“Whether the differences are a curse or a treasure, the differences are what we will make. Unfortunately, in recent years, differences have been categorized as a curse. Instead of looking at what we can learn and do, we are destroying them in a bad way,” said Kristina Arnaudova at a CIVIL panel discussion on the social responsibility of intellectuals and artists in promoting diversity and European values.

For me, diversity is a treasure, I grew up in a multi-ethnic family, my grandfather is Turkish, my grandmother is Vlach. We did not talk at home about where we came from and what language we should speak. My grandfather spoke with love about Turkey, my grandmother about the Vlachs, no one quarreled with anyone. Unfortunately I did not learn Turkish. Baklava for Eid and eggs for Easter, it is a beautiful memory of my family. I am blessed to have lived in such a family. Blood is always of better quality when mixed. My grandfather meant by this that the more we interfere, the better for all of us.

I feel so rich that I can tell a story like this.

Evil begets evil, good begets good. This should be told to parents, because only with respect can good people grow up full of respect.