Today, we commemorate Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey, with respect and gratitude on the anniversary of his passing. November 10th is not only a day of sorrow, but also a day to evaluate how close we have come to achieving the great goals he bequeathed to us. One of Atatürk's most fundamental visions was for the country to "rise above the level of contemporary civilizations." This goal advocated not only political and cultural progress
