Tim Drayton wrote:zan wrote:Tim Drayton wrote:zan wrote:Tim Drayton wrote:Naggie wrote:Hello Viewpoint - as I understand your viewpoint, you require a 50-50 split of power (based on 5 seats each) to be divided along ethnic grounds (ie 5 to TC, 5 to GC). Am I wrong here? Kikapu's proposal doesn't allow for this.
In terms of why I don't agree with them - as mentioned in my previous post, I don't believe in national labels and understand ethnicity to be a construct. Cypriot people, like all people, are hybrid and unique and I don't believe they should be categorised politically into separate groups. However, because of years of self-justifying rhetoric from both sides, this division-simulacra has cemented itself into Cypriot minds and too many people think of themselves and the division along the lines of ethnicity. Go to any Cypriot school to see how subjective and nationalist their accounts of history are - or simply just look through this forum to see how we refer to GC and TC. Why not just Cypriots living in the north and Cypriots living in the south?
You are surely then legitimising the ethnic separation that was accomplished in 1974. Do not forget that there is a small community of Turkish-speaking Cypriots still living in Limassol and a small community of Greek-speaking Cypriots still living in Karpasia.
You mean 1964 don't you Tim??
Not exactly, because although the process of ethnic disengagement began at that time, it was not until 1974 that Turkish-speaking Cypriots were concentrated in the north and Greek-speaking Cypriots in the south.
I don't see the difference Tim...Just a more tidy setup for people to be able to SEE the separation....That is why I have a problem with RWs manifesto from the start. A mixed separation to make it look like we are united with the cantons he recommends.
I am just splitting hairs about the precise implication of the terms "Cypriots living in the north/south", that is all. The distribution until 1974 was not on a north/south basis but inside/outside enclaves which were scattered across the island. In a recent book that is probably not to your taste, Arif Hasan Tahsin proposes using the terms "Turkish-speaking Cypriot" and "Greek-speaking Cypriot", rather than "Greek/Turkish Cypriot".
You have no idea what my tastes are Tim by that remark you made....
Do you think that I TOO have not got a perfect working model in my head of how Cyprus "SHOULD" be?? Do you really think that little of me to say that I cannot comprehend a perfect society in which all can live?? Well just in case you are still in doubt after what I have just asked then I will make the statement right now......I know what heaven is......I also know that t is hard if not impossible to get a camel through the eye of a needle. People being people will never get to the kingdom of god Tim.....If you are set to give away your wealth in order to try then go ahead. I will hang onto mine and look reality in the face.