Cyprus-Forum.com

[Get Real!]

The problem is not with me, but with you. From what I understand you grew up abroad, and this might have something to do with the identity crisis that you are having.

It’s the “miracle” of propaganda free minds… with a clear head you can think for your self!

[ZoC]

I am a Greek, living on a Greek island and received Greek education. What more natural than this? For university I went aboard, and one of the courses I took was about ancient Greece. Nothing taught in that course was contradictory to what I already knew. On the contrary it went in far more detail.

The problem is not with me, but with you. From what I understand you grew up abroad, and this might have something to do with the identity crisis that you are having.

dunno about gr! but the only stressful/traumatic aspect about my identity was having to put up with listening to all the shit they used to spout in school/church... (both english and greek) neither of which chimed with my own psyche and experiences, brought up as i was in a cypriot immigrant household.

this was true of others like me, open-minded enough to want to question wot we were being indoctrinated in, and why. the more docile, maliable, conformist kids just lapped up what was taught them, accepting it as gospel. they were in the majority.

i believe it was seneca – a roman proponent of stoic doctrine – who once said, "beware the herd". he had a point. i'd rather be cypriot.

[Piratis]

So, you guys grew up abroad, and you are coming here to tell to people like me who were born and lived almost our whole lives on this island (the same as our ancestors going back 1000s of years) what being Cypriot means?

Some other Cypriots would call people like you "Charlies" and not count you as real Cypriots. I wouldn't do that because I respect your identity even if it is different than mine. But at the same time I expect from you to respect my identity, which happens to be the identity of the vast majority of Cypriots.

You can become attached to a place (e.g. Cyprus), but to be part of an ethnic group you have to be born into it.

[ZoC]

So, you guys grew up abroad, and you are coming here to tell to people like me who were born and lived almost our whole lives on this island (the same as our ancestors going back 1000s of years) what being Cypriot means?

so cypriots raised abroad (perhaps a third of people who define themselves as cypriot were raised abroad) aren't entitled to an opinion? even it it's a minority opinion? and here (ie. this forum) is available worldwide - and the exchanges conducted on it are in a world language. perhaps you should stick to greek language forums if ur not interested in more worldly views.

Some other Cypriots would call people like you "Charlies" and not count you as real Cypriots. I wouldn't do that because I respect your identity

i should hope so, because some people would call cypriots like that "peasants", not worthy of being taken seriously.

But at the same time I expect from you to respect my identity, which happens to be the identity of the vast majority of Cypriots.

Rest assured, i have the same level of respect for ur identity as u do for mine.

You can become attached to a place (e.g. Cyprus), but to be part of an ethnic group you have to be born into it.

u ought to know there are more cypriots living in my part of london than there are in any town in cyprus, bar the capital.

[Piratis]

Are your grand children going to be Cypriot as well? The same way you do not consider yourself Greek, your children (or at the very most grand children) will not consider themselves Cypriot. Its a process that can take a few generations, but when a small community of people mixes with a far larger one, the result is quite predictable.

I am not trying to tell you that you should be Greek to be Cypriot. There are obviously many Cypriots who are not Greek, and this is just fine with me. But at the same time you should realize you are in no position to give to me lessons of Cypriotness.

[ZoC]

But at the same time you should realize you are in no position to give to me lessons of Cypriotness.

frankly, i find giving lessons in any subject dull; and, if the student's not interested, pointless. so, although i do pride myself in being an authority, i'll leave the lessons in cypriotness to others. and get back to wot i do best here.