances is to
distort perception and change the parameters of the
flow of life by accelerating or slowing it down. Sadly
enough, this change might bring about tragic outcomes
that can create permanent distortion of the perception
in some cases, which is sometimes even worse than
death itself. One can find himself in the middle of the
inferno at a spur of the moment. Short end of the stick
is that it is irreversible. Musicians have a common illness,
ringing of the ears, namely “tinnitus”. Sometimes, your
ears ring in a noisy environment, which is temporary.
However, the ringing is permanent in the tinnitus case.
I had this illness for six months. There was non-stop
ringing in my brain all day long. As musicians, we are
exposed to very high levels of sound and noise. In some
night clubs, there are warnings about the permanent
damage that can be caused by the high level of music.
Still, many people do not take this seriously. However,
there are some people who cannot put up with the
ringing and commit suicide. I compare this situation with
drug addiction. Just like the high level of noise, people
think trying it for one time does not make a difference.
However, a try or an offer might end up in addiction!
That is why, awareness and self-control are vital.
WORK RESPONSIBLY
What can you say about stars being role-
models? Do you think a star can say “I am an
artist. I performmy music or act on the stage
and don’t have to take social responsibility?”
This would be as absurd as a pilot saying “I
am afraid of planes”. If you are afraid, why are
you there? If you are setting an example in
public and have followers, this brings about
some responsibilities. You have to do your
part. You cannot perform your art and leave
without responsibilities. You have to give
due effort when you do or intend to do a
job, or stay away from it. Let’s say, you tried
and failed, then you should quit. If you are
on the media, most particularly, followed by
youth, you have to care about your life style
and manners. Otherwise, corruption of the
society cannot be avoided. Lastly, I suppose
we would be a much happier and peaceful
society if we can popularize self-honesty.