Cyprus the most racist country in Europe among other negative aspects

Posted on 10/03/201110/03/2011 by admin

In a research study that was done by the European University in 30 countries Cyprus topped the list in most of the negative categories including: racism, low trust in others, selfishness, negative attitude towards immigrants, possessive individualism, being passive and detached from a set of important issues, and obsession with television while at the same time we are the slowest at becoming an information society. Among our few positive aspects of our society it was found that we are the most satisfied by the public health system, the tax system, the standard of living and trust in state institutions.

In 2006 the 30% of the population was watching more than 3 hours of TV per day and sadly by 2008 this increased to 50%. Considering the quality of TV programmes that are popular in Cyprus this is indeed an alarming issue. At the same time, we have the lowest use of Internet with just 20% of the population engaging into daily Internet activities compared to 40% in case of Nordic countries. On the xenophobia side more than any other European country we do not like people from different cultural backgrounds. More surprisingly Cypriots even present racist tendencies towards fellow Cypriots who have different sexual preferences or different attitudes than themselves.

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**I’ve met some really great people from Cyprus. However…
Wow coming from an American living in Cyprus, this article is unfortunately what I have witnessed quite often. Living here is very different from visiting. Things I notice at astounding levels are: selfish individualism, disingenuous actions, false sincerity, childlike emotional behavior in professional settings, disorganization, lack of managment in business establishments, absense of any kind of customer service except in American sourced businesses, rudeness, and unprofessional behaivor and more. The things I’ve seen here would get a worker fired from his or her job immediately in the US. I think some of the economic problems could be improved if some of the things I mentioned above would change throughout the island. Talk about chasing away money opportunities. This has been a HUGE CULTURE SHOCK to me coming here to Cyprus. I assumed the people were kind and gentle and generally pleasant and happy but I haven’t experienced this for the most part. Many times the Cypriots that don’t act this have traveled outside of the country to places like America or Austrailia. Heavy drinking is very common. But I have met a few happy pleasant and open minded Cypriots….Come to think of it most have lived outside of Cyprus in places like UK and they also complain about Cypriots..Also being stared at and hit on by old males here is also a common thing I’ve noticed. Even in American I haven’t seen this as commonly as I have here. Maybe they can change and become better..There is always hope.

Lots of bullshit

I second the comments made, the cypriots are rascist and not just to those from different cultures but to all that are different to their ideals. As far as caring for their offspring, that is only true if you follow the expectations of your family. They prejudice against anyone that is single, childless or divorced. In my experience they are uneducated sheep who follow the crowd and even when they see someone behaving badly they do nothing. Sorry to say in my experience the greeks are incapable of demonstrating any act of compassion or love to ALL humans.

Am flabbergasted in the Cyprus people. .

True

makari na tin dioksoun ap thn europaikei enosei.

I am thankful to god for me coming to the USA my husband and I have a wonderful life here and this is where I will stay . good luck to all and God and Allah bless you all

yeah because we don’t want you fucking niggers in our country. you filthy refugee scum.

Nkwain Sylvia is a stupid fucking nigger that doesn’t know what the fuck she is talking about. my family had there whole farm stolen and was forced to leave and go to australia before I was born so shut the fuck up. atleast we could afford to migrate properly and not sneak in the back door. go back and get murdered by mailitia because your not welcome in this country.
that’s what happened to the invasion and it wasn’t some straw hut in the jungle either. it was a whole farm that had been in my family for along time.

THE FACTS ARE STRAIGHT THAT SOMETHING LIKE 60% OF PEOPLE IN AFRICA HAVE AIDS. THAT’s GOT TO MAKE YOU WONDER HOW MANY OF THESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE BRINGING HIV AND AIDS INTO THE COUNTRY. SOMETHING DRASTIC NEEDS TO BE DONE TO STOP THESE PEOPLE FROM ENTERING A GREAT COUNTRY AND RUINING IT WITH THEIR DISEASES THEY BRING BECAUSE IF 60% OF AFRICANS HAVE AIDS THEN 60% OF THE ONES COMING IN WOULD HAVE TO HAVE HIV OR AIDS. WE DO NOT WANT THESE DISEASE RIDDEN PEOPLE POISONING OUR LANDS OR OUR PEOPLE WITH THEIR FOUL AILMENTS.

CAN’T YOU AFRICANS GO SOME WERE COLD SO YOUR HIV TURNS INTO AIDS QUICKER EVERY TIME YOU GET A COLD.

yodo

In Paphos There are places
Where you see faces

One wonder why they are amazed
at my face.

