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[Kikapu]

[quote="Birkibrisli.... I feel closer to Kifeas,Piratis,miltiades,Bananiot,Cypezokyli, humanist,Kikapu,Pyro,Alexios et al, in heart and mind than I will ever feel for those poor(not materially) settlers in a million years.And if things go the way it is,and the TC culture is totally assimilated by the Turkish culture,[/quote]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading, I'm sure, a very small part of your life's events.

You're 2-3 older than me, which I'm happy to say, and Viewpoint is several years younger than me, I'm sorry to say. .

You and I, still have some very fond memories of Cyprus as children growing up, as well as it's ugly sides, but Viewpoint only has the ugly sides as he was growing up, and the good side, after the intervention / invasion occurred, so it is very difficult for Viewpoint to see what we see in 100% Cyprus, that we feel she belongs to us, and us belonging to her. Viewpoint feels at home with the part of Cyprus that gave him security and hope, and I really understand it Philosophically, so that's why there is a constant battle between him and the GC's and us once in a while. It is like, we're all from the same Country, but from different times. I do not have an answer how to fix the problem, but one thing for sure, you and I can claim to be Cypriots more than Viewpoint can, even though we do not live on the island, as he does, because he is from a different "time".

I mean no disrespect to Viewpoint or anyone else. It is my observation on how things are.

[BirKibrisli]

[quote="Birkibrisli.... I feel closer to Kifeas,Piratis,miltiades,Bananiot,Cypezokyli, humanist,Kikapu,Pyro,Alexios et al, in heart and mind than I will ever feel for those poor(not materially) settlers in a million years.And if things go the way it is,and the TC culture is totally assimilated by the Turkish culture,

Thoroughly enjoyed reading, I'm sure, a very small part of your life's events.

You're 2-3 older than me, which I'm happy to say, and Viewpoint is several years younger than me, I'm sorry to say. .

You and I, still have some very fond memories of Cyprus as children growing up, as well as it's ugly sides, but Viewpoint only has the ugly sides as he was growing up, and the good side, after the intervention / invasion occurred, so it is very difficult for Viewpoint to see what we see in 100% Cyprus, that we feel she belongs to us, and us belonging to her. Viewpoint feels at home with the part of Cyprus that gave him security and hope, and I really understand it Philosophically, so that's why there is a constant battle between him and the GC's and us once in a while. It is like, we're all from the same Country, but from different times. I do not have an answer how to fix the problem, but one thing for sure, you and I can claim to be Cypriots more than Viewpoint can, even though we do not live on the island, as he does, because he is from a different "time".

I mean no disrespect to Viewpoint or anyone else. It is my observation on how things are.

Thanks for that response,Kikapu.
I do cross swords with Viewpoint sometimes,but I too understand where he is coming from.I am not judging him at all.And I know that what I say sometimes hurts him more because it is coming from a TC,and I am sorry about that.The thing is we had to go into exile or immigrate or whatever to lose ourselves first in order to rediscove where our hearts and minds belonged.We found the opportunity and the good fortune to do extensive soulsearching and selfrealisation,while he has to live with everyday realities of life in the TRNC.His fear for the physical safety of the TCs in a united Cyprus is very real to him,altough it is probably only a cognitive distortion brought about bysome deep seated childhood fear or trauma.He accuses us of being stuck in the 50s or 60s,but it is really he who is stuck emotionally in the 60s or 70s.And the presence of Tpap,a constant reminder of Eoka and the Akritas plan does not allow him to risk anything. I find it tragic that he is prepared to lose his true identity and true mind and spirit,to achieve some imaginary security...

[StuartN]

Considering the good nature of the previous contributions, that, Birk is downright insulting. Did you mean to be?

[BirKibrisli]

Considering the good nature of the previous contributions, that, Birk is downright insulting. Did you mean to be?

Which part do you find insulting,Stuart?

[eracles]

Considering the good nature of the previous contributions, that, Birk is downright insulting. Did you mean to be?

yes, i'm completely stumped

[DT.]

Wish i had the sense, the maturity and the open mind to ever say something as close to the bone as what Bir said about my TC compatriots....unfortunately i am 31 and my generation has never lived those days. I still have a lot more therapy to go through.....but well said Bir.

