Cyprus-Forum.com

[Paphitis]

But the issue here is that some people seem to think that any Cypriot that identifies themselves of Hellenic extraction is automatically categorised as a Juntist supporting anti Cyprus ultra nationalist. Some members have even embarked on a campaign to discredit and ridicule Greece. This makes me very angry.

I don't live in Cyprus and I have travelled pretty much all over the world and I have even been to Turkey, and I have never seen a nation disgrace it's own heritage and nationalism as much as Cypriots. Even the names of fallen heroes are disrespected by certain sections of the Cypriot community.

I think we need to be very careful with our words, Paphiti. When you say Cypriots are Hellenes you neglect and insult our minorities (including Cypriots of Muslim extraction), you neglect incredibly important aspects of our island's heritage. In short, you inadvertantly do the same as what Turkey's army has done in the north.

You are a proud Cypriot, and I know you don't do it with any malice. But, in the name of unity for our island, please be careful.

When I say that Cypriots are Hellenes, I am referring to 80% of the Cypriot population. I do not preclude anyone from being Cypriot.

But some people are trying to make life very difficult for the overwhelming majority of Greek Cypriots expressing their Hellenic culture and as far as I am concerned, Cyprus has played a key role in developing the Hellenistic world because it offered it the Hellenic language which was a fundamental building block and this needs to be celebrated. As Pirati would say, Cyprus was a link in the chain that founded Hellenism to begin with.

And it irritates me how some people would get on their high horse and insinuate that I or others are damaging our islands unity by expressing our Hellenism as well as Cypriotness.

[miltiades]

I have been screaming out from the top of my head for the last 3 years and proclaiming to all that A CYPRIOT RACE DOES EXIST AS INDEED IT EXISTED THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO.
Many have argued that there is no such ethnicity as Cypriot , only Greek or Turkish.
I have always been proud of my G/C background but above all immensely proud of being a Cypriot

[Paphitis]

I have been screaming out from the top of my head for the last 3 years and proclaiming to all that A CYPRIOT RACE DOES EXIST AS INDEED IT EXISTED THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO.
Many have argued that there is no such ethnicity as Cypriot , only Greek or Turkish.
I have always been proud of my G/C background but above all immensely proud of being a Cypriot

You are a mere Cypriot National of English Ethnicity as opposed to Hellenic Ethnicity.

Don't make me post the proof you provided us on other less lively forums...

[The Cypriot]

But the issue here is that some people seem to think that any Cypriot that identifies themselves of Hellenic extraction is automatically categorised as a Juntist supporting anti Cyprus ultra nationalist. Some members have even embarked on a campaign to discredit and ridicule Greece. This makes me very angry.

I don't live in Cyprus and I have travelled pretty much all over the world and I have even been to Turkey, and I have never seen a nation disgrace it's own heritage and nationalism as much as Cypriots. Even the names of fallen heroes are disrespected by certain sections of the Cypriot community.

I think the real problem is that we Cypriots tend to neglect/overlook all aspects of our rich and varied culture by focusing too much on one admittedly important aspect.... namely the (rich and varied in itself) Hellenic one.

And this totally alienates Cypriots of Muslim extraction in the north who simply can't buy in, which in turn really frustrates Cypriot patriots who can see the damage that this over-emphasis on Hellenism does. And they in turn attack all things Greek as an antedote.

[Antreis]

Cypriots of Muslim extraction in the north.

Who are these Cypriots of Muslim extraction ? Are they of Arab , Malay or Indonesian stock ? Are they Turkish ? Are they Franks converts ?
Have these people tried anything to kick out the Turkish troops ? Have they ever made a revolution against the so called TRNC regime ? Do they vote in the so-called elections in the north occupied areas ? Do they address Mr Talat as a prime minister ?
And where and when have they seen any "over-emphasis on Hellenism " ?
In the streets, in the signs ,in the restaurants ,in public and private schools on TV ? Where ?

[The Cypriot]

And it irritates me how some people would get on their high horse and insinuate that I or others are damaging our islands unity by expressing our Hellenism as well as Cypriotness.

I (if you are referring to me) am not insinuating it, I'm telling you, and I'm telling you quite openly and directly. And I regret that it irritates you but sometimes medicine doesn't taste very nice.

Take a look at just three examples I gave above?

Zeno of Citium is known to the world as a GREEK philosopher, not a Cypriot one (of Pheonician origin).

Aphrodite is known to the world as a GREEK goddess, not a Cypriot one (again, as it happens, of Pheonician origin).

We have given these two personages to Greece when they are in fact ours (and, Greek only after the event).

On menus in restaurants here in London, I often see 'Hallumin' described as a Greek cheese.

So in the above three instances we Cypriots have been expressing our Hellenism AT THE EXPENSE OF our Cypriotness.

And herein, I believe lies the problem.

[Paphitis]

But the issue here is that some people seem to think that any Cypriot that identifies themselves of Hellenic extraction is automatically categorised as a Juntist supporting anti Cyprus ultra nationalist. Some members have even embarked on a campaign to discredit and ridicule Greece. This makes me very angry.

