buying freedom

Tolga's friends and relatives called him today to congratulate him.  Everybody has been holding their breath over the Turkish law being passed in regards to military service.  Tolga has a big support system of people encouraging him, watching the news, and hoping for good things.  Tolga's father couldn't sleep last night in his excitement of waiting for the news. Today it was announced that the law has been accepted.  That those who haven't completed their military service, over a certain age - could buy their way out.  And the buyout won't even require short-term service of three weeks.  The payment will purchase freedom from the service.

I've always viewed the compulsory military service as not that bad.  But I have never met a Turk who agreed.  Granted, most seem to accept the inevitability of the service - but it is a dreaded service.

I asked Tolga to explain to me what the issue was, because worst-comes-to-worst, I wouldn't mind doing the military service.  So here are the issues: 5 months plus of unpaid service, away from family, loss of job/salary, possible assignment in terrorist regions, slavish and abusive commanders that take away your personality and replace it with a gun and tasks you have no say in, and - at Tolga's age - a higher danger of resisting this command and becoming penalized by jail or a longer service .  . .  In short, it seems like no one is complaining about the price because it finally means freedom. 

Except me.  I feel like I have become a slave to another debt and it makes me so tired.  "Freedom" is going to cost thirty grand.