Sunday, January 10, 2016
Cyprus as a centre for dialogue
http://in-cyprus.com/cyprus-as-a-centre-for-dialogue/.
...well said.
Cyprus is an ethnos. As such Cypriots can choose to sustain the distinct identities which make up this nature, to defend each other, to be Cooperators, a society which as Persons, and more importantly as Individuals, recognize and respect their own diversity, to adapt to a changing world in a manner which is enriching to themselves, as Cypriots, as this island's steward, and as facilitators of exchange.
At another level of Government, I can see the need for Cypriot Constituencies. Within a Federation, this right exists. While Turcophones may soon have the Liberty they have demanded for so long, such a form of self representation can only be secured by a superior element, the Federal government itself, being the Sovereign representative of Cypriots. While there will be no equal to the Turkish Constituency, its existence does not exclude the rights of Individuals, as Persons, as a Constituency, to be recognized as such at a later date.
I believe that Cypriots, may come to appreciate the opportunities they have if they are given a choice beyond the debate as it is framed, to be adversaries: what is "Turkish", what is not "Turkish" (called "Greek"); that beside a Turkish Constituency, and the Republic, a Greek Constituency could one-day exist, Maronite and Armenian Constituencies, even Latin and English, may exist as well.
Let us not forget that the world's ethnology faces larger problems with extinction than does the world's ecology. Let's not forget that despite the fact that Cypriots are overwhelmingly Greek speaking (and having Greek origins) like ninety percent of the world whose mother tongue is not English, they speak English, and fluently, on the computer for example, and in their busy lives beyond their family. Children do not necessarily see a value in learning either Greek, or Turkish, today. In my mind, to "Greeks", "Turks" may represent an immediate threat to their culture, (and vice versa) but in that regard, "English" I suggest, because it is overwhelmingly 'more' useful, is a bigger threat, if ignored, to us all.
In a world of bits and bytes, quantity counts, not just the quality of thoughts. Cyprus is one of those places in the world where one can expect to find urban dwellers who speak many languages, and who are very mobile. They clearly understand that these linguistic abilities are essential. Cypriots, in that regard, have a great opportunity to expand the relevance of their Official Languages by making them not only transparent to each other, as translation and meaning goes, but to many other languages. Such a Pedagogy will surely develop young minds who will have a strong appreciation of a mother tongue, and a capacity to communicate well, otherwise. One word in English if you will, becomes ten words or a hundred depending on the Cypriot capacity to use languages institutionally.
...i suggest it is Cypriots which will demonstrate the qualities, their respective "motherlands" (or "fatherlands") will emulate, learn from, and better themselves, by making their Language(s) open to improvement, interesting and useful as languages, to a sphere of languages, and Peoples, as a whole.
