Cyprus-Forum.com

[perdike]

I'm sorry but a lot of you speak as though the Cyprus problem should consume our every waking moment. Well it doesn't and never will. Whilst understanding it's close to your hearts I'm afraid that it isn't many others', Cypriots as well as ex-pats. While it's effects are still on-going for a lot of you, for the average person it is an incident that happened 34 years ago and life has moved forward.

To you all I can say is that if you choose our country as your residence, then you can assimilate by learning our customs, and language. You could also appreciate our tiny country's environmental issues, and political problems. Assimilate into Cypriot culture or nick off! Is that not what many of you use to say to migrants in the UK. Are you a hypocrite?[/quot

Why is it you never read properly? I never said that the problem wasn't appreciated, I said that it didn't consume people's everyday lives and that goes for most Cypriots as well as ex-pats.
As for appreciating environmental issues I don't it's ex-pats washing their drives etc and using water like it was going out of fashion.
ps. I haven't chosen Cyprus as my country of residence yet and have certainly never said that anyone should integrate. The fact is that people don't integrate with different cultures (in general) whoever they are. As Magnus said above, people gravitate to what is comfortable and that is to their own kind (for want of a better word). Also, in general, people don't want immigrants to integrate really. People's social circles revolve round just that.[/quote




Feisty,
When you have 'used up' Cyprus with all your "getting on' and 'living' dont even THINK of coming to New Zealand to do a bit more 'getting on with life', because here we want fellow humans who appreciate what is HERE, who will take time to understand their new home, its history and its customs, and we most certainly DO want citizens who will INTEGRATE and think of helping this nation to flourish as well as calculating how they can best milk it for themselves. We don't want day-trippers scouting around for the best bargain, without interest or empathy for what we are trying to evolve here.

Whats wrong with Blighty then? Too many foreigners?

WHERE ARE YOU FEISTY? . . . . silly me, she's getting on with living, putting anything too taxing behind her into history.

Seems Paphitis and I share a few ideas about INTEGRATING into the country one adopts.

Its not a one way street. Disagree all you like with policies, but do so from an INFORMED UNDERSTANDING.

It seems some "ex-pats" moved to 'GET AWAY FROM' rather to embrace a positive.

Blimey some of you are real hard work.
Read my post.
I DO NOT LIVE IN CYPRUS AND HAVE NOT LEFT THE UK.
I WELCOME IMMIGRANTS INTO THE UK BUT DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO BECOME OR EVEN WANT TO BECOME PART OF MY SOCIAL CIRCLE.

Gosh, talk about 'open your mouth and prove it' !!

I told you you couldn't hack 'hard work'.

So you were in the UK when the IRA bombings were going on, and yet you freely admit you had no interest in the why and wherefor.

Well, I don't give much for your concept of "welcome". What is it, 'welcome, but steer a wide berth of me'?

Jeez, Feisty, time to get a grip, . . . don't you think. (Maybe not, might require effort!).

[Feisty]

I wonder how many of the people who hate Islam now know about the whys and wherefores.
At the time the IRA were doing their bombings I was a kid, but a kid with a father who was paralysed from the neck down and confined to a wheelchair.
No I wasn't a kid that was interested in politics. So hang me.

[perdike]

I wonder how many of the people who hate Islam now know about the whys and wherefores.
At the time the IRA were doing their bombings I was a kid, but a kid with a father who was paralysed from the neck down and confined to a wheelchair.
No I wasn't a kid that was interested in politics. So hang me.

Genuinely feel for you and your family about your Father, Feisty.

But I don't see the relevance to the discussion.

This all kicked off by you saying that you took no interest in the atrocities of the IRA, but might have done had any of your immediate family been affected.

[Feisty]

Well I see the relevance to the discussion.
My original point was that you can't force people to become involved in politics whoever they are and that the majority of people don't have an in-depth knowledge of any issue and don't wish to have.
In that statement I include the majority of people.
If I ever choose to live in Cyprus I daresay I'll still be more interested in starving kids in Africa than I will be in the Cprus problem and what discussions are going on about it and I will never apologise for holding that opinion. It's my right.

[perdike]

Well I see the relevance to the discussion.
My original point was that you can't force people to become involved in politics whoever they are and that the majority of people don't have an in-depth knowledge of any issue and don't wish to have.
In that statement I include the majority of people.
If I ever choose to live in Cyprus I daresay I'll still be more interested in starving kids in Africa than I will be in the Cprus problem and what discussions are going on about it and I will never apologise for holding that opinion. It's my right.

From all you've said, you won't be particularly interested in ANYTHING outside your immediate circle.

Why are you on Cyprus Forum then?

No need to apologise, if you are satisfied with seeing life through blinkers. You are selling YOURSELF short though, nobody else.