I don't live in Cyprus and I have travelled pretty much all over the world and I have even been to Turkey, and I have never seen a nation disgrace it's own heritage and nationalism as much as Cypriots. Even the names of fallen heroes are disrespected by certain sections of the Cypriot community.

I think the real problem is that we Cypriots tend to neglect/overlook all aspects of our rich and varied culture by focusing too much on one admittedly important aspect.... namely the (rich and varied in itself) Hellenic one.

And this totally alienates Cypriots of Muslim extraction in the north who simply can't buy in, which in turn really frustrates Cypriot patriots who can see the damage of this over-emphasis on Hellenism does. And they in turn attack all things Greek as an antedote.

And why do the Turkish Cypriots need to buy in to our Hellenism? If they buy in to our Cypriot culture it would be a marvelous feat, and only a few have managed to do so. The rest are holding our island hostage to gain more rights down the track, and in the end this fact alone will alienate them from the rest of us.

Look at the Turkish Cypriots of this forum and you will notice that there is only 3 TCs who are truly Cypriots, and the rest want a free for all at our expense.

The country I live in is very rich and culturally diverse, and this country has managed an amazing cohesion between 100 different cultures, so I don't see any issue with Cyprus being able to one day do the same with a mere 5 or 6 different cultures. At the end of the day, everyone IS Cypriot, and being Cypriot should also give everyone the free will to express their very own cultural inheritance whether that be Hellenic, Armenian, Maronite, Latin or Turkish.

[The Cypriot]

Cypriots of Muslim extraction in the north.

Who are these Cypriots of Muslim extraction ? Are they of Arab , Malay or Indonesian stock ? Are they Turkish ? Are they Franks converts ?
Have these people tried anything to kick out the Turkish troops ? Have they ever made a revolution against the so called TRNC regime ? Do they vote in the so-called elections in the north occupied areas ? Do they address Mr Talat as a prime minister ?

I am not able to speak on their behalf. I really, really hope some of them respond to your questions in a constructive way. I can't imagine what it must be like living under a regime where there is one foreign solider for every three or four citizens.

And where and when have they seen any "over-emphasis on Hellenism " ?
In the streets, in the signs ,in the restaurants ,in public and private schools on TV ? Where ?

On this Forum for a start. I've been reading some of the threads. And yes, I think schools have a lot of responsibility.

[Paphitis]

And it irritates me how some people would get on their high horse and insinuate that I or others are damaging our islands unity by expressing our Hellenism as well as Cypriotness.

I (if you are referring to me) am not insinuating it, I'm telling you, and I'm telling you quite openly and directly. And I regret that it irritates you but sometimes medicine doesn't taste very nice.

Take a look at just three examples I gave above?

Zeno of Citium is known to the world as a GREEK philosopher, not a Cypriot one (of Pheonician origin).

Aphrodite is known to the world as a GREEK goddess, not a Cypriot one (again, as it happens, of Pheonician origin).

We have given these two personages to Greece when they are in fact ours (and, Greek only after the event).

On menus in restaurants here in London, I often see 'Hallumin' described as a Greek cheese.

So in the above three instances we Cypriots have been expressing our Hellenism AT THE EXPENSE OF our Cypriotness.

And herein, I believe lies the problem.

We have given no personages to Greece, because as it stands Cyprus is consummated with Hellenism whether you like it or not. Cyprus is just 1 branch of the Hellenic tree, as are the Athenians, Mycenaean, Spartans, Minoans, and our Goddess Aprodite was also worshipped by the mainland Greeks as well. The other 11 Greek Gods were also worshipped in Cyprus and all of these Gods were Hellenic Gods worshipped all over the Hellenic World in which Cyprus is a part of. So how did we give any personages when our contributions were to Hellenism as a whole as were the contributions of every other Hellenistic Kingdom/State?

That bit of medicine may leave a bitter taste in your mouth!

Don't waste my time. We are through!

[The Cypriot]

And why do the Turkish Cypriots need to buy in to our Hellenism?

Enabling them to buy in to the Cypriot culture would be a start - by not claiming it all to be exclusively Hellenic as some Cypriots insinuate (if not do it directly and openly).

If they buy in to our Cypriot culture it would be a marvelous feat, and only a few have managed to do so. The rest are holding our island hostage to gain more rights down the track, and in the end this fact alone will alienate them from the rest of us.

I don't disgree. I am not here to defend their actions. They will have to speak for themselves. If they were to do so constructively, rather than give you more of an excuse to despise them, then we might just get somewhere.

Look at the Turkish Cypriots of this forum and you will notice that there is only 3 TCs who are truly Cypriots, and the rest want a free for all at our expense.

I condemn them. And worse still, the world condems them. But it's those true Cypriots I feel for. They deserve better. From all of us.

At the end of the day, everyone IS Cypriot, and being Cypriot should also give everyone the free will to express their very own cultural inheritance whether that be Hellenic, Armenian, Maronite, Latin or Turkish.

My cultural inheritance is all of these. And more. And, to paraphrase JFK:

"Ich bin ein Ziprianer"