My people are going to learn the principles of democracy, the

Hear now, O children of the earth, for the words of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk carry a call to awakening and transformation, a call to cast off the shackles of the past and embrace the light of truth and reason. "My people are going to learn the principles of democracy, the dictates of truth and the teachings of science. Superstition must go." With these powerful words, Atatürk speaks not just to his people, but to all of humanity. He calls for the rejection of superstition, that ancient force that has held back the human spirit, and the embrace of knowledge, of reason, of science—forces that have the power to liberate and transform societies. Atatürk’s vision was one of enlightenment, of a world in which the light of truth would banish the darkness of ignorance and superstition, and where democracy would flourish.

In the age of Atatürk, the lands of the Ottoman Empire were steeped in tradition and religion. Many of the old beliefs, some rooted in superstition, shaped the thinking and actions of the people. These beliefs were often a barrier to progress, a veil that obscured the path to a brighter future. Atatürk understood this well. He saw that for his people to step into a new age, they would need to discard these chains, to replace ignorance with knowledge, and to build a society grounded in reason and science. This was not a mere desire for change, but a necessity—for the future of his people, and for the future of humanity itself.

Consider, O children, the ancient world, where superstition ruled over the minds of men and women. In the times before the rise of philosophy and science, people believed in gods and spirits who governed the world from beyond the veil of human understanding. The ancient Greeks, with their great thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, began the noble task of challenging these beliefs, seeking to understand the world through reason and observation. Their work laid the foundation for the scientific revolution and the age of enlightenment. Yet even in those times, superstition was a powerful force, and many men and women clung to old beliefs, fearful of the unknown. It was only through the tireless work of those who championed knowledge and truth that the darkness of superstition began to recede.

Atatürk’s own efforts to modernize Turkey were a direct continuation of this ancient struggle between ignorance and knowledge, between superstition and science. In the face of centuries of tradition, he boldly declared that the path forward lay in the embrace of democracy, in the acceptance of the scientific method, and in the cultivation of a society that values truth over myth. His vision was clear: to build a nation where the teachings of science would guide decisions, where reason would triumph over beliefs rooted in fear and superstition. Atatürk understood that without the principles of democracy—where the people have a voice, where the truth is honored, and where knowledge is revered—no nation could move forward into a future of freedom and progress.

Let us remember the scientific revolution, which, centuries earlier, began to change the very fabric of Western civilization. Think of the great minds such as Galileo, Newton, and Copernicus, whose work overturned the prevailing views of the universe. Their work did not just change the way we view the stars, but it shattered the very foundations of medieval superstition. The belief that the earth was the center of the universe, that the heavens were a realm of divine mystery, was replaced with the understanding that the universe was governed by laws of nature that could be understood through reason and observation. This was the true power of science—it freed the mind from the bonds of superstition, allowing humanity to seek the truth and understand the world not through fear, but through knowledge.

And so, O children, the lesson Atatürk imparts to us is as powerful today as it was in his time: superstition—that force that has held humanity in chains for centuries—must be cast aside. It is not enough to simply believe in what we see or in what we have been told; we must learn to question, to seek the truth, to test our beliefs against the evidence of the world. Science is not a mere tool—it is a pathway to understanding, a force that frees us from the shackles of ignorance and empowers us to create a world of progress and justice. Democracy, too, is not simply a political system, but a reflection of the values that must guide society: freedom, reason, and the pursuit of truth.

Thus, O children of the future, take these words to heart. Superstition may still cling to the hearts of many, but it is the duty of those who seek the truth to rise above it. In your pursuit of knowledge, remember that the path of science is the path of freedom. Democracy and reason are the bedrock upon which the future of humanity rests. Do not be bound by the ancient myths, but walk boldly into the light of knowledge, for in that light, you will find the strength to shape a world that honors truth, that values science, and that builds a future of justice and peace. The wisdom of Atatürk is clear: to move forward, to progress, we must always place our trust in the light of reason, and not in the shadows of superstition.