There was a time when Turkish politicians wouldn’t even have a cup of coffee unless their counterpart adhered to the same ideology. It is after Fethullah Gulen started the dialogue initiative that we saw a normalization of relations among the participants of different political, religious and cultural perspectives. Journalists an Writers Foundation’s traditional annual iftar dinners are the embodiment of this normalization and change in Turkish society. For many years country suffered from the tyranny of non-dialogue, now it’s time to reap the fruits of this friendly atmosphere in every aspect.

Mr. Fethullah Gulen had initiated the much needed “dialogue” process between Turkey’s different faith communities in early 1990s. One of the first organizations to bring people together was an iftar (fast breaking) dinner during the month of Ramadan where people, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, were invited to participate. It was a peculiar scene for the Turkish people as they never felt the need to try to understand the “other” and empathize with the “other” before. The iftar dinner was organized by the Journalists and Writers Foundation in Istanbul and the foundation has been keeping the tradition since. Over nearly two decades, the interest for the interfaith dialogue dinner grown along with a deeper awareness of the necessity of dialogue.

The Economist assessed the degree to which Mr. Fethullah Gulen contributed to Turkey’s current rise in the Middle Eastern countries. It is a fact that Turks discovered their potential to be more than a satellite state and decided to realize that potential in the last 2 decades. Contrary to what they’ve been told and taught in schools, they did not have to shed their religious and cultural identity to rise to the level of “Contemporary Civilizations.” Gulen played a pivotal role in boosting the Turkish people’s self confidence and belief with his teachings and global activities. Turkey went from being a third world country to one of the fastest growing nations in the world. There must be something other countries in the region can learn from that experience.

Those who leave their prejudices aside when analyzing the Gulen Movement come to the same conclusion; that is the movement inspired by Fethullah Gulen does nothing but promote peace and prosperity everywhere possible. The biggest and most powerful example of the Gulen Movement’s impact is seen in Turkey. The movement set in motion the wheels of change in Turkey by inspiring its members to do more and more charity to overcome their country’s problems that plagued the nation for so long. Nebraska state senator Ms. Amanda McGill has traveled to Turkey recently and experienced the change first hand.

If you don’t have a convincing case, there is always manipulation. If one is caught red-handed and there is no way to hide what he/she was doing, what’s the person got to do to get off the hook? Manipulate the crowds, cry wolf, and blame it on the “almighty religion baron.” That would be the easiest way out maybe 25 years ago, but not anymore. We’re trying to point to poor journalist Ahmet Sik and his “enlightening” unfinished book of whatever. Mr. Sik was putting together a ton of unfounded many-times-refuted claims against Fethullah Gulen at some dark powers’ request and under the same powers’ supervision (even redaction). His latest best-seller-wannabe constituted some sort of evidence between Mr. Sik and the Ergenekon saga and he was arrested as a result. While he was being escorted to the public prosecutor’s office he fearlessly yelled “Anyone who touches Fethullah Gulen burns” or something to that effect. He was trying to make a case where he wanted to depict himself as the heroic journalist who, while trying to help people know the “truth”, fell victim to some conspiracy.

Norwegian massacre showed us one more time that unconditional dialogue between different cultures is indispensible for our future. There will never be a true homogeneity in the minds, cultures, thoughts, faiths of people; we will always be able to find that “other” one in one way or another. History proved that we can never do away with an ideology or an entire culture by destroying its literature or killing its people; what’s left is to have meaningful dialogue without preconditions. As Mr. Fethullah Gulen put it “we need to accept everyone in their own positions” and have a dialogue not to convert or persuade but to get acquainted. Kerim Balci is comparing Fethullah Gulen’s dialogue ideas with the products of Oslo bomber’s sick mind.

Who can describe the work of dialogue organizations inspired by Fethullah Gulen then themselves? Institutions that try to bridge the cultural gaps and resolve conflicts from 66 countries gathered in Istanbul for a brainstorming meeting last week. This meeting should serve as a great manifestation of the Gulen  Movement’s contributions to world peace building efforts. Embodiment of Gulen’s peace-seeking teachings, interfaith and intercultural dialogue organizations have discussed the issues plaguing our old world and the ways in which we can heal the wounds resulting from them.

Turkey’s political and strategic importance as a regional power is increasing by the day. One very important aspect of this new found role is to bridge the cultural gap between the east and the west. This gap has caused misunderstandings, misrepresentations, conflicts and even wars in the region. It is obvious that no enterprise can succeed in the Middle East without addressing cultural differences. The Gulen Movement’s dialogue initiative aimed at bringing people with various backgrounds together to “talk without pre judgments or convictions.” This dialogue does not mean convincing, changing or converting. Fethullah Gulen asked people to come to table with their own identities and ideas, only to share them with others.