[zan]

Please don't take this the wrong way Bir as I believe everyone is free to marry who they wish but don't you feel you have let the TC people down by marrying first Turkish then Australian? Your children will never be TCs however much you may wish this, it is very rare to find mixed marriages where the children consider themselves Turkish Cypriot. Your TC line gene is lost forever and that is very sad for us as a people. If you were able to raise your children here on the island you would have had the opportunity to instill some of our culture and language in them. Can your daughters speak Turkish? do they know any of your culture and roots? have they even been to Cyprus? Now your attitude towards TCs is much clearer as in time you have become a TC in origin but more a foreigner of mixed cultures and beliefs, that why you have difficulty in identifying with your TC side first before any other cultural bonding.

I don't know if this makes any diference to your thinking,but I married Autralian first and Turkish second...Do you want to change anything in the above post,Viewpoint,before I reply to it???

No go ahead, Im interested to hear your view, are you still married to the Turkish lady?

No,Viewpoint,I am not still maried to the Turkish lady.
My daughters understand and speak some very basic Turkish,but their knowledge and understanding of my culture is limited to the cuisine which they all love. My son identifies with being Turkish primarily,and speaks Turkish as mother tongue,and is a fanatical Galatasaray supporter (like his mother!) while I support Fenerbahche!..He too loves the Cypriot cuisine,and is very curious about Cyprus because of his strong bonding with my mother who at 86 is still a tower of strength as most Cypriot women are.

It is not the fault of my daughters that they know so little about my culture and background.They are now 22 and 20,and I am working hard to make up for my past mistakes,because I was not available to them physically and emotionally when they were growing up. I was too busy being the driven,angst ridden,insecure typical migrant/exile who just had to work harder,laugh louder,eat and drink more,have the better car and earn more money than anybody else. I thought it was enough to provide them and their mother with everything money could buy,while I was searching for my lost sense of identity and belonging.To cut a long story short,after a turbulent life my world came crushing down when I was diagnosed with a life treatening illness at age 49. I literally had to stop and change my life entirely if I were to live to see age 50.During this process I discovered what was wrong with my pretentiously very successful ,but in fact miserable life.It was very simple really.I was denying my true self,my true identity which was a Cypriot above all.I was a son of Cyprus.Cyprus was my motherland.I had no other.I missed the sound of the church bells,the sight of the little blue and white houses,
the sight of those little village GC women in their black attire,the sound of Cypriot Greek,the sound of bouzikie,as much as I missed their TC equivalent.I was living in Australia but my heart and soul belonged in Cyprus.This does not mean that I don't value or deny the Turkish part of my identity.I love the Turkish language and music and literature etc as much as anybody else.But having learned English and also French as third language,I know that there is nothing special about what language you speak and what religion you believe in,they are just manmade systems of communication and belief (very much like computer softwhere),which are ment to help people make sense of their world.That these are used to divide and rule people should be forever condemned.
I feel closer to Kifeas,Piratis,miltiades,Bananiot,Cypezokyli, humanist,Kikapu,Pyro,Alexios et al, in heart and mind than I will ever feel for those poor(not materially) settlers in a million years.And if things go the way it is,and the TC culture is totally assimilated by the Turkish culture,where will my daughters go one day if they want to find out about their father's origins and identity?The only place they will find people with similar heart,mind,body and spirit as myself would be in the Republic of Cyprus,or Greek Cyprus as you would call it...That is why I empathise and sympathise with the Greek speaking Cypriots.I am one of them,except that I speak Turkish.And because I am not a practising muslim but a Sufi with his own belief about the nature and function of God,it matters little that they are Orthodox Christians.
I hope this has not turned into a long and boring sermon,Viewpoint.
But,as all Cypriots, I come from a long line of philosophers and bon vivants, going back to Socrates,Aristotle, Epicurus,Lucretius and Vergil...
A bit of self indulgence is in my Cypriot nature.

Basically the dreams of many of us of that similar era but some of us are willing to give up our selfish wants for the sake of safety and future of the new TCs. My dad still tells me still of the time when he drank milk straight from the goat and rolled down hills inside an old (Toyota ) tyre and my heart brakes for him but those days have gone.

[DT.]

does that safety lie in a divided island Zan?

[zan]

does that safety lie in a divided island Zan?

From many points DT.

[Kikapu]

. My dad still tells me still of the time when he drank milk straight from the goat .

I'm glad milk comes in bottles and cartons now, because if anyone tries to drink milk straight from a goat these days, will be arrested for "sexual harassment" on a goat.