Wolfowitz and plagiarism
Please do not say, “Gees, even Wolfowitz committed plagiarism!” after you read the title of this article. It is out of the question! I am only trying to make a comparison about ethical values.
Paul Wolfowitz is the president of the World Bank. When he arranged a lucrative pay and a generous promotion package for his girlfriend working for the same place, he resigned from his post with the justification that he was guilty of ethical and governance violations. He is a close friend, even a comrade to the U.S. President George W. Bush. Wolfowitz submitted his resignation, effective as of June 30 and the President, expressing his sorrow, accepted his resignation immediately.
Nowadays, plagiarism in Turkey keeps the agenda busy. The persons accused (for now) are Ömer Dinçer and Necla Arat.
One continued the duty even after the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) proved the plagiarism that took place at the Office of Prime Ministry Undersecretary, which is the most critical institution in the service of the country.
The other one is a strong name in women’s movements.
Believe me, I do not take sides, but I rage against! I rage against both actions at the same time:
In my country, I rage against:
1) That ethical values are violated so much,
2) That science is excluded to the extent of vulgarity.
Two countries are at issue here. One is governed by a lawless President who outraged the entire world. And the other is governed by a Prime Minister who keeps emphasizing almighty Islamic values.
Close allies of both, shattered down ethical values.
Though one is stronger than the other, he accepts the resignation in “sadness” but immediately, and the other ignores the proven crime and accuses YÖK without even having a grasp of how disgraceful this crime is. As a matter of fact, he cannot understand that he is harming himself!
He is not aware how far he fell out from the state system because of his undersecretary!
I do not have enough information about Arat’s case. Though, the distinguished columnist Yalçın Bayer in his article published (Hürriyet, May 18, 07) a “defense” sent by a friend of Arat, it was not convincing to me.
Both will be parliamentary representatives now!
Meanwhile, we do not realize at all how institutions are worn out. Since I closely follow the issue, I have letters in hand, full of attempts to defend Dinçer and insults about the YÖK, the Court of Appeals and the Council of State. One reads that since Dinçer does not have confidence in the Council of State, he did not resort to this institution. Well, but did he not announce 19 months ago that he would apply to the Council? Likewise, the statement in an attempt to defend Arat read that the accusers are biased and they conduct an Islamist politics.
What a sad situation it is!
In order to defend just two people, the YÖK, the Court of Appeals and the Council of State have overridden all.
Then, whom will we trust?
Among the letters I have received, those written by faculty members who denunciate others for the claims of plagiarism are attracting my attention the most!
Are people who have no respect for science crushing ethical values or people who have no ethics excluding science; I got confused!