Paphitis wrote:Of course identity is an important aspect and Turkey would love this identity challenged because it will enable her to lay claim over the whole island.
The Cypriot wrote:
Really? And where is your evidence for this tired-old, rehearsed argument because, sorry, I don't buy it.
The evidence is all over the
occupied territory. The
desecration of Churches, graves and the
looting of antiquities is a good start. The changing of names of every village and town is further evidence, including the systematic alteration of the island's
demographics.
The Cypriot wrote:
And I'm actually quite offended that you think I would be foolish enough to do Turkey's dirty work.
I did
NOT accuse you of anything.
The Cypriot wrote:
How would Cypriots - regardless of personal or perceived ethnic background - asserting themselves collectively on the world stage as Cypriots above all else, enable Turkey to lay claim over the whole island, which is now an EU state?
Because over 220,000 illegal settlers, will in the future, also lay claim to the exact same thing as you, and there is nothing you will be able to do about this because all they are doing is collectively
asserting themselves as
Cypriots without proving any
historical connection to the island going back some 450 years, as this will no longer be necessary.
Even a Hindu Monk living in Cyprus can assert Cypriotness, so how can the settlers be any different?
The Cypriot wrote:
Turkey's politicians and press always, always, always refer to the free areas as Greek Cyprus. Why do they do that, do you think, as a strategy for laying claim over the whole island?
They refer to us as Greek Cyprus or the Greek Cypriot Administration because they
do not recognize The Republic of Cyprus, and therefore they do not recognize the Republic of Cyprus
territorial integrity or sovereignty, as they militarily occupy the island. This non recognition is therefore an assertion that the Republic of Cyprus is
illegal and nothing more.
Paphitis wrote:That is why Turkey has altered the occupied area. It would suit her purposes to remove all signs of Hellenism and Cypriot heritage.
You are free to discuss your ideas, but you are not free to challenge our Hellenic heritage unless you merely are expressing your own personal ideas or beliefs, which I don't have a problem with. You are free to believe anything you like.
The Cypriot wrote:
What a nonsense statement.
Whose ideas and beliefs would anyone want to express other than their own? And if they quoted other people's ideas and beliefs, that helped reinforce their own, what would be wrong with that?
Nothing is wrong with that, as long as you do not assert that Hellenism on the island is a
fabrication, because it clearly is not, as Hellenism in Cyprus is
supported by an array of historical scientific evidence. If you wish to challenge this with what you perceive as a "misconception", then you must provide
evidence to back up your sweeping statement.
If you have such evidence, then put it forward.
The Cypriot wrote:
Why would challenging someone's preoccupation with "Hellenic" dogma be out of bounds?
Everyone has the fundamental
right to preoccupy themselves with any "dogma" they wish, and I am quite astonished you would even classify it as a "dogma", because Hellenism is no more a "dogma" than Cypriotism. It is merely an
ethnic identifier, and if you wish to challenge peoples ethnic identity, then they too should be free to challenge your version of Cypriot Nationalism, which you seem to think requires the abolishing of Hellenic ethic identity or inheritance.
Furthermore, the Hellenic "dogma" as you put it,
is backed by historical and scientific proof, and so far you have provided no evidence to debunk it.
The Cypriot wrote:
This is no different to a Christian fundamentalist trying to censor an atheist for challenging a literal interpretation of the gospels.
It all hinges on
evidence. The Atheist is backed by strong
Scientific proof whilst the Christian fundamentalist is not.
Hellenism too is backed by strong historical and scientific proof, therefore it is not a misconception or "dogma" as such, and if you wish to challenge it then you better make sure your argument is soundly grounded with
evidence, otherwise we are free to tear your assertions and statements to pieces, but not your
individual right to classify yourself however you wish.
The Cypriot wrote:
It surely goes against the wisdom and very ideals of the ancient Hellenes - who allegedly you value so highly.
As I said before, no one is preventing you from asserting your Cypriotness, The Greek Cypriots also assert their Cypriotness. And our Ancient Greek inheritance permits us to express ourselves in any manner, without hindrance.
But if you want to create some
misconception that Hellenism is some kind of "dogma" and not an ethnic identitifier for Cypriots, then you need to provide some
evidence.
The Cypriot wrote:
Do you know that the Cretan author Nicos Kazantzakis was ex-communicated because of his "unorthodox views"? They wouldn't even bury him in a cemetry.
http://www.crete.tournet.gr/Nikos_Kazan ... 117-en.jsp"Μου δώσατε μια κατάρα, Άγιοι πατέρες, σας δίνω κι εγώ μια ευχή: Σας εύχομαι να ‘ναι η συνείδηση σας τόσο καθαρή, όσο είναι η δική μου και να ‘στε τόσο ηθικοί και θρήσκοι όσο είμαι εγώ"
"You gave me a curse, Holy fathers, I give you a blessing: may your conscience be as clear as mine and may you be as moral and
religious as I"
Yes, I do know Nicos Kazantzakis and I respect him for all of the above.
The fact that he was ex-communicated is a
blessing in my view.
I don't even know why you would bring religion into this discussion, because religion has absolutely
nothing to do with Hellenism. Religion may have hijacked Hellenism, by I do not subscribe to their form of Hellenism.
I believe that the Church itself has been very destructive, and if ever I was ex-communicated, I would literally rejoice.
I am an extreme atheist, with only a very minute element of doubt.
Religion and Hellenism are 2 different things, and I am offended that you would think that they are connected...
The Cypriot wrote:
What are you, the archbishop?
What are you? An immature brat!
