Cyprus-Forum.com

[Piratis]

So a New Yorker can not be both New Yorker and American at the same time?

There is a Cypriot identity, and it exists for 1000s of years.

Piratis, my friend. I am curious. Most of our Armenian friends in Cyprus are 'not Cypriots', since mostly they arrived at the beginning of the 1900's and later. Is this also your contention, as you insist on making Cyprus exclusvely GC?

And where did I say that Armenians, TCs or any other Cypriot minority are not Cypriots? Cyprus is not the only country with ethnic minorities, and people that belong to an ethnic minority as much Cypriots as anybody else.

New Yorkers perceive themselves as being American first. Cypriots - judging from what I have been reading - don't see themselves as Cypriot first. THAT is the critical difference.

You are totally wrong about this. I am first Limassolian, then Cypriot and then Greek.

For example if there is a game between Greece and Cyprus then Cypriots will support the Cyprus team not the Greece team.

[alexISS]

For example if there is a game between Greece and Cyprus then Cypriots will support the Cyprus team not the Greece team.

What about a game between a Greek team and a Turkish Cypriot team? Which team would you support?

[denizaksulu]

So a New Yorker can not be both New Yorker and American at the same time?

There is a Cypriot identity, and it exists for 1000s of years.[/quote]


Piratis, my friend. I am curious. Most of our Armenian friends in Cyprus are 'not Cypriots', since mostly they arrived at the beginning of the 1900's and later. Is this also your contention, as you insist on making Cyprus exclusvely GC?

And where did I say that Armenians, TCs or any other Cypriot minority are not Cypriots? Cyprus is not the only country with ethnic minorities, and people that belong to an ethnic minority as much Cypriots as anybody else.

New Yorkers perceive themselves as being American first. Cypriots - judging from what I have been reading - don't see themselves as Cypriot first. THAT is the critical difference.

You are totally wrong about this. I am first Limassolian, then Cypriot and then Greek.

For example if there is a game between Greece and Cyprus then Cypriots will support the Cyprus team not the Greece team.

I see that the quote in red as an attempt at Exclusiveness of the Cypriot race. (which has existed for a thousand years). Why bring it up then? Or was it a blooper?

[Nikitas]

Piratis you inadvertently put an issue forth that has been perplexing me for some time- namely the allegiance to a locality, when you said "I am Limassolian first". I am a Famagustian first, Cypriot second with Greek a close third.

One wonders if this allegiance to a locality is prevalent in all Cypriots, Greek as well as Turkish. So far I have not seen it expressed in the forum except by some Greek Cypriots. Maybe it is the reason behind the ease with which some people can accept the idea of partition. And guys, not I do not want to start a huge argument about this, it is just an idea that came to me.

[Piratis]

I see that the quote in red as an attempt at Exclusiveness of the Cypriot race. (which has existed for a thousand years). Why bring it up then? Or was it a blooper?

So what are you trying to tell us Deniz? That there were no Cypriots in Cyprus until you came?

Cypriots existed for 1000s of years, and while in their majority they are Greek, they also incorporate the characteristics of the many other rulers that passed from Cyprus, which is what creates the unique Cypriot identity.

What about a game between a Greek team and a Turkish Cypriot team? Which team would you support?

A Greek team VS an Armenian Cypriot team, I would be with the Armenian Cypriot team. The same would go for a Turkish Cypriot team if there was no conflict between us.

[Piratis]

Piratis you inadvertently put an issue forth that has been perplexing me for some time- namely the allegiance to a locality, when you said "I am Limassolian first". I am a Famagustian first, Cypriot second with Greek a close third.

One wonders if this allegiance to a locality is prevalent in all Cypriots, Greek as well as Turkish. So far I have not seen it expressed in the forum except by some Greek Cypriots. Maybe it is the reason behind the ease with which some people can accept the idea of partition. And guys, not I do not want to start a huge argument about this, it is just an idea that came to me.

Nikitas, one opinion is that to create a united Cyprus we need to make everybody "just Cypriot". Thats one opinion that I respect, and if it could be achieved it would probably work.

However what I support is that we are Cypriots first, and that should be enough to unite us. Just like in the USA they have African Americans, Italian Americans, Irish Americans etc, but still they all feel proud Americans and they respect each other. (that was not always the case of course, but their progress should be a model for us)

[denizaksulu]

I see that the quote in red as an attempt at Exclusiveness of the Cypriot race. (which has existed for a thousand years). Why bring it up then? Or was it a blooper?

So what are you trying to tell us Deniz? That there were no Cypriots in Cyprus until you came?

Cypriots existed for 1000s of years, and while in their majority they are Greek, they also incorporate the characteristics of the many other rulers that passed from Cyprus, which is what creates the unique Cypriot identity.

What about a game between a Greek team and a Turkish Cypriot team? Which team would you support?

A Greek team VS an Armenian Cypriot team, I would be with the Armenian Cypriot team. The same would go for a Turkish Cypriot team if there was no conflict between us.

Dont play the innocent, Piratis. Its no big deal. It was you who mentioned the Cypriot heritage of thousands of years - I cannot deny that. But bringing it up gives me the impression that there is exclusiveness on your part. Maybe you put that sentence in advertently, I dont know. I am not a mind reader.

[Kikapu]

New Yorkers perceive themselves as being American first. Cypriots - judging from what I have been reading - don't see themselves as Cypriot first. THAT is the critical difference.

It all depends where the question is asked. New Yorkers perceive themselves as New Yorkers when they are within the USA, but once abroad, then they are "just" Americans. It is same with the Swiss. They are Swiss German, Swiss French and Swiss Italians, but as soon as they leave their borders, they all become Swiss. Ethnicity in any True Democracy ends at it's own borders. Beyond that, there's only Nationality. We can be Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots and Armenian Cypriots, while we are in Cyprus, but beyond the shores of Cyprus, we should only be "just" Cypriots. We do need a "True Democracy" in order to achieve this however. The only problem is, some people do not believe in "True Democracy".

[Piratis]

Well, it is true that Cypriots (who spoke Greek) existed on this island for long before any Turks arrived. That doesn't mean that TCs are not Cypriots. Even people who belong to other ethnic groups except the "official" ethnic groups of Cyprus (TCs, GCs, Armenians etc) and arrived much later but have the Cypriot citizenship and feel Cypriots, they are also equal Cypriots like all the rest.

[denizaksulu]

Well, it is true that Cypriots (who spoke Greek) existed on this island for long before any Turks arrived. That doesn't mean that TCs are not Cypriots. Even people who belong to other ethnic groups except the "official" ethnic groups of Cyprus (TCs, GCs, Armenians etc) and arrived much later but have the Cypriot citizenship and feel Cypriots, they are also equal Cypriots like all the rest.

Phew. It came out at last. So the red quote was pointless to this argument and I am proud to be part of this 'heritage' you speak of. We may yet have a Keo together, Piratis. Where there is hope.......