Cyprus-Forum.com

[miltiades]

Natty , I understand your "identity confusion " and re assure you that the term Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot will be with us for ever. What I and many who share my beliefs promote is the closeness of the two Cypriot communities and the undeniable fact that certain inbuilt animosity between Turkish and Greeks exists as it has existed for centuries now. However no animosity as such exists between Cypriots , the ONLY think that unites our people is just that the Cypriot identity. I m quite happy to be called a Greek Cypriot but I do emphasize I'm not GREEK , there is a vast difference between a Greek Cypriot and a Greek just as there is between a Turkish Cypriot and a Turk. Ask any T/C and you will receive the same answer. I have a " soft touch " for my compatriots the T/C , cant say the same for Turks or Greeks.

[reportfromcyprus]

I have to admit, that after reading a few posts and threads, this whole question of 'identity' is driving me a little bit crazy, I honestly don't think I've questioned my identity as much as I have since I joined this forum!

'Is it wrong that I'm proud of my Greek heritage?', 'Do I actually have any Greek heritage??', 'Should I wipe out all Greek things and just concentrate on the Cypriot things?' 'But then what language would I speak?' 'How could I speak the distinctive Cypriot dialect without the using the Greek language as a basis?', etc....

Now you can see why it's been driving me crazy!!

So I decided to stop questioning my identity and confess that I am very proud British Greek Cypriot! There I've said it...

Personally I feel that My ‘Cypriotness’ is a fusion of (Mainly) the Greek and Native Cypriot cultures and that I DO have Greek heritage and am very proud of that fact (and I know that that might alienate some Turkish Cypriots but we share the Cypriot culture and the Greek and Turkish culture are so similar and infused with each to the extent that Greeks and Turks argue as to who came up with what first and who influenced the other most... ) but I am Cypriot first and foremost and then Greek.

So I can speak, write and can read 'Modern' Greek, but I speak the Cypriot dialect, I know many Greek Dances that come from all over Greece and Turkey, but I mainly dance the Cypriot dances, I eat Souvlakia but I don't roast a whole lamb on a spit, I crack red eggs at Easter, but I also eat flaounes, I listen to Greek music, but I also listen to Cypriot music (which makes me feel very proud..), I sure do love to dance to a Zembekiko or a Greek Syrto, but what can beat a Kypriako Zembekiko and a Kypriako syrto? I love dancing a traditional hasapiko at a wedding, but my favourite bit is when the Bride and Groom dance together, or when the Koumpari dance together, I love Pastitsio and FaKi, but I know them as Makaronia tou fournou and FaGi, Greek coffee, Turkish coffee? Great but I like a nice kypriakon cafe...(Oh and who can beat a good British cup of tea?? )

All that is me that is my indentity that is who I feel I am...

Yes I don't agree with people who shun the traditional Cypriot way of doing things in favor of the Greek way of doing things (however similar..), and who feel that Greece is 'the Mother land', but they are entitled to feel like that as long as they don't impose their opinions and feelings on anyone else...

What we have to do in Cyprus is accept and embrace each others similarities and differences and have respect for each other, instead of imposing things on people, and having silly arguments about 'whether Cyprus really ever had any Greek heritage, or whether we are all of I don't know, Persian decent’... for example...

And that’s my two cents worth...

And you're fabulous! Where else do you have people whose backgrounds have such variety and interesting history? I think we should celebrate the combinations and not get stuck in divisive thinking.

[DT.]

I have to admit, that after reading a few posts and threads, this whole question of 'identity' is driving me a little bit crazy, I honestly don't think I've questioned my identity as much as I have since I joined this forum!

'Is it wrong that I'm proud of my Greek heritage?', 'Do I actually have any Greek heritage??', 'Should I wipe out all Greek things and just concentrate on the Cypriot things?' 'But then what language would I speak?' 'How could I speak the distinctive Cypriot dialect without the using the Greek language as a basis?', etc....

Now you can see why it's been driving me crazy!!

So I decided to stop questioning my identity and confess that I am very proud British Greek Cypriot! There I've said it...

Personally I feel that My ‘Cypriotness’ is a fusion of (Mainly) the Greek and Native Cypriot cultures and that I DO have Greek heritage and am very proud of that fact (and I know that that might alienate some Turkish Cypriots but we share the Cypriot culture and the Greek and Turkish culture are so similar and infused with each to the extent that Greeks and Turks argue as to who came up with what first and who influenced the other most... ) but I am Cypriot first and foremost and then Greek.

So I can speak, write and can read 'Modern' Greek, but I speak the Cypriot dialect, I know many Greek Dances that come from all over Greece and Turkey, but I mainly dance the Cypriot dances, I eat Souvlakia but I don't roast a whole lamb on a spit, I crack red eggs at Easter, but I also eat flaounes, I listen to Greek music, but I also listen to Cypriot music (which makes me feel very proud..), I sure do love to dance to a Zembekiko or a Greek Syrto, but what can beat a Kypriako Zembekiko and a Kypriako syrto? I love dancing a traditional hasapiko at a wedding, but my favourite bit is when the Bride and Groom dance together, or when the Koumpari dance together, I love Pastitsio and FaKi, but I know them as Makaronia tou fournou and FaGi, Greek coffee, Turkish coffee? Great but I like a nice kypriakon cafe...(Oh and who can beat a good British cup of tea?? )

All that is me that is my indentity that is who I feel I am...

