That does, indeed, suck. However, in a city as vbrantly multi-ethnic as Istanbul, I'd hope it achieves very litle. Do you remember those nailbomber attacks in London a few years back? This feels like the same kind of fringe activity that doesn't indicate a general malaise.

On the other hand, while Turkey's hoping to become part of the EC soon, it also borders Iraq, and has only Syria between it an Israel. With the antagonistic knuckleheads we're currently stuck with in Washington and Israel my hope may be in vain.

As for the Ottoman empire, in a sense Western Europe have been the victors this last half millennium, and therefore get to write the history. It's important to remember that our superiority is grounded largely in having found the New World first, and being first off the mark in the Industrial Revolution. When you think about it, that's got very little to do with how we compare culturally or morally with the peoples we thereby eclipsed.

Also, I recommend Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond if you've not read it already, by the way.