Hermes wrote:Paphitis wrote:
No hermes it is not inevitable at all!
What you are doing by saying such a thing does us no favours at all. The youth will not get involved because they can't not because they don't want to. Yes, they integrate, but they can still be cypriots but the "A List" turns them away because they want to keep their status and not let anyone else steal their thunder.
I meant that tension and dilution of the culture is inevitable, not dying out. But the problem becomes more acute with successive generations whose links to the homeland become weaker. That is why festivals, churches, language schools, community centres, associations, families and grassroots organisations have been important in the past. Also, the older generation cannot hang around for ever. They have to let go eventually.
From my knowledge of the UK where I lived for a while, I can tell you that there used to be quite a good sense of Cypriot identity even amongst the young UK-born. I don't know where it came from. Their families, relatives and the church probably. I don't think they thought of it as a big deal either. Many people in the UK have backgrounds which aren't British. I don't know how this will play out in future though...
Hermes,
the associations, Churches and Clubs, Schools are part of the problem. They do nothing to maintain Cypriotness. They help destroy it. Kids will only maintain their Cypriotness from their parents. In my case, mine will be Cypriots because they will get to know Cyprus from a young age, and going to Cyprus will be like a homecomming each year.
Let me tell you about someone I know. A Cypriot, an intelligent person and a true patriot who lives in Australia. Very politically active (even nearly preselected for a seat within the Liberal Party) and a successful medical practitioner and businessman. A family man with 3 young kids. A refugee from Ammochostos. His brother was an EOKA fighter in the 50s who was killed by the British.
Because of his Liberal Party allegiance in Australia, the Labor supporters (Cypriots?) labelled him a
terrorist. They would say that this man's family in Cyprus killed British Soldiers and civilians. Now let me tell you what happens in a country like Australia when people call authorities and tell those authorities that this person had terrorist links. His emails, phones were monitored. His mail would always arrive late and when it did arrive it was tampered with (opened).
One fine evening as this gentleman was in his bed, his house was surrounded by Federal Police and operatives from ASIC which is local sister of ASIO and is responsible for surveillance against Australian Citizens and others living in Australia. They smashed through his front door, armed, and ransacked his house. They searched everything and took away his computers and laptops for analysis. It was like a tornado had hit his home and family.
And who bought this upon him? Other Cypriots and Greeks. Why? Because he dared to be different.
So we hear things like this Hermes. And people stay away, can you blame them?
About 30-50% of Greeks and Cypriots vote or support the Liberal Party. Why would they attend any schools, clubs or associations?
Does this story sound far fetched to you? Well, it is true!
Please see your doctor right now!!
