humanist wrote:Viewpoint I feel we are different points of our understanding I see one united people in Cyprus one community. I live in Australia and what I am learning from day to day is that division creates many issues. I believe that when people are one there is no one community will dominate over another. Perhaps this is too idealistic and spiritualist point of view but that is where I am coming from. The more we create them and us ideology the more issues we will have and the Cyprus issue will not only haunt us but generations to come. Yes Turkish speaking Cypriots have been wroged in the past lets acknowledge that, lets make a change now, i believein Cyprus 2007 whilst there are some twits that grafititi walls in their racist ways of expressing themselves the majrity of people do not support them and they will not discriminate against any minority group infact racists around the world are in minority themselves. Infact I truly believ that most Greek Cypriots just want to see an end to the separation and return to their homes, or at leats know they can retuen to their homes as I said very few will. Especially the ones who immigrated overseas, ther majority will stay in their new homes in the south and perhaps sell their properties in the north.
Rude you are right i do not have day to day interactions with Turkish Speaking Cypriots, however the ones I have met have been beautiful people and over the years I have met many. Our desire is to see a united Cyprus. My fear is that unless people return to their properties we will create another Israeli/ Palestine issue where there is unecessary death and destruction. This is a pitty. I truly believe that the 1960's constitution of 18% of parliamentarians were of Turksih Speaking Background was probably the best solution to sharing power. It would have probably worked had it not been for the Greek inspired coup. Nowadays I think Greek Speakin Cypriots have learnt better and there is no way that enosis with Greece would ever be an issue.
I agree with you on the issue of psychoogical fear and it is valid let us not underestimate that..... that is why I am saying let us all work together to put strategies in place to bring people together, break down bariers, educate the young on the positives of living in a multicultural society, which Cyprus is fast becoming one. There's probably more Brits in Cypus today than Turkish Speaking Cypriots, if stattistics are correct and most TSC's have immigrated then it is highly probable.
Hear hear! I dig your comments and worldview Humanist.
I hope in the course of future dialogue on the Forum, we will continue to learn & be inspired. My Q. re: TCs is that your ideals - while great - do not seem to take into account TC sensitivities e.g. "One People One Cyprus" concept (we are numerically smaller & do not want to be lost in a Greek Cyprus).
The "Them & Us" mindset already exists & is entrenched after 50 years of ethnic tensions. So how to break this to create a bigger, better whole for everyone to belong to? So many different visions for Cyprus solution: some want 'one island, 2 States', others '1 State, 2 component parts', and others still 'one island, one people all integrated'. In a free & democratic society we cannot impose on each other what is "right"; it would only backfire anywhere! So each side must court people basig their arguements on fact (truth), mutual respect and positive action.
My ideal: one world, no borders anywhere, cos all different, all equal. Politicians be relegated to status of administrators (this is what they should always have been anywhere, there to serve the people, not dictate!) for set manageable geographic areas, with world resources better distributed and universal values to feed our soul & govern our lives.
OK, Planet Earth far from that & so is Cyprus! So we need salami tactics that will have some unpalatable bits, but we must swallow to get to the promised land.
In Cyprus, I think if the two sides can't even learn to respect & function side-by-side, they are not ready to integrate - it will f**kup like 1963. So why are we pushing for this in one swoop? Perhaps the EU example is more apt? We are where we are, so now we all need to move closer. Doing this in gradual moves, so each aspect of our lives we share provides benefits for all (economic, cultural, environment, etc) will help drive confidence and desire for more integration. If we cannot achieve this, then it is a 2 State solution because we are just not capable of compromise. And like a bad marriage, we need to acknowledge it is over & move on!
Whatever solution takes shape in CYprus, my biggest desire is for the two sides to reconcile. We need to each learn about the Other's pain and respect their rights, as well as push for our own. What I do not want is the next generation of CYpriots to see peace down the barrel of a gun.
