Cyprus-Forum.com

[Get Real!]

Son: “Dad, how is it we’re ethnically Greek?”

Father: “Son, I’m glad you’ve asked me that question because you see… we dance the Zorba and the Kalamadianos, we listen to Dalaras and Kazantzis, we love to eat feta and other delicious Greek things, and last but not least we speak Greek so there you have it… we’re Greeks!

Son: “Thanks dad! You’ve now helped me discover MY ethnicity!”

Father: “What, that you are Greek?”

Son: “Oh no… American!”

Father: “How the hell is it you’re American? What is this nonsense you’re talking about son?”

Son: “Well, I’ve watched countless American movies, listen to Rap and dance to Lady Gaga, live off American fast food for most of the week, speak English… even in the American accent if needed, and wouldn’t mind owning a Harley!"

Father: “But…”

Son: “Cheers dad… you always clear things up for me!”

[Sotos]

If his son's first language was English then that would be true ... that is why you are English although your parents were Greek. Because you adopted the English language and gave up the language and culture of your ancestors.

[repulsewarrior]

...the melting pot, it ends that way for the most part in the USA. (unless you are Spanish, and in some parts more Spanish spoken than English). unlike Canada, the mosaic, bicommunal, (and bizonal), i might add.

sotos, i will let GR speak for himself, but if i may suggest, be more careful how you generalise, using the word, "you".

[Viewpoint]

Get a grip repulse and stop getting so stuck on you them us we and deal with the subject directly.

[Kikapu]

"I am what I am and that's all that I am"......

[ayyannili]

Nice post. People should be able to identify with whatever identity they choose without interference from others. We should respect the decision to call oneself Greek or Turkish just as much as we respect the decision to call oneself a Cypriot. Unfortunately, those in the former camp like to screw things up and call those in the latter camp traitors.

[Piratis]

Nice post. People should be able to identify with whatever identity they choose without interference from others. We should respect the decision to call oneself Greek or Turkish just as much as we respect the decision to call oneself a Cypriot. Unfortunately, those in the former camp like to screw things up and call those in the latter camp traitors.

I agree, although in the case of Greek Cypriots there is only a tiny minority of people from the far right that would call "traitors" those who identify as "just Cypriot". In a democratic modern state the ethnic (religious etc) identity of each individual should be respected but should not matter when it comes to the rights and liabilities of each citizen.

The important thing is to accept the differences, not to try to force everyone to be the same. Even if we all believed in a "Cypriot ethnicity", there are still religious and linguistic differences and those differences could just as easily be exploited to create the same kinds of conflicts (and such examples exist in many other countries).

[erolz66]

The important thing is to accept the differences, not to try to force everyone to be the same.

You mean not trying to force TC to be Greek Muslims and Greek nationals against their will in a land they consider their homeland ?

[Piratis]

The important thing is to accept the differences, not to try to force everyone to be the same.

You mean not trying to force TC to be Greek Muslims and Greek nationals against their will in a land they consider their homeland ?

I believe I was clear. Each TC and each individual in general can have any identity he or she chooses since this is personal choice.

What is not a personal choice is, for example, to decide where Cyprus should or shouldn't belong. This is a collective decision that should be taken democratically by the Cypriot people, one person, one vote, with no racist discriminations and certainly without force and blackmail.

For example a minority of Cypriots might not see themselves as Europeans but as Asians and for this reason maybe they didn't want Cyprus to be part of the EU. However this minority of people had the obligation to respect the will of the majority, but they would still be free to continue to identify as Asians and not as Europeans.

[Viewpoint]

The important thing is to accept the differences, not to try to force everyone to be the same.

You mean not trying to force TC to be Greek Muslims and Greek nationals against their will in a land they consider their homeland ?

I believe I was clear. Each TC and each individual in general can have any identity he or she chooses since this is personal choice.

What is not a personal choice is, for example, to decide where Cyprus should or shouldn't belong. This is a collective decision that should be taken democratically by the Cypriot people, one person, one vote, with no racist discriminations and certainly without force and blackmail.

For example a minority of Cypriots might not see themselves as Europeans but as Asians and for this reason maybe they didn't want Cyprus to be part of the EU. However this minority of people had the obligation to respect the will of the majority, but they would still be free to continue to identify as Asians and not as Europeans.

Would that be the same if you "majority" voted for shariah law to be brought about? or give away your country to another?