On the 60th Anniversary of the Life Magazine, I would like to say Thank You and Congratulations to the publishers and photographers of the magazine.. It has been a joy to read Life and look at the pictures for many years. The October issue that I picked up in Istanbul, Turkey with the picture of every cover Since Nov. 23, 1936 reminded me vividly as I had seen them first and also in the previous issue of the Life Covers.
The pictures brought back memories, but, at the same time reminded me that , during its 60 years of publication, Life has not found a single place, event or a person from Turkey worthy of its cover. On Nov. 10, 1938, the second year of Life magazine's publication, one, if not the greatest leaders of the 20th century died following the creation of a modern and secular state after the ruins of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. TIME had a picture of Mustafa Kemal ATATURK, the founder of modern Turkey and its first president, in 1924 following his great achievements. It would have been a tribute to all Turks around the wolrd and friends of Turkey to see the picture of this great modernist on the cover of Life Magazine since he is the only leader of his times that remains as the towering figure of the 20th century, who was admired greatly by General Douglas McArthur .
I grew up in Turkey and fell in love with Magazine Covers in a barber shop in Safranbolu, Turkey where the covers of another Life Magazine, HAYAT were displayed . This love affair continued with the covers of Life Magazine during my forty years in the United States.. Safranbolu, a historical town was featured in National Geographic Magazine , Turkey is a living museum where the most beautiful monument to love, Aphrodite, is located, among hundreds of other historical places. I hope Life's tireless photographer Carl Mydans can come to Turkey when Elia Kazan will be honored as the Artist of the Century in Turkey by the Turks, and take pictures of the famous director in his birth country as well and other places.
Thank you..
Sent by: Yuksel Oktay <Yuksel_Oktay@notes.worldcom.com>