Turkey's history runs deep and its culture is rich.
"It's the only city that connects two continents - it's right in the middle of Europe and Asia so it has both cultures, it has both characteristics. It's a place that brings so many differences together," said Tuti Cavusoglu.
Courtesy: Tuti Cavusoglu
Cavusoglu said while Tuesday's terrorist attack happened in Istanbul, it was actually an assault on the world.
"It is so devastating that you even kind of feel like, well this was not a surprise, but it is always a surprise. That's not what Turkey is," she said. "That's not what it used to be."
WATCH: See the beauty of Turkey in this jaw-dropping video
While Cavusoglu now calls Kansas City home and actually helps run the local Turkish-American Association, she grew up in Turkey and spent many years in Istanbul. Her loved ones are safe, but still she mourns because this attack has torn apart so many families around the globe.
Courtesy: Tuti Cavusoglu
"It's hard not to imagine that pain. It's hard to avoid regardless of whether your loved ones are OK or not, it's such a tragedy," she said.
That's why Cavusoglu begs people around the world, in America and those living right here in Kansas City to not let this kind of tragedy tear us apart.
"At this point, the most important thing we can do is to unite," said Cavusoglu. "This is not a threat to a certain group of people. They don't count religion, they don't count race, they don't ethnicity, they don't count sexual preference. They are attacking all of us."
And she said it will take all of us - working together - to finally bring a stop to this madness.
Courtesy: Tuti Cavusoglu
See all of Turkey in four minutes in this incredible video by Italian filmmaker from Leonardo Dalessandri:
Watchtower of Turkey from Leonardo Dalessandri on Vimeo.
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Terra Hall can be reached at terra.hall@kshb.com.