Yes I don't agree with people who shun the traditional Cypriot way of doing things in favor of the Greek way of doing things (however similar..), and who feel that Greece is 'the Mother land', but they are entitled to feel like that as long as they don't impose their opinions and feelings on anyone else...

What we have to do in Cyprus is accept and embrace each others similarities and differences and have respect for each other, instead of imposing things on people, and having silly arguments about 'whether Cyprus really ever had any Greek heritage, or whether we are all of I don't know, Persian decent’... for example...

And that’s my two cents worth...

well done Natty. One of the best posts i've read on this forum.

[free_cyprus]

Natty
you do not have a problem with your identity your a greek speaking cypriot. not a greek cypriot there is a difrence but most morans in this forum think they are greek and turkish cypriots theres no such thing ...........there os however turkish and greek speaking cypriots................. people dont realise how much problems it couses for the cypriots when they use the words turkish cypriot and greek cypriot............... be proud to be greek speaking thats all we have in association with those two countries turkey and greece we speak some of their language eve though cypriot has their own accents and way of saying things............. nothe rthing that bothers me is people from cyprus display greek flags and turkish flags in this forum is disgraceful we are cypriots what has turkey and greece ever done for us nothing nada just created probems for us all along and we are still suffering as a result of those problems

[karma]

Natty
you do not have a problem with your identity your a greek speaking cypriot. not a greek cypriot there is a difrence but most morans in this forum think they are greek and turkish cypriots theres no such thing ...........there os however turkish and greek speaking cypriots................. people dont realise how much problems it couses for the cypriots when they use the words turkish cypriot and greek cypriot............... be proud to be greek speaking thats all we have in association with those two countries turkey and greece we speak some of their language eve though cypriot has their own accents and way of saying things............. nothe rthing that bothers me is people from cyprus display greek flags and turkish flags in this forum is disgraceful we are cypriots what has turkey and greece ever done for us nothing nada just created probems for us all along and we are still suffering as a result of those problems

u r talking as if Cypriots are aryans..it is funny..
then i m telling this again:
U R AN ''ARYAN'' DRINKING ''AYRAN''

[DT.]

Natty
you do not have a problem with your identity your a greek speaking cypriot. not a greek cypriot there is a difrence but most morans in this forum think they are greek and turkish cypriots theres no such thing ...........there os however turkish and greek speaking cypriots................. people dont realise how much problems it couses for the cypriots when they use the words turkish cypriot and greek cypriot............... be proud to be greek speaking thats all we have in association with those two countries turkey and greece we speak some of their language eve though cypriot has their own accents and way of saying things............. nothe rthing that bothers me is people from cyprus display greek flags and turkish flags in this forum is disgraceful we are cypriots what has turkey and greece ever done for us nothing nada just created probems for us all along and we are still suffering as a result of those problems

i've told you time and time again, if you want people to listen then stop calling them morons you moron....(at least spell it right)

And stop being so touchy just because you're the only arab cypriot out there. We're proud of our Greek ethnic backgrounds as well as our country which is cyprus. As i'm sure are our Turkish Cypriot friends.

[Kikapu]

'Do I actually have any Greek heritage??', 'Should I wipe out all Greek things and just concentrate on the Cypriot things?' 'But then what language would I speak?' 'How could I speak the distinctive Cypriot dialect without the using the Greek language as a basis?', etc....

:

Natty, Natty, Natty,

You can be a Cypriot, without having to worry whether you speak Greek or Turkish.

For example. Americans speak English, well, sort of, but they are Americans with their own heritage, and not the heritage of the English.

The Australians speak English, well, sort of, but they too have their own heritage and not the heritage of the English.

The Scottish speak English, well, sort of, but they too have their own heritage, and not the heritage of the English.

I think you get what I'm saying, so If you are Cypriot and you speak Greek, well sort of, you have the heritage of Cyprus and not Greece.

Same goes to the Turkish speaking Cypriots, that they have the heritage of Cyprus, and not Turkey.

[miltiades]

'Do I actually have any Greek heritage??', 'Should I wipe out all Greek things and just concentrate on the Cypriot things?' 'But then what language would I speak?' 'How could I speak the distinctive Cypriot dialect without the using the Greek language as a basis?', etc....

:

Natty, Natty, Natty,

You can be a Cypriot, without having to worry whether you speak Greek or Turkish.

For example. Americans speak English, well, sort of, but they are Americans with their own heritage, and not the heritage of the English.

The Australians speak English, well, sort of, but they too have their own heritage and not the heritage of the English.

The Scottish speak English, well, sort of, but they too have their own heritage, and not the heritage of the English.

I think you get what I'm saying, so If you are Cypriot and you speak Greek, well sort of, you have the heritage of Cyprus and not Greece.

Same goes to the Turkish speaking Cypriots, that they have the heritage of Cyprus, and not Turkey.

Precisely ! Could not agree more !

[The Cypriot]

Be Cypriot - nothing less - and the crisis will end.

[Natty]

.................

(Sorry I posted twice so I've deleted this one..)