www.talkcyprus.org

Leon · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Posts: 240 Location: England

After all, Cyprus is geographically in Asia, and has Asian influences on its culture (in particular from the Middle East). Although we may not feel Asian, is it fair to say that it isn't wrong to say we are?

Just a quick question to what i could spend years on if I could be arsed. To see if the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots have differing opinions will be interesting...

maria · Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 7:42 pm Post subject:

ooo i know this one we actully are basicly a mix of everything turkish greek muslim asian english and everything eles in the mix lol

cypezokyli · Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 2344

cypriots are from outer space

zan · Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 962

wrong

Dhavlos · Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 4697 Location: Birmingham

WHAT? i thought we were black!?!? :lol:

dudakli · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 12

couldn't we be under "european" and make it simpler???

Leyla · Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 612

Well at University someone used the word "Eurasian" to desribe me. It was the first time that I heard the term.

Crash Test Dummy · Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 4911 Location: London(ish)

i thought 'europe' kind of just got Cyprus.

any maps?

Dhavlos · Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 4697 Location: Birmingham

how about 'east mediterranean'?

I would say we are european rather than asian, simply because of culture(although it is heavily influeced by middle eastern culture)

Leon · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Posts: 240 Location: England

Wikipedia has several articles (on Cyprus, Asia, the Middle East etc.) which all show that Cyprus is in Asia. Since we are so close to Europe (and Africa) we can be classified as transcontinental (due to our political stance, too, I'd imagine. I mean we qualify for the European Union but nothing says you have to be European to join it). Our culture is a hybrid of Greek, Turkish, Arabic, Middle Eastern, north African, so would it be fair to say that European (based on politics) and Asian (culture/geography) are both correct? Middle Eastern would be more accurate, but Middle Eastern is Asian, after all.

The way I see it, European, Asian, Middle Eastern - they're all right. Anyone agree? I mean I would say that I'd prefer Asian to European (although I don't particularly feel Asian).

Leon.

Dhavlos · Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 4697 Location: Birmingham

I wouldnt be comfortable with asian, since it also implies the orient, which frankly, is not influential at all. Middle Eastern is more correct.

But like you said,transcontinental would be true to.

I still would say we are more European becuase
a)Politics(EU)
b)culture(although a mix, it is predominantly european)
c)geographically ...i think we are on the eurasian tectonic plate(or on the border) next to the arabian plate.

cypezokyli · Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 2344

Dhavlos wrote: how about 'east mediterranean'?

I would say we are european rather than asian, simply because of culture(although it is heavily influeced by middle eastern culture)

this is once again, one of those things (differentiations / categories /ideologies / nations etc ), that people first come up with, then accept them as existant , and then have the absurd demand that you have to choose in which category you belong to. because since they exist you need to belong.
(i mean what the hell is "asian culture" supposed to mean ? )

so now people came up with whatever a european culture is supposed to mean... so me as a wannabe european need to accept that i have more common things (cultural and otherwise) with a person from sweden than with a person from libanon or israel - who belongs obviously to asia!!! (with all the respect to alexios and our motherland - sweden :lol: )

culture never followed the rule of borders drawn by people, and the sooner we realise that the better

Dhavlos · Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 4697 Location: Birmingham

I completely agree cypez

I was going to put down that 'european' culture isnt exactly homogenous, same with 'asian' culture...

however, if i were to pick, i would say european (maybe it is because im born and bred in the UK i dont know.)
when people say they are asian, i immediately think chinese/indian ...rather tahn middle eastern.

actaully, now i think about it, this discussion kind of reminds me of a discussion we had in our EU seminar last year...about what is european? After all, is it ethnic? cultural? historical? geographical(russia?)? political(EU)? Especiaully when concerned with Turkey...historically can be european, politically could be, cultural? geographical?

it is all a matter of opinion.

dudakli · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 12

I'd still like to think of Cypriots as European rather than Asian as another gentlemen said, I don't feel particularly Asian but I guess I could used to this....

Is there another way we might be able to find out??

I'll ask my parents and see what they think.....

I'll get back to you guys with their response...bless...

repulsewarrior · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 1767 Location: Canada

I feel that our urban culture derived its qualities from the European sphere, clearly. However, our rural cultre is(was) far more complex which I believe gain their qualities from our confluence with the Egyptian, and Arab Worlds, at their peak. Quite unique is(was) the cooperation in farming; villages mobilising as a single group to harvest, and to sell as a single unit. We are(were) the most socialised people in the world.