[Feisty]

Well I see the relevance to the discussion.
My original point was that you can't force people to become involved in politics whoever they are and that the majority of people don't have an in-depth knowledge of any issue and don't wish to have.
In that statement I include the majority of people.
If I ever choose to live in Cyprus I daresay I'll still be more interested in starving kids in Africa than I will be in the Cprus problem and what discussions are going on about it and I will never apologise for holding that opinion. It's my right.

From all you've said, you won't be particularly interested in ANYTHING outside your immediate circle.

Why are you on Cyprus Forum then?

No need to apologise, if you are satisfied with seeing life through blinkers. You are selling YOURSELF short though, nobody else.

Eeerrrrr starving kids in Africa aren't in my immediate circle.

I have a business in Cyprus so keep half an eye on the forum.
Now I know more about how corrupt and unscrupulous it still is I am re-considering whether to make it a more permanent arrangement.

I rather think it is many others who see life through blinkers when they think the Cyprus problem is the be all and end all of existence and expect others to think that way too.

[perdike]

Well I see the relevance to the discussion.
My original point was that you can't force people to become involved in politics whoever they are and that the majority of people don't have an in-depth knowledge of any issue and don't wish to have.
In that statement I include the majority of people.
If I ever choose to live in Cyprus I daresay I'll still be more interested in starving kids in Africa than I will be in the Cprus problem and what discussions are going on about it and I will never apologise for holding that opinion. It's my right.

From all you've said, you won't be particularly interested in ANYTHING outside your immediate circle.

Why are you on Cyprus Forum then?

No need to apologise, if you are satisfied with seeing life through blinkers. You are selling YOURSELF short though, nobody else.

Eeerrrrr starving kids in Africa aren't in my immediate circle.

I have a business in Cyprus so keep half an eye on the forum.
Now I know more about how corrupt and unscrupulous it still is I am re-considering whether to make it a more permanent arrangement.

I rather think it is many others who see life through blinkers when they think the Cyprus problem is the be all and end all of existence and expect others to think that way too.

Feisty, to change gear a bit, because this is not meant in a clever-dick, one-over-on you kind of way. If you truly feel the way you have written, and I think you have been very open and honest, stay in the UK.

Moving to LIVE in a different country /culture is hard and, at times painful, even for those who are interested in other peoples. I have done it several times, and it takes literally years, a lot of hard work learning the language and culture ( and definitely more than a few tears of frustration and homesickness) for the most open of people. I don't think it would be right for you. In my humble opinion.

[Niki]

I just think it was saying "na na na na naaaah", so pathetic!

Let me get this right however as I am confused, someone who lives in Australia (or has been back for 2 weeks) is telling people who live in Cyprus that they should fit in better and be less bigoted? Without living in Cyprus or knowing anything about the people that are being accused?

Ah I GET IT! Freedom of speech.

So far in Cyprus (only 1 year but learning) freedom of speech has been on a par with the UK, maybe a little better in fact. I agree that some Brits can be racist and make the mistake of refusing to integrate but certainly not all and certainly not the members on this forum that have been accused of this. The CL members may not be the people you would want as best friends but they are decent enough people and don't deserve the treatment they received. I also believe that if they tried the same trick on this forum they would be ostracised immediately. Freedom of speech would not be allowed here.

Also it may be a good thing to read back on member's posts to understand what they're like before making assumptions.

I maybe an old bat though, you'll never know!

Listen, I have been to Cyprus 5 times and collectively have stayed in Cyprus just a bit under 1 year. Even I would need to assimilate to Cypriot culture because having grown in Australia and gone through the Australian education system and the service I gave it for so long has kind of moulded me in a particular way.

I will also let you know, that today I also hold Cypriot citizenship and a Cyprus ID card and I am very proud of that. I also own my very own house in Pafos. I am also obligated to serve the CNG if I move to Cyprus.

And you have no right to speak to me like this for many reasons. Firstly, many Cypriots in Australia are very active politically. After my discharge from the military, I have been extremely active within the Liberal Party. I interact freely amongst sitting members, senators and MLCs. I attend many functions just for the sole reason of having an opportunity to lobby them on many things about Cyprus. I entertain many of them at my house. One such individual who is very well known to me is the former Foreign Affairs Minister of Australia, The Honorable Alexander Downer who will be the next UN envoy on Cyprus!

I would also like to point out that my wife is a refugee. Her family lost their house along with thousands of others, when Turkey invaded in 74. They moved to Australia out of necessity and since then have rebounded in way that only refugees can. By shear determination and hard work they rebuilt their lives from nothing. My wife's father, served in 74 and was captured by the Turkish Army. He was a POW and was 1 of the 800 that were transferred to a Turkish concentration camp in Adana (Turkey). There is footage of these POWs in the BBC archives. The mere fact that these 800 men survived and are not "missing" is due to pure circumstance. They are all lucky to be alive today as the Red Cross new of their capture and registered them as POWs which allowed for their protection under the Geneva Convention.

