Cyprus-Forum.com

[Viewpoint]

Have to agree with brother on this one, although we have similarities we are still very different, both physically and mentally. TCs are unique due to various influences over history.

[turkkan]

'Before 1974 we barely understood each other as our turkish was/is still spoken differently its only now that it is coming closer to theirs due to all the turkish satelite channels we watch also our eating habits, customs, thoughts etc. the list is long and exstensive, but if you see yourself the same as them then either you are not a tc or you are engaged/married to a turk, also among our society we look upon the mainland settlers with dis-taste.'


You really had trouble understanding normal turkish before 1974? What village were you from exactly? I really doubt anyone else had such problems, perhaps the others at this point can but in and tell us if they had such troubles. No denying there was a difference in dialect but the assertion that you could 'barely' understand proper turkish is clearly false. You seem to forget how there was a turkish officer in every turkish ghetto from 63 onwards directing the resistance movement. Perhaps we suffered such losses because there was a miscommunication problem somewhere in the lines of command, perhaps you are right after all.

'we watch also our eating habits, customs, thoughts etc.'

You change your eating habits or customs because of tv? I would have thought its more because of school (although im having trouble at this point making the connection between food and school and tv but I will leave this for now).


'but if you see yourself the same as them then either you are not a tc or you are engaged/married to a turk, also among our society we look upon the mainland settlers with dis-taste.'

So now you are saying because my thoughts differ than yours i am not a turkish cypriot. This is getting interesting, you should probably notify the nearest talent scout organisation in your neighbourhood that their search for the next Protagoras is over, you are obviously the next great philospher of this centry with your obvious openmindness and intellect.

Lets move on to your other declaration 'also among our society we look upon the mainland settlers with dis-taste'

As usual a big generalisation, but has some basis. THe question is WHY though? Is it because they are different or because they are poorer than us? If they were in a better economic situation than us would we still look at them with 'distaste'? ANd because they are poorer does that mean they are different? I dont know about you but I personally see them as poor families who came to this island to make a better living for themselves.

[turkkan]

viewpoint, I have not denied that you or this community are unique (although I have my qualms about the physical part), my question is how unique and to what extent does it compare to the greek cypriots?

[brother]

PLEASE USE YOUR QUOTE SYSTEM OR ASK FOR INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO USE IT TURKKAN

[turkkan]

i would have thought you being clever enough to pick up eating lessons from tv and managing to change your customs from the same box you would be able to browse through my response without being bothered about the quotes. Seems like there is ample evidence here for why you should not judge people through online posts.

[metecyp]

i would have thought you being clever enough to pick up eating lessons from tv and managing to change your customs from the same box you would be able to browse through my response without being bothered about the quotes. Seems like there is ample evidence here for why you should not judge people through online posts.

It's very annoying to try to read someone's post and figure out which part is a quote from someone else and which part is original. SO please use the quote system.

[insan]

turkkan, first of all welcome to the forum.

Insan,it is one thing distinguishing between people and another to socially connect. Your are going to have to provide a bit more than your above analysis for this quesiton im afraid, you would feel more comfortable in a greek village than a turkish village? Second, you have not answered the question at all, what differentiates us from the turks in turkey? And moving on are the differences greater than our differences with the greeks in the south?

What I meant was that social and cultural differences exist between different classes of people in Cyprus as it exist in all other countries of the world. When the settlers first arrived to North; the social, cultural and even lingual differences of the settlers were much more than what it is currently. Why? Because they had come from various regions of Turkey that have different traditions, values, life styles and beliefs. Nevertheless, there were alsolots of differences between the settlers from black sea region and Eastern Anatolia region. In the beginning none of the TCs felt comfortable with most of these settlers because of the huge differences. In course of time the differences between TCs and settlers besides the differences between settlers from x region and settlers from y region fused into one at a great extend as a consequence of inevitable inter-action of all people living in North. Currently you can't distinguish a settler villager and a TC villager who live in North Cyprus for 15 or 20+ years. On the other hand, the social and cultural differences of townsmen and villagers can still be distinguished because they have distinguishable, different social and cultural values. For instance in schools, mostly the townsmen form friend groups with townsmen and the villagers form friend groups with villagers. The Cyprus born children of settlers don't form friend groups with other Cyprus born children of settlers. There's no such groupings in social, cultural and political areas either. Settler formed political parties have never got %3-%5 of the votes of some settlers.

Would a TC feel more comfortable himself/herself in a Turkish village or in a GC village. This depends on many elements. A veteran TC villager who once had good relationships with most of his/her ex GC neighbours, pre-74 might feel himself, herself more comfortable in his/her pre-74 village than any of the turkish villages. On the other hand a new generation TC townsman who even don't know the Greek language and socially, culturally have got a little or none in common with a GC or a turkish villager might feel totally uncomfortable himself/herself both in a GC village and TC village.. You got my point?

What differentiates us from the turks in Turkey?

First of all Turks in Turkey are not homogenous; culturally, socially and economically. TCs have much in common with the Turks of mediterennean and Aegean regions than the Turks of other regions. But there are still many differences between TCs and those mainland Turks who we have many things in common than other Turks living in other regions of Turkey.

I do not need you to tell me to broaden my mind insan, im assuming with your final sentence you are implying that I am one of the above , if that is so then you are the one that clearly needs a broadening of mind. my question was not offensive in the least to anyone, and has a direct implication with the general topic of this forum,it is also something that is constantly brought up on this forum. tnx.

The relevant part of my post is not directed at you. You misunderstood it. I'm not implying anything to anyone. What I said is very clear. Do you disagree with that there are such people in every society. I only tried to draw a complete picture about this issue in a wider perspective instead of a overgeneralizing, superficial one.

[turkkan]

mate, I have put the quotes in speech marks for you to differentiate. I will use quotes from now on.

[turkkan]

Insan,

The Cyprus born children of settlers don't form friend groups with other Cyprus born children of settlers. There's no such groupings in social, cultural and political areas either. Settler formed political parties have never got %3-%5 of the votes of some settlers.

Thank you, I know and agree with the above. So in a way we can conclude that our culture since 74 has moved towards theres and theres towards ours. A very natural phenomenon considering the number of settlers we have here. Now the question here is, is there anything wrong with this? I personally, think there isnt it, just as there isnt anything wrong with learning at school traditional turkish folk dances. Yet some leftist groups continously harrass the goverment with complaints about this. The other day Yiannaris on television was stating how his 'turkish cypriot' friends were comlaining that they were being 'forced' to learn turkish folk dances at school. Are we not allowed to learn our traditions and be taught our heritage? Just because we have our own specific ones it does not in any way mean we cant learn those of turkeys also or be accused of doing so. Do you beleive that you would have any trouble or difficulty living in turkey socially? Now again let me ask you would you have any trouble living in the south? THese questions all beg answers as the assertment that in cyprus there is 'one community and two different religions' is absolute nonsense. We are two distinct communities.

Now lets move to my second question, what are our main similiarities with the greek cypriots? Insan perhaps you could give your thoughts on that.

[turkkan]

'Do you disagree with that there are such people in every society. I only tried to draw a complete picture about this issue in a wider perspective instead of a overgeneralizing, superficial one.'

You forgot to add romantics in that list.