Cyprus-Forum.com

[alexISS]

...interesting point.
Nikitas,
"We are Greeks, naturally, but being far away from the "national center" and especially untouched by the Athenocentric intelligentsia, we have retained more of our Greekness, since the intelligentsia was not here to erode it, and thus are now different, in fact more Greek than the mainlanders. The same goes for TCs by the way, they are more Turkish than the mainlanders. This is the essence of being Cypriot, we are mainlanders plus. And this pisses off both motherlands who take it on themselves to change us to their standards. They are both afraid to allow examples of "their" cutlure to flourish uncontrolled"

I am not talking about Turkey here, but why the hell would Greece ever want to control their culture and prevent it from flourishing in Cyprus?

The biggest defence Cyprus has is it's Hellenism. Without it, we Cypriots would never have survived the countless persecutions over many centuries. We would have assimilated to the oppressors, but our Hellenism gave us strength to battle and persevere with our own identity against what must have been insurmountable tyranny!

I think Nikitas means that Greeks are uncomfortable with the unique Cypriot cultural elements like the Cypriot dialect because they are "different". This is, of course, completely false, it's in fact the Cypriots who are often "embarrased" when visiting Greece and look around suspiciously as if everyone is judging them! I remember a few years ago, in Syntagma square, a Cypriot middle aged woman asked me for directions. Before replying I asked her, in the friendliest tone possible, if she was Cypriot. She gave me an angry look and said "yes I am, do you have a problem with this?"

[repulsewarrior]

Hellenism is one thing, being a "Greek" is another.

During the late 60's a poll I read asked if people wanted the Greek drak as their currency or the postal service.

The vast majority said no. Enosis, was a dream. Yet as a fantasy it drove us to attack an adversary which was served on Turkish Cypriots in proxy, toward Turkey.

... as a young person then, even I knew this was wrong. To be Cypriot meant I did not want to be Greek, and that 'they' were a part of the Hellenic world, which has no center, whose center lies in the heart of all of us.

[Paphitis]

Hellenism is one thing, being a "Greek" is another.

During the late 60's a poll I read asked if people wanted the Greek drak as their currency or the postal service.

The vast majority said no. Enosis, was a dream. Yet as a fantasy it drove us to attack an adversary which was served on Turkish Cypriots in proxy, toward Turkey.

... as a young person then, even I knew this was wrong. To be Cypriot meant I did not want to be Greek, and that 'they' were a part of the Hellenic world, which has no center, whose center lies in the heart of all of us.

You know, someone did make a revelation to me which was quite shocking. ENOSIS, was a dream for such a long time, and at some stage prior to the coup, Makarios could have easily proclaimed Enosis. In fact, the TCs were expecting this to occur, as Greece had many undercover troops on the island. This would have prevented the disastrous coup and subsequent Turkish action. Did Makarios make a mistake? Or was it difficult for him to relinquish his power?

[alexISS]

Hellenism is one thing, being a "Greek" is another.

In Greek, there is only one word: Ellinas. Both Greeks and Cypriots are Ellines

[Oracle]

Hellenism is one thing, being a "Greek" is another.

In Greek, there is only one word: Ellinas. Both Greeks and Cypriots are Ellines

I agree ... the Cypriots are as Hellenic as, let's say the Spartans

[alexISS]

Hellenism is one thing, being a "Greek" is another.

In Greek, there is only one word: Ellinas. Both Greeks and Cypriots are Ellines

I agree ... the Cypriots are as Hellenic as, let's say the Spartans

THIS

IS

CYPRUUUUUUUS !

[Paphitis]

Hellenism is one thing, being a "Greek" is another.

In Greek, there is only one word: Ellinas. Both Greeks and Cypriots are Ellines

I agree ... the Cypriots are as Hellenic as, let's say the Spartans

THIS

IS

CYPRUUUUUUUS !

GR! is that you?

[alexISS]

Hellenism is one thing, being a "Greek" is another.

In Greek, there is only one word: Ellinas. Both Greeks and Cypriots are Ellines

I agree ... the Cypriots are as Hellenic as, let's say the Spartans

THIS

IS

CYPRUUUUUUUS !

GR! is that you?

well, it is the coolest nation on the planet

[repulsewarrior]

...especially with the Junta in power, Makarios was not wrong.

Nuclear weapons then, in Cyprus was not at all appealing, nor the decimation of this island's people for a proxy war which may have escalated internationally out of control.

For these powers, the interlocutors, it is (and has been) a desire to keep this site impotent if it cannot be possessed. Strategically on many levels Cyprus is too important to leave to any one of these powers. It has been an idea, to split the island, for about 150 years. Fortunately, the world has passed into an age which has as a Principal, Freewill, and self-determination, which I hope we can demonstrate to others with our unity, as this island's dwellers, Cypriots, members of a larger family of man.

[Paphitis]

...especially with the Junta in power, Makarios was not wrong.

Nuclear weapons then, in Cyprus was not at all appealing, nor the decimation of this island's people for a proxy war which may have escalated internationally out of control.

For these powers, the interlocutors, it is (and has been) a desire to keep this site impotent if it cannot be possessed. Strategically on many levels Cyprus is too important to leave to any one of these powers. It has been an idea, to split the island, for about 150 years. Fortunately, the world has passed into an age which has as a Principal, Freewill, and self-determination, which I hope we can demonstrate to others with our unity, as this island's dwellers, Cypriots, members of a larger family of man.

But it has been suggested that if ENOSIS was proclaimed, the coup would not have happened, and our island would still have been whole as the Turkish Army would not have been able to set foot on the island even if they tried. Surely, this would have been much better to what we have today?