Botan Times EnglishDemocritus’ Passport

Historical sources contain so much interesting information about people. Through these sources we can go back in time and know many people from past lives. One of the most important sources is written by Diogenes Laertius. In the 3rd century Laertius wrote ‘Lives of Eminent Philosophers’, which still maintains its importance in philosophy. In his book, Laertius wrote about the philosophers’ lives, their philosophical views and works. Although each philosopher’s views, life and country are different, they have common features that attract people’s attention. Travel! We can see that many philosophers went long journeys and travelled to different countries. Thales, Plato and Pisagor, who were philosophers of the book, travelled from Greece to Egypt several times. But there is one philosopher whose travels surprise us. He is Democritus. Democritus (5th century BC) left Greece (Ionia) and travelled to far countries. He went to Egypt for mathematics and had education between Keldanis in Babel. He wrote about the city of Sudan and went to India and Ethiopia. When you read the travels of Democritus, besides from jealousy, one question comes to mind: how could he travel so much in such conditions at that time? This isn’t about economics, because we know that Democritus came from a wealthy family. When we consider the conditions of today, Democritus’ travels are like a dream and travelling many countries sounds interesting. Because we know that, apart from the economy, there are so many conditions and difficulties for travelling around the world nowadays. If Democritus lives today, can he travel easily? Think that Democritus travels to Egypt and goes to Athens airport, but at the door they ask a question: where is the passport? Democritus will answer this question in a philosophical way: what is a passport?

With the question of Democritus, we also think about this and add new questions. What is a passport? Why is it so important that it can be an obstacle for us on a journey? Or why do we choose the countries we want to visit based on visas and passports? Even though the passport is a formal document, it contains a lot of important information as a significant symbol. The most important symbol of a passport is the country’s border. For that reason each country has different laws for their border and generally don’t allow the pass. We know from Democritus’ travels that in his time there was no question with the passport and he didn’t make an appointment at the consulate for a visa. When is a passport required? What changes and why it was necessary for travel.

Stefan Zweig, gave an answer to this question in the book “Die Welt Von Gestern ”. Zweig, whose application for a visa was repeatedly refused and passport was sealed with the words “foreign enemy” , mentions about the question of passport in his book. Zweig says that before 1914 the world belonged to everyone, people could easily travel to different countries without permission. From Zweig’s words we understand that the question of passport was seen after the First World War. In the First World War, many countries’ borders changed, many new countries were settled, and national borders were drawn sharply. After the borders were drawn, passports became a necessary document for security and protection of the borders.

We hope that Democritus would like our answer to his question “What is a passport? But Democritus wouldn’t be content with this answer, he would take his cage to the airport and ask again: I don’t understand how it is. I have never heard that if I take out a passport there is a possibility that my visa will be refused. Is there also the possibility that I won’t be able to see the countries I want to see? How does this work?

I don’t know how but unfortunately this would be. As a formal document, the passport signifies belonging and citizenship. This belonging sometimes becomes a good reference for travelling and allows citizens of some countries to come and go without a visa. Like Japan, Singapore, German, and French passports. But this belonging comes to us as an obstacle in the way of the permission to go and to come. The country that gives the visa must officially recognise the country of application, accept its existence. Or like Viktor Navorski would be stuck in an airport and can’t move anywhere. Viktor Navorski is the main character of the film ‘Terminal’ (2004/Director: Steven Spielberg). Viktor, who comes to America from his country, gets off at the airport. However, Viktor is not allowed to leave the airport and enter the American borders. Because while Viktor is at the airport, the government has probably changed in his country and other countries have not recognised the new government. Viktor is suddenly without a country and his passport is no longer valid. Therefore, he cannot return to his country or go anywhere else. In this situation, people who want to go to another country unfortunately face many risks and dangers, and not having a passport often results in death.

For example, in July 1943, 33 Kurds in Van were arrested by commander Mustafa Muglalı for not having a passport and killed without trial. The border between Nusaybin and Qamishli was also set and two sides were separated. This border between two cities was filled with mines, and so many people were killed by these mines.

In today’s world conditions, the question of passports and visas is becoming increasingly important and a major obstacle for people to come and go. Although ‘freedom of travel’ is recognised as an important human right, this right is often violated and people are blocked due to visa conditions and regulations. The United Nations Human Rights Committee is of the view that freedom of movement is an indispensable condition for human development. Freedom and human development on the one hand? Border protection on the other? Which one is important according to you Democritus?