Cyprus-Forum.com

[Svetlana]

Hi Hincyprus

It is not an identical analogous situation, but you claimed you are 'English'. Check out your Passport does it not describe you as 'British'?

So you are British, but regard yourself as English. Sort of a bit similar to a Cypriot regarding themselves as TC or GC.

Still we are all Europeans now so that clears that up!

Lana

[voyou]

I actually don´t consider myself English, which I am, but rather that I am a human being. I don´t really like to think of us all as different. I also think that flags just serve to make people all think themselves different, and in some cases better than their neighbours. We ARE all the same. The sooner we have a global organisation to run the planet in a ´all for one basis´the better. Some countries having plenty whilst others struggle seems a little strange to me. We are supposedly the only sentient species on the planet, yet we are the dumbest in my eyes.

I see us as one nation. I accept though that my views are a little ´seen through rose tinted spectacles´, but hey.

I also like that we have such diversity in the world.. so can we have an ideal world? Maybe we shouldn´t try?

Anyway.. back to reality!

[hincyprus]

. The sooner we have a global organisation to run the planet in a ´all for one basis´the better. Some countries having plenty whilst others struggle seems a little strange to me. We are supposedly the only sentient species on the planet, yet we are the dumbest in my eyes.

I see us as one nation. I accept though that my views are a little ´seen through rose tinted spectacles´, but hey.

I also like that we have such diversity in the world.. so can we have an ideal world? Maybe we shouldn´t try?

Anyway.. back to reality![/quote]





An interesting concept but I would take issue with, "Some countries having plenty whilst others struggle seems strange to me".

I would dearly like to see under developed countries come up the scale but my own experience in Africa leads me to believe that it will be a very very uphill struggle for most of these countries. And it is not because we dont give enough aid, nor that we do not buy their goods etc.

The big problem lies in the attitude of those with power within these countries.

The example that always hits me in the eye is one that happened when I arrived in Nairobi in 2002 and was met by my friendly local guide. On the hectic drive to my hotel I was given a street by street, road by road intro to the city . Who lived where etc etc. Approaching the hotel on a rather smart road out of the city he remarked that the wonderful new building at the next Y junction was the new headquarters of the anti corruption squad.
very impressive I said......but will they do any good?
Oh, yes he replied they have already arrested a really big fish in the first month of their operations.....

and who was that ?

The Head of the Anti Corruption Unit !!!!!!!!!!!!!! he said.


Enough said

H

[voyou]

Excellent story..

Sad but true that money leads to greed and it will always be a problem!

Africa will be a tough nut to crack as regards to corruption, can they help themselves?

We can all do our little bit though.

[Skelbo]

I recently asked my lawyer why there is such a strong bond between Cypriots and Greece (not necessarily the other way around!), parlicularly in terms of flags and football etc.

It seems that the general history education given in the schools is very much portrayed as Cyprus being, and wanting to be, part of Greece. In a nut shell, as the Cyprus story is told whenever Turkey, the British or whoever took control of Cyprus it is seen as invasion, but when the Greeks came to Cyprus it is seen as reclaimation of their island.

The Cypriots voted I think some 60 years ago to become a Greek island, like Rhodes, Crete etc but it has never happened. Some, he told me, still consider Cyprus to be in a transitional phase on its way to becomig Greek island.

That I guess gives us a decent reason why we see the strong Greek patriatism. Rightly or wrongly the feeling amongst the people is that they actually wanted to be part of Greece and not an independant island.

In terms of "Greek or Turkish Cypriots", there are quite simply people on the island with a Turkish heritage, others with a Greek heritage and others with 'normal' Cypriot heritage. They would therefore seem justified in considering themselves one or the other.

All of these points are incidental to the actual Cyprus Problem and all that it entails..... please don't ask me about that one.