Echoes from the past

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
19/10/2008 13:05

This is a new book that is due out this month written by two brothers i think called Selchuk and Ozay Akif.The book focuses on Limassol and gives a unique insight looking at life from a Turkish Cypriot perspective.The idea is to roll out the book into the schools at the end of the month.Anyone know any more,



Paul.

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
19/10/2008 13:22

Probably no more than you Paul. It is being marketed to prove that Cypriots can live together in peace

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
19/10/2008 13:24

Hi Mark,

A good move in my opinion and one that should have been done years ago.Tell it as it is and cut the propaganda,

Paul.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
19/10/2008 13:52

It won't be in use in GC schools I fear....

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
19/10/2008 14:05

Groucho,

I take your point but whats the point of rolling it out if it is not going to be read accross the board both north and south.The kids need to know the truth at an early age before their young minds are poisoned.Now would be the perfect time to carry this out,

Paul.

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
19/10/2008 14:16

What all Cyprus kids need is the ability to make up their own minds about the history of their homeland. There should be no force feeding of incorrect facts but an encouragement to learn for themselves. Indoctrination is wrong and encouragement of free thinking is right.

AJ

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
19/10/2008 14:40

Hi AJ



I agree that kids should make up their own minds. They need both sides of the story to do that.

The big problem is, what happens between the ages of 0-7. Kids are in a hypnogonic state which means they download absolutly everything that they hear and see. Many of our beliefs about the world are set at this stage. This is how you get these kiddie preachers. Parents literally saturate their kids in religious dogma, which means the kids totally believe this dogma without question. Once set, it becomes hard to change. Not unachievable though.



I remember being driven from the south to the North. A GC family saw the TC number plate and starting sticking fingers up at us, in a rude manner. This included the two little kiddies. Where did they learn this behaviour - from the parents

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
19/10/2008 17:46

Newlad,



I agree it needs to be the truth on both sides... my observation was that given the resistance of the Headmaster's Association in the south to any information about the activities of the Greek Cypriot terrorist organisations on the Island pre-1974 it's not likely to happen....

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
19/10/2008 20:47

Alsancakjack,

Totally agree with you mess no6.



Groucho,

you say is noy likely to happen.So there could be a chance that it may.Think positive thoughts my friend.



Mark,

It usually is the fault of the parents.But then they were told the same by their own parents and so on and so on.Its a vicious circle that has to stop for the benefit of both the north and the south,

Paul.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
19/10/2008 21:00

Newlad ..I liken the the situation in Cyprus to that NI where thte kids on both sides had there minds poisened by there schools and parents and by so called "leaders".LEts hope that common sense will eventually prevail,when that will be is any bodies guess.It took a helluva long time in NI and I think it could be the same there,unless of course they come up with some miracle...

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
19/10/2008 21:43

Coachie,

Good point and one that has been raised before.There are striking similarities between the two.I have family in Ireland and they tell me that the differences still exist and always will.But all agree that its time to move on which they have,

Paul.

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
20/10/2008 12:58

"It usually is the fault of the parents.But then they were told the same by their own parents and so on and so on.Its a vicious circle that has to stop for the benefit of both the north and the south,"



Agree the cycle can be broken if the will is there. It does seem that there are indeed similarities to NI. NI has proven that when people have had enough of waring and living in fear, they can choose live together, or at least hold back their prejudices.



I think Cyprus has some unique issues, which have to be overcome. These have kept the sides apart to date.

Aussie


Joined: 17/06/2007
Posts: 657

Message Posted:
20/10/2008 13:07

Spotlight on Turkish Cypriot lives in Limassol

By Jean Christou



A NEW book being launched next week gives a unique insight into Limassol from a Turkish Cypriot perspective.



The book, titled Echoes from the past: the Turkish Cypriot community and its heritage, is the work of two former Limassolians, brothers, Selchuk and Ozay Akif.



It is being published in English, Turkish and Greek and will be disseminated free of charge to all secondary schools, colleges and universities on the island.



The project is being launched by Terra Cypria, the Cyprus Conservation Foundation and has been largely funded by the UNDP Programme Action for Cooperation and Trust with support from the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture.



It arose from the work conducted by Terra Cypria during a previous UNOPS project called ‘A study of the Old Town Limassol’, through which the two Turkish Cypriot brothers produced a wealth of information, based on their research and personal knowledge. It was all

Aussie


Joined: 17/06/2007
Posts: 657

Message Posted:
20/10/2008 13:08

It was all considered too valuable to remain as only an appendix to the project report.



