Nationalism – Εθνικισμος – Milliyetçilik
I will say a few
bitter words here. I know that some of you will be offended. Some of you might
even stop talking to me, and some of you might get angry. But I’ve learned in
my life not to hide behind my finger. And to express my opinion openly
regardless of the issues. I will use the words, “Motherlands”, “Nation”, “Nationality”,
and others , even though I know some of you don’t like them, ( or hate them). So
here are my thoughts.
I’ve notice, around,
a few people that want to prove that they are more “Cypriots” than anybody else. And to do this they attack and accuse their
own origins, just to show that they are completely separated and independent
from their “motherland”. Some G/C say that our country is still separated , because we don’t want to
admit that we are a complete different nation from Greece , that we are “Pure Cypriots”
and not GreekCypriots, and all the problems originate from anything Greek. Same
applies to the T/C . They want to prove that they are not originated from
Turkey , but they “appear” suddenly here in Cyprus and they have nothing in
common with Turkey’s Turks. And they attack their “motherland” with words that I
can not write here.
The situation is
simple. NOBODY can falsify history! Nobody can deny , as much as he tries, as
much as he shouts , that the G/C are descendants of the Ancient Greeks who colonized
the island 1-2 thousands years ago. That’s why we speak Greek , and that’s why
we have in our verbal speech remnants of the ancient Greek words. History says
so.
Similar things
apply for our T/C compatriots. Nobody can deny that they are descendants of the
army that conquer the island back in the 16th century. Including colonists
from Asia Minor. History says this.
Of course , during
the years our national identity changed. With the interaction between us , and
the interaction of other people who conquer or came to the island (Venetians, Francs,
Maronites, British) our behavior and our habits and customs changed. Even our
language changed. G/C got loans from the Turkish language and T/C the opposite. Same with our customs.
T/C make “Gollifa” , some even eat pork, they make “flaounes”. G/C took the “oriental”
behavior from T/C. Pazari is in our blood now. And so on, making us all having
more similarities to each other , than
to our original motherlands. This is our “Cypriotism”
Even with all these qualities and similarities, we are NOT a single nation. We are Cypriots coming from two separate ethnic groups. And there is no need to make a new “nationality” to accommodate us.
So how we go from here? The answer is extremely simple. There has to be a MUTUAL respect and understanding between the two communities. There has to be respect for each other’s “sensitivities”. There has to be cooperation. And most of it there has to be TRUST between the people. There is no need to delete our past to make a common future. As long as we accept each other with their faults and their achievements, the future is ours to conquer!
Falsifying our past
to keep a few people satisfied is the
greatest mistake. Being proud of our separate pasts and looking forward to a common future is the
key to solution and reunification…
Andreas Soudjis –
Electronic Engineer
