ANKARA, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Turkey said on Wednesday that a deadly attack was carried out at the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) near Ankara, while media reported a loud explosion at the site and showed footage of an exchange of gunfire there. “A terrorist attack was carried out against the TUSAS facilities in Kahramankazan, Ankara. Unfortunately, we have martyrs and injured people,” Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on social media X.
Here is an example from Canada: «‘He paid the ultimate sacrifice’: Hamilton solider remembered in Ottawa». This was a soldier standing sentry, who was shot in the back before even realizing he was a target. He just happened to be there when the gunman decided to go at him with no warning. Now, there are many things broken with Canada, but this turn of phrase is not one of them.
The “martyrs” referenced by the Turkish minister are people working at a defence industry. Arguably, the minister is reasonable to consider them as people engaged in the performance of a national duty. Hence the language of “sacrifice”.
Now, we can of course have a discussion about the meaning of sacrifice, the problems with nationalism and militarism, alienation in modern society, etc. But beyond that, there is nothing extraordinary here, other than using a vocabulary that sounds muslimish.
I associate that term more with archaic Christianity (Joan of Arc and other old saints spring to mind) much more than Islam.
I think the phrase hits the exact intersection of nationalism, militarism, false hero worship for people who are just doing a job, and theocracy that in combination I find deeply repulsive, no matter which specific religion it is.