摘要
Turkish people display deep consideration for the concept of hierarchy. Historically, they had been always calculating and measuring the relative positions of authority symbols with respect to one another; because they had their own dealings with those who held political power. Should they render their young sons to the service of the feudal lords or the state？ Should they consent to the say of the local forces or that of the central state power, when it comes to fixing the amounts and/or the kinds of taxes？ Sometimes, the ordinary subjects of the Ottoman state were even openly torn apart in dilemmas whereby local powers were revolting against the central government of the Sultan placed at the capitol. Even the anoymous folk tales, which reflect people＇s opinions and mentalities in a manner very close to the truth, involve comparisons among the levels of power represented by certain officials/figures. When confronted with authority, the usual feeling contains a tint of respect, even though it is mainly a kind of resignition mixed with acceptance, leading to obedience in the end. A true, internalized respect itself is solely that which is directed toward the elderly people of the society. On the other hand, traditionally and conventionally, old age was closely associated with official or informal power and authority, anyhow. However, nowadays, in a very confusing manner, this former social understanding is undergoing rather fast changes with the advent of younger contemporary political figures.
