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stavrizatz

History war; the war of truth where is interpreted differently from the different points of view. If you consider asking the approximately 750.000 Cypriots about the Cyprus conflict, you might hear 750.000 different stories based on a variety of facts and figures. What you might find surprising is that almost everyone believes so strongly in their own opinion that they wouldn’t accept another’s perspectives.

Due to the recent chronology of the events the official bodies seem afraid to blame their own side and therefore the Greeks Cypriots pass responsibility to the Turkish Cypriots and vice-versa. The official bodies are guilty for not showing neutrality and nobility, guilty for telling a type of history that has little interest in exploring the truth, but desperately attempt to shore up their arguments and deceive the readers to their misrepresenting conclusions.

The Republic of Cyprus desires to pass total responsibility to Turkey and Turkish Cypriots and give the message that Greek Cypriots are the only victims of the Cyprus trategy. To achieve that they use speculation, embellishment, purposely abandon critical parts of recent history (specifically events between 1963-74) and suppress evidence in order to achieve their scope.

On the other hand Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Turkey are no better than the Republic; they invent and falsify stories, suppress evidence, emphasise minor incidence of Greek brutality to dress up conclusions. Their desire is to justify their own crimes and illegalities and excuse the invasion and occupation by blaming the other side.

This history war leads no where when the aim is not the investigation of the truth. The friends of Cyprus and the friends of hiscorical truth should fight the misleading war of our official bodies. An agreed version of history will not solve the problem but it will be a step forward as it will allow people to discover the truth.

The governments should not mix their opinion with the facts and should not aim to mislead the public, so personally I'll like the history war to end. Stop this f***ing war, tell us the truth.

cypezokyli · Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 2344

there is no "truth".
there are opinions.
the more we teach kids many opinions the better.

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

Thats exactly it, youve both got it.

personally, since i can see no real 'single truth' in the future, the only way is to teach our children all the 'truths' and let them make their own minds up. Then we might finally sort out the shit from the truth.

bg_turk · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 1315 Location: Bulgaria

There are truths on this side of the Aegean, which are all falsehoods on the other.

stavrizatz · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:12 am Post subject:

cypez it is your opinion that there are no truth ...imo there are truths and truth is the reality, the facts of what happened in Cyprus. The opinions is about the interpretation of the facts and reality, and here i aggree with you that we need to look at other opinions.

The first thing I learned in university was:
Opinion is a point of view (thesis), then we see another point of view (another thesis) and we compare and contrast to develop a new opinion, a new point of view (synthesis). Synthesis is a new thesis and process making up new synthesis should never stop, as knowledge i infinite.

brother · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 8920 Location: London/Cyprus

I have to agree with Stav that we need a true history with all the BS left out, the current versions of history practised by both sides is not the complete truth and we all OWE it to our children to tell them the truth however painfull it is so we can come to terms with our horrific past, this is something that should be championed.

zan · Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 962

I think, in a way, Cyp is right. I have my opinion on a subject and a subjective view but the same is true for any Greek Cypriot. Just look how tied up we get on the single subject of EOKA.

stavrizatz · Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:49 am Post subject:

Quote: Just look how tied up we get on the single subject of EOKA.

But the subject of EOKA was just a debate among the many debates that exist. An agreed history is the synthesis of the different points of views and it is based on the facts that exist and not the interpretation of facts.
Eg. about EOKA
the debate was terrorism organisation vs liberation strugle. This debate is purely subjective based on the given facts. The problem with the official bodies is that the given facts are not the 'real facts'*. The site cyprus-conflict is quite objective and imo that is how the history telling should be made by our governments.

*'real facts' - the so called 'real facts' are the most probable facts, the fundamental facts not the actual truth because the actual truth...only god knows, whoever he is and if he exists!!!

Cyprus rules! · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 668

Hi Stavrizatz, I honestly think that the only way we can learn the 'truth' is when Cyprus is properly reunified. So long as Cyprus stays partitioned both sides will pay the blame game, accusing each other of 'starting it'...The Greek Cypriot government will always emphasize certain periods of Cyprus's history more than others, because there is a risk that something might come up that would 'justify', in some people's eyes, the 'invasion' and subsequent partitioning of the Island, and the Turkish Cypriot side will always emphasize, etc.. a certain part of the Cyprus history, because otherwise something might come up that doesn't 'justify' the invasion and subsequent partition of the Island...

The more people are allowed to just get on with their lives in a reunified Cyprus, the less it will mater 'who started' it. That's when the 'facts' will become clearer, and a more realistic version of Cyprus history can come to the fore, a history that combines both 'point of views'...because really, we all know that no one side is entirely to blame....

However, I think that there is still so much more information on the Cyprus issue, that has been 'hidden' away...New facts are being uncovered all the time....

100%cypriot · Joined: 27 Jun 2006 Posts: 2148

This is a no hoper my friend because the Truth is very hurtfull and very DIRTY so the leaders of both sides refuse to tell the truth incase it implicates them all

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

wait for another 10 or so years, hopefully by that time, the leaders from the 60s/70s wouldhave gone, so they wont try to cover up the shit they have hidden.

cypezokyli · Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 2344

as far as i understood , one of the significant features of the BB solution is that each state will have control over its education (for cultural and other reasons).

so it will strictly depend on the goodwill of the two states to come up with common history books. (as far as i know in bosnia for example they have three different history books , each continuing to breed hate).

i would propose a central independent organisation which will only be contacting research on the opinions of students for the "other". if it is apparent that one or both of the states breed hate , then they would have to change sth in their educational system.

stavrizatz · Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:43 am Post subject:

Cyprus Rules wrote: Hi Stavrizatz, I honestly think that the only way we can learn the 'truth' is when Cyprus is properly reunified. So long as Cyprus stays partitioned both sides will pay the blame game, accusing each other of 'starting it'...The Greek Cypriot government will always emphasize certain periods of Cyprus's history more than others, because there is a risk that something might come up that would 'justify', in some people's eyes, the 'invasion' and subsequent partitioning of the Island, and the Turkish Cypriot side will always emphasize, etc.. a certain part of the Cyprus history, because otherwise something might come up that doesn't 'justify' the invasion and subsequent partition of the Island...

I don't disagree with you and in many countries, not just Cyprus some changes don't occur that easy. The reality in Cyprus is that this history war will continue for long time, however as I said numerous times before, there is reality and there is prevention of reality. I as a person I'll do my best to change Cyprus reality and I think "I am not the only one". Either succeed or fail, i'll know I tried.

Quote: However, I think that there is still so much more information on the Cyprus issue, that has been 'hidden' away...New facts are being uncovered all the time....

Exactly and that is what upsets me. I find it extremely difficult to find the truth in my personal research.

Actually if anyone can help me I am stuck in two things, one the 13 ammendments of Makarios (whether there was a hidden agenda behind them or not) and the 1974 coup (I am really confused on why it happened), can anyone refer me to some websites apart from cyprus-conflict.
Thanks

pg · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 1485 Location: Cyprus

stavrizatz wrote:
Actually if anyone can help me I am stuck in two things, one the 13 ammendments of Makarios (whether there was a hidden agenda behind them or not) and the 1974 coup (I am really confused on why it happened), can anyone refer me to some websites apart from cyprus-conflict.
Thanks

For 1974, this gives a detailed account:

http://www.makarios.ws/cgibin/hweb?-A=1525&-V=critics

I am not sure if you can buy it online anywhere.

stavrizatz · Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 12:34 pm Post subject:

Thanks pg I'll have a look