“The publication of a book such as this will act as another milestone on the road to reconciliation in Cyprus through its demonstration of the fact that peaceful multicultural coexistence between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in a community such as Limassol once existed, and will also educate the youth on their heritage,” the UNDP said



According to the overall editor, Dr Artemis Yiordamli, who also translated the book into Greek from the original English text, the book is significant because it fills a gap.



She said that while a number of Greek Cypriots have written memoirs or studies about Limassol this will be the first published narrative from a Turkish Cypriot perspective.



The fact that it is appearing simultaneously in three languages will also make it accessible not only to all Cypriots, but also to other residents of Cyprus who will be interested in accounts of times gone by

Aussie


Joined: 17/06/2007
Posts: 657

Message Posted:
20/10/2008 13:08

he 250-page book includes 180 photographs, mostly unpublished.



They cover a wide range of subjects from mosques and Ottoman-style houses, to traditional practices such as the hamam routine, the call to prayer, weddings and even divorces.



According to Terra Cypria, the accounts are peppered with stories about events and personalities, both Turkish and Greek Cypriot.



“Although intended as easy reading, the publication should prove to be a most useful source of reference on traditional professions and their practitioners, as well as an interesting account for the more casual reader,” it said.



The book will first be presented to the public at Limassol Town Hall on Wednesday in Greek. The event will be addressed by Limassol Mayor, Andreas Christou.



The previous day, October 21, academics and teachers will meet to discuss the book at the premises of the new Cyprus Technological University in Limassol. A presentation in English and Turkish, in association with the British Counc

Aussie


Joined: 17/06/2007
Posts: 657

Message Posted:
20/10/2008 13:10

A presentation in English and Turkish, in association with the British Council, will be held in Nicosia on Thursday, while the Kerynia Liman Rotary Club will host a lunch presentation in Kerynia on November 5, for its members and guests. Additionally, the Cyprus Oxford Society is organising a presentation for its members in December.



Terra Cypria is a non-profit-making foundation promoting environmental education and advocacy in the widest sense. The Foundation has undertaken many local, international and bi-communal projects and this book project The Kerynia Liman Rotary Club is a partner in the project.



The project also involves a number of organised walks for schools in the Turkish sector of Limassol to be led by the authors and other researchers.



Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
21/10/2008 15:17

Aussie,



I still think the book will be burned in the south as a work of heresy... "spreading foul lies about the brave Greek Cypriot freedom fighters"



Echoes from the past indeed..... late 1930's Germany?



I hope not and I do wish that it were not possible and I'm prepared to be shown to be wrong in my worst fears but the leaders of the educational establishments in the south have been one of the bastions of what they regard as the only view of Cyprus history that they find palatable to teach.

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
21/10/2008 18:59

Groucho: "I hope not and I do wish that it were not possible and I'm prepared to be shown to be wrong in my worst fears but the leaders of the educational establishments in the south have been one of the bastions of what they regard as the only view of Cyprus history that they find palatable to teach."



Hit us with a few serious references to this deeply rooted prejudice that has been poisoning young minds. Meanwhile I'm having a copy of this new book sent to me as we speak.



Why do some people give the impression they don't want the Cypriots to benefit from settlement. Is it something like selfish self-interest?

bradus


Joined: 25/02/2007
Posts: 2641

Message Posted:
22/10/2008 01:22

Do you mean this sort of prejudice Groucho?



http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/EPIC/documents/ICSpyrou.pdf

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
22/10/2008 01:28

Hi Bradus



nice to see you back



this is very interesting indeed

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
22/10/2008 12:21

newlad ..I agree they seem to have come to workable solution in NI and may well do in Cyprus but you can bet your bottom dollar there will be some one waiting in the back ground ready to start stirring things up at the first oppotunity they get.Lets hope I am wrong but!!!!!!!!

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
22/10/2008 14:15

Bradus,



Very interesting and much as I'd come to expect and despair of... The "teachers" whose methods of teaching are touched upon in this study should be ashamed with themselves and pitied if that's the level of their understanding of both the history and the human condition....



I commend this work by Spyros Spyrou to anyone who wants to get a better understanding of why these two sides will never meet peacefully in the middle until some serious self-searching takes place...



That it's the educators that need most to do the self-searching is the most disturbing aspect of the whole affair.

McSteviet



Joined: 11/05/2007
Posts: 1089

Message Posted:
22/10/2008 15:01

Sue,



Very interesting, food for thought for all of us.



Mc