Alexandros Lordos wrote:Kifeas wrote:Are you a GREEK, a GREEKcypriot or a greek speaking CYPRIOT?
Well, I am not entirely sure ... I am certainly not "Greek", I would say I am something between a "Greek Cypriot" and a "greek speaking Cypriot", to use your terminology.
I feel I have strong roots in greek culture and history, from ancient times till today, so I would hesitate to let all that go and say that I am just "greek speaking" - it's more than just language for me.
Then again, the sense of being a "Cypriot" is also very important to me, it has to do with
what we are today in our social reality rather than with where we came from ...
Ok! I see your point. Perhaps I see it in a similar way. I purposefully put the question very plainly and too far into terms of “black or white.” When I asked if you are a “GREEK” I did not refer to the term in its classical (historical) sense, but rather in the specific modern sense of citizenship and permanent country of residence.
When I used the term “Greek speaking” I meant in terms of maternal language. As we all know a maternal language (mother tongue,) is not only a tool for everyday communication but also a bearer of history, culture and civilianisation. Therefore, I believe what you mentioned above regarding your strong roots in Greek culture and history, is perfectly included in what I would describe you as a Greek speaking CYPRIOT.
To “help” explain what I exactly mean, I will give the following example(s.)
The way one will answer these questions will help define him/her better in terms of my “notorious,” by now, question.
I am a supporter of Omonia football team, which as you know considers APOEL to be her “eternal opponent” in Cyprus football affairs. Not only I want my team to always win whenever she plays against APOEL, but I also want APOEL to always loose whenever she plays with any other Cypriot team. For me, there is an almost equal satisfaction to hear that my team won a game and/or to hear that APOEL has lost a game.
In Greece I am a fervent supporter of Panathinaikos. I want Panathinaikos to win every game it plays, not only in Greece but also in Europe.
It so happens that when playing for the European cup, APOEL draws to play against Panathinaikos. Which one of the two teams I should prefer or support to win? Of course APOEL and with a good score, despite the fact that I know that Panathinaikos has by far more chances to go further up in the European cup qualifications. For me, it is by far more important for a Cypriot team to win a European game, even if it means to disqualify Panathinaikos and then loose in the next round, than for Panathinaikos to win the Champions league cup.
I give another example.
We are students in a University in the U.S. There are 8 students from Greece, 9 students from Turkey and 8 students from Cyprus (5 “GCs” and 3 “TCs.”) The university decides to organize a football tournament with teams coming from students based on the various countries of origin. Every student-country-team is allowed to include up to 3 players from a different country, should the number of students from a country are not enough to make a team of 11 players. The team from Greece needs 3 extra players and the team from Turkey needs 2 extra players. The Cypriot players have an option, either to get together (GCs & TCs,) and form a Cypriot team of 8, in which case we will need 3 extra players from a different country; or we can join the Greek and the Turkish teams respectively, in which case the two “motherland” teams will not need any extra players from deferent nationalities.
What would I do, if I were one of the 8 Cypriot students?
I would definately insist that we form a Cypriot team, since it is possible, and have our country represented in the tournament even though we will need 3 extra players from a different country; rather than joining the Greek team, since they also need 3 extra players to make up a team and we are only 5 “GC” students.
