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pg
Deputy
Joined: 17 Jan 2006
Posts: 1485
Location: Cyprus
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http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/629966/Echoes_from_the_Dead_Zone/Product.html
I just finished reading this book - and just have to put it in here with my warmest recommendations. I am sure anyone who finds this forum rewarding will also be very happy to read this book.
In short, it is a young Greek Cypriot social anthropologist who in 90-95 is getting close on how people experienced the years of open conflict in Cyprus. I think it gives brilliant insight.
The only odd thing out in the book is a short Postscript from 03-04 about the opening of the check points and the referendum. Although also that is spot on in my opinion, I do not think it belongs in a book like this - possibly something publisher wanted in there in order to finally publish it...
Anyway, warmest recommendations - blame me if you do not appreciate it... |
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Mills Chapman
Villager
Joined: 09 Sep 2005
Posts: 97
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
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I greatly enjoyed it earlier this year, and I've been recommending it to all I know.
Hopefully Spielberg picks up the movie rights to it.  |
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pg
Deputy
Joined: 17 Jan 2006
Posts: 1485
Location: Cyprus
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I thought I'd add some thoughts that came to me while reading the book.
First of all I think it will be very difficult to agree on a solution unless we first unite in our minds. In order to do that we must first recognize each others pain and fears. There is some way there, but managing that I believe we would all become Cypriots in mind - and the rest would be downhill home.
I expect several Turkish Cypriots will be scared by the prospect of becoming Cypriot. In order to make clear were we are going I would hope our leaders would first commit to ma solution within some wider parameters, for example the UN non-paper of the autumn 2000, speaking of a BBF sign a single sovereignty and citizenship.
Back to the book. There is no doubt in my mind that extreme Greek nationalists put the island into the mess we are today - at the same time as Turkish nationalists did their best to help. As always the little guy is the one that suffers.
Thorough, non-propaganda, of each others suffering will be essential. A collected book like this, film (I think the Turkish Cypriot London paper was advertising a double screening of Attila 1974 and Voice of Blood 2), and naturally some descent TV journalism will be essential. I am not sure how we put those ingredients together, and into action, but perhaps someone will know...
I believe recognition of "our" pain from the other side will take us a long way. However, "we" will not think such recognition is true before we are sure "they" know it all.
We are to live all to live on the island, either apart or together. Which ever way it is we will not find peace before either dealing with the past. |
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Dhavlos
Warnings : 1
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Aug 2005
Posts: 4697
Location: Birmingham
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| so education is the answer |
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Khan
Deputy
Joined: 13 Nov 2005
Posts: 1092
Location: London
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| I had my eye on this book , not had a chance yet though, bloody exams. |
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Dhavlos
Warnings : 1
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Aug 2005
Posts: 4697
Location: Birmingham
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| Khan wrote: |
| I had my eye on this book , not had a chance yet though, bloody exams. |
lol...how did they go? i finally finished mine on friday! i paid for it tho on the saturday night tho lol |
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bg_turk
Deputy
Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1316
Location: Bulgaria
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| Dhavlos wrote: |
| Khan wrote: |
| I had my eye on this book , not had a chance yet though, bloody exams. |
lol...how did they go? i finally finished mine on friday! i paid for it tho on the saturday night tho lol |
Lucky you! Mine wont be finished until 3 weeks.
My year in the UK will be over, and I will be back in the States soon. |
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Alexios
Mukhtar/is
Joined: 20 Oct 2005
Posts: 976
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| Dhavlos wrote: |
| so education is the answer |
Spot on Davlos. I always argued that the most important ministry under any government is not the ministry of exterior or the finance ministry which usually come first in mind, but the ministry of education.Five years under a specific educational system/program can shape the attidute of a whole generation.
For far too long Cypriots on both sides have not been tought the truth or atleast the whole truth. Nationalism has prevailed in our schools, so that by the time we grow old enough to form an opinion of our own, that opinion cannot be unbiased in most cases. |
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pg
Deputy
Joined: 17 Jan 2006
Posts: 1485
Location: Cyprus
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| Alexios wrote: |
| Dhavlos wrote: |
| so education is the answer |
Spot on Davlos. I always argued that the most important ministry under any government is not the ministry of exterior or the finance ministry which usually come first in mind, but the ministry of education.Five years under a specific educational system/program can shape the attidute of a whole generation.
For far too long Cypriots on both sides have not been tought the truth or atleast the whole truth. Nationalism has prevailed in our schools, so that by the time we grow old enough to form an opinion of our own, that opinion cannot be unbiased in most cases. |
I agree, although to move forward just to make changes in the school is not enough - because it is too slow.
Somehow we need to put the whole island in therapy... shock therapy. |
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Dhavlos
Warnings : 1
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Aug 2005
Posts: 4697
Location: Birmingham
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| Ok so, a hollywood film(based on The Cypriot's book ), some tv documentaries, and a revamp of the education system? agreed? |
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The Cypriot
Senior Villager
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Posts: 429
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| Dhavlos wrote: |
| Ok so, a hollywood film(based on The Cypriot's book... |
Problem with Hollywood Dhav is that they'd want to rewrite the story to appeal to an American audience and American sensibilities.
They'd want to recast the British officer (The captain) as some Yank, seconded to the British Army and stationed on Cyprus (eg. like Frank Sanatra's character in 'Von Ryan's Express' or Steve McQueen in 'The Great Escape'). They'd want to transfer the vital London episodes of the story to New York... etc. etc.
They'd also want to skirt over the involvement of the CIA and Kissinger. They'd want to cast someone like Nicholas Cage as the young Cypriot hero, and Penelope Cruz as his Muslim sweetheart.
I think we ought to settle for a lavish two or three-part European TV production (on the scale of, say, Franco Zefferelli's 'Jesus of Nazareth' or, more recently the BBC's fabulous 'Pride and Prejuduce'). That way we could keep control of the story and make stars of a few young British-Cypriot actors. It would also give us more time to tell the story and reach even bigger audiences!
Did you know that when Francis Ford Copolla was making 'The Godfather' Paramount wanted either Ryan O'Neil or Robert Redford (two big stars of the time) to play the role of Michael Corleone. Copolla insisted he wanted the mark of Sicilly on the face of Michael - Al Pacino was cast, and the rest is history.... |
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Dhavlos
Warnings : 1
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Aug 2005
Posts: 4697
Location: Birmingham
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ok 
i see you ve been thinking about this lol |
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The Cypriot
Senior Villager
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Posts: 429
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| Dhavlos wrote: |
| ok i see you ve been thinking about this lol |
Thinking and then doing.... |
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Khan
Deputy
Joined: 13 Nov 2005
Posts: 1092
Location: London
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| Dhavlos wrote: |
| Khan wrote: |
| I had my eye on this book , not had a chance yet though, bloody exams. |
lol...how did they go? i finally finished mine on friday! i paid for it tho on the saturday night tho lol |
one left tommorow, hopefully will go well. |
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pg
Deputy
Joined: 17 Jan 2006
Posts: 1485
Location: Cyprus
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For all the youngsters with an empty summer in front of you - go buy the book now  |
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