My point is, that many of us here in Australia and elsewhere have contributed to Cyprus in their own way. Many of us are citizens and have properties and other business interests in Cyprus. Many will no doubt move back to Cyprus. I can tell you that this is my ultimate dream, but for professional reasons we choose not to or are perhaps not ready for such a move. I do have my own Cyprus residence, so am able to visit the island whenever possible.

What is a definite fact is that Cyprus is part of my heritage and is also my inheritance. And I am very proud to be a Cypriot as well as an Australian. You however, only move to Cyprus to better your "lifestyle" whilst being indifferent to the islands problems. If you tell me that you are not indifferent, then I will tell you that you have made no contribution as a citizen to Cyprus and are merely using Cyprus to improve your "living". I will tell that such migrants are definitely not welcome to Australia as you would contribute nothing to the nation's enrichment!

Regards

Paphitis, apologies but I was unreservedly enjoying the delights of Cyprus today so was not in a position to post.

Good answer! Very refreshing and thank you for being honest.

I understand your right to feel 'Cypriot' and would never underestimate the effect the 'invasion' must have had. Indeed I find it difficult to offer opinions as I haven't experienced anything like this although I offer sympathy. Honest answer.

Paphitis it is the way you approach the posts accusing people of faults or opinions that I believe you do unfairly and without just cause that I have issues with. I for example have become a 'waste of space' and you know nothing about me or why I am in Cyprus. I don't at this point wish to expand on the reasons but it is far deeper than lifestyle. I would need to be far wealthier for this to be a lifestyle decision.

You also know nothing about what we have done here or what we have tried to add to Cyprus so please don't (again) make assumptions.

Your post was well written and insightful but there are certain 'jumping to conclusions' that spoil perceptions.

[Zimbo]

Once again welcome back paphitis.

As I'm sure some members will know I also moved to the other forum for a short while.

So whilst the others were of Cypriot origin (not sure if thats the correct word) may I give my views as a Brit.

In a nutshell I was quite embarrassed how the other 'defectees' from CF were treated. What happened to the so called Britishsense of humour?

To Magnus

They were also a bit wary of new members coming in to disrupt their forum at the time so they probably didn't appreciate the humour. You might have been better off posting a 'vanilla' introduction and working up from there. The ones that say 'my wife and I are moving to XYZ' seem to go down better

I did in fact do this, and I can honestly say that all I posted was true and in no way could it have been misconstrued as offensive. One member of the other forum welcomed me and asked other questions which again I answered honestly then i was met with a barrage of cynisism -Post deleted!!

To Fiesty

Perhaps it was racist on your behalf to try to impose your ways onto an established forum instead of integrating with them.
I'm sure they are also too busy getting on with living to care whether or not they passed your test.

I dont know if you followed the other forum but i can assure you that none of the postings made by persons involved were racist.
Humourous yes , Sacastic possibly but definately not racist.

To Bill

If anything was proved to me by your exp. it is that this cyprus-forum is the real home of honest free speech on all aspects of CY.

I would agree with this 90% Bill but sometimes I do have my reservations.

I think the most worrying aspect of all this is that some of the persons on the other forum may take this attitude out of their little forum world and carry on in the same way in the real world.

I'm certainly not saying that all the expats are the same but I know from experience that a great many are not prepared to integrate and take hold the Cypriot culture and I would say in answer to this

Are certain individuals treating the indigenous Cypriots with a certain degree of contempt and disrespect in their own country?

Yes

In Cyprus we are seeing the same thing with migrants searching for a better "life style," congregating in their own ghettos, mainly in Pafos. Are some migrants avoiding the experience of Cypriot culture?

Yes we hear the same people moaning about the immigration into the UK and the immigrant encaves in the Uk and yet are doing the same in Cyprus

Does it indicate that certain individuals do not care or appreciate the drastic problems faced by the island?

Many expats are only interested in their own lifestyle and do not care of any problems in the land they have come to live in and enjoy.

What a hypocrite! Should anyone make comments re issues in Cyprus you are arrogant enought to make sarcastic comments. You can't have it both ways.


Maybe some on forum are now wondering what on earth a Brit is doing posting this seemingly anti British Tirade. You are probably thinking that he doesnt live here why what gives him the right to comment!!

[/quote]

[roseandchan]

hey guys, i have a whole new turkish cypriot family and they are great. would rather hang with them than the likes of the whinging expats. i do care what happens in cyprus and look forward to a solution. every month i help towards that when i bring some of the older members to the south shopping. they are worried and scared but trust us as e.u citizens to look after them, when they are there. lots of brits just have financial interests in cyprus and don't care what happens as long as their investments are ok. we are not all like that, those brits you can keep in the south.