August 30, 2014 marked the 92nd anniversary of the Battle of Dumlupınar, which was the final battle of the Greco-Turkish War, also called the Turkish War of Independence. Although the battle was fought over a two-week period, it claimed approximately 2,500 lives of volunteers of the Grand National Assembly forces and resulted in the death of another 2,000 Greek troops. For decades, the Republic's textbooks exploited the memory of this decisive and historic victory as a sign of the Turk's supremacy over other nations. At the same time, the Battle of Dumlupınar was used to construct the myth of "ordu-millet," or the military-nation, that complemented the guardianship regime's ideal of maintaining a closed society without religious or ethnic diversity against the backdrop of the Cold War. In truth, the battle represented the coming together of people of diverse backgrounds, most of whom would end up never seeing their hometowns again, led by the great military leaders of their time.Saturday's formal commemorations also marked the first public appearance of Turkey's recently-elected President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whose campaign had emphasized the need to bridge the gap between the Presidential Palace, a vestige of the once-almighty establishment's political power, and the people through popular elections. A president elected by the people who will seek re-election in five years, the reasoning went throughout the campaign season, would be accountable to no one but members of the electorate and therefore serve the people to the best of his or her ability. Erdoğan's message also made reference to the new Turkey agenda: "The victory of Aug. 30 is particularly significant due to its manifestation of the power of our great nation which, throughout history, overcame challenges in unity and solidarity as well as with faith, determination and the spirit of fraternity." Accepting congratulations from government officials and foreign ambassadors in his capacity as commander-in-chief, Erdoğan remained true to his promise to the people during the particularly symbolic occasion.In times like these, the new Turkey agenda strikes a chord with millions of people who felt discriminated on the basis of their religious beliefs, ethnic origin or language. After all, the new Turkey remains a largely ambiguous concept to this day, but it represents an effort at the highest level of government to restore the nation's sense of fraternity, equality and opportunity.Rekindling the spirit of 1922, when Ottoman-born youngsters of diverse backgrounds stood shoulder to shoulder to make history once again, obviously requires more than words. The people of Turkey will have to engage in meaningful debate to address the country's shortcomings, build on its strengths and work hard to reach their common goals. History teaches us, however, that words are not entirely devoid of power. Talking about the new Turkey today, we have taken the first step toward a brighter future and develop a game plan for the next generation. But all members of society, be they supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) or members of the opposition parties, need to realize that now is the time to come forth and contribute to something great in the making.