As I walked down town
They all frown

At night went in my bedroom, turn on the light.

I looked in the mirror and smile.
I forgot I was black.

Demeyin Amorighoye
2014

If cypriots are dicks then i feel that no one should throw stones at them

im half Cypriot, i love my country, i was born and raised here, but the thing that makes me a bit sick about most cypriots, is that, yes, they are racist, nationalistic support fascism and hate foreigners, except female foreigners, that makes sense right? and think they are the best and the strongest, if they only knew what’s out there, the Country is awesome, it’s the people’s mentality who give Cyprus a bad name. But im just glad im not an original racist moron like most people here :). Not all are like that, but maybe around 60% or more if i’m wrong.

eutixos pou I kipros einai mia spi8ami xora idallios itan na fame ton kosmo olo! I hate being called a cypriot, ali8keia.

where can I find this research ?

where can I find this research ?

I love it here and to be honest in the 6 years I have been here I have never been the subject of racism, I think the UK is far far worse than Cyprus.

Oh my God !!! Sadly the truth…

lots of racism here, the foreigners almost outnumber cypriots,
most of them working hotels, cafe, restaurants, shops, supermarkets,
its very rare to be served by a cypriot in cyprus, but oh yes very racist!

If you want a dose of racism go to Spain. I have personal experience of vicious racism in that country. A friend of mine was so badly persecuted he ended up with a bad stroke & only the intervention of the courts put the fear of god into those ignorant people.
Programmes like a ‘place in the sun’ advertise property bargains in Spain but never mention the true natures of the locals.
I cannot comment on Cyprus but have been informed that the people here do cause problems to newcomers.

after everything that has occured, what do you expect.you can see a cypriot a mile away.why because he has a turkish/greek knife sticking out from his back.and lets face it, you have the tc who pretend to be turkish and the gc who wont accept that the tc are really dumb greek cypos.tc/gc learn your ottamen tax history.so who’s really to blame? racist to other nations? they are unique in this world, they are racist to themselves.

Excuse me but I find the above article extremely racist. Who wrote it anyway? And most of you jumped at the opportunity to be abusive about Cypriots… I find your comments quite disgusting! And let me remind you that to speak of a whole nation as if all Cypriots are the same shows a deeply racist attitude. I lived in South Africa for many years, a country that was not only racist towards Black people but towards everyone who was not northern European. But not every White person was a racist in the same way that not every Cypriot is a racist. So as a Cypriot I find your comments extremely offensive… you are doing exactly what you accuse others of doing. Maybe you should take a good look at yourselves!

All this may have airing of truth. But fascism and racism is alive and well in most other european countries and abroad. It was born there and is still very much present there. Cypriots have many faults, but as of yet we don’t nurture mass murders, have a hard core mafia or systamtically allow a trade in human beings at a level that present in France, Italy and Germany. We don’t massacre people for religious or political views or just for political or monetary gain. Yes the politians are currupt, but I think the rest of europe are far ahead in that department as well they are just not very adept at hidding it. I have lived in many countries and belive me there is as much more racism, intolerance, curruption, inflated self worth and materialism in these countries. The big problem here is that some people wear their hearts on thier sleeve, ie they don’t hid there options but air them. In most of europe and else were the systematic persecution of their own people and outsiders over hundreds of years have lead to people being very discreat about their prejudices.This is an ancient land but as a nation it is a baby and one should look to its parents to find blame. Who ruled here before must play some part in how the country thinks and behaves now. Time to stop bashing the country and people of Cyprus. If you are happy to come and benefit from place where at the moment women are not persecuted, children are generally safe to walk home alone and major crime causes outrage, maybe you should try and help change the issues you have raised rather than stand to one side and criticise in a superior manner.

“In a research that was done by The European University in 30 countries”. Wow, this is responsible journalism. WHICH university? and get your grammar straight.

Did you see yourself when you talk to us? Your Muratağa, Sandallar and Atlılar have made parts of the massacres still not forgotten. Date 2012, but with the purpose of your side peacefully and tourists attacked the Turks, and this situation still say dorusunu not be complaining. Respectively located past for both the massacre may have been done but you can see through the side of the massacres of Turks also do more than we even now racist against turks you raise your students to schools.

mate, don’t u front for a bit we will meet up soon in the near by future then we will sort shit out yes larnaca is wher am at boy.

how we expect from Cypriots people..i think they r have small mind like small cyprus..

genocide ,.,. invasion..and fear are no reason for you Cypriot to be racist…. u are just backward…look at the wonders of USA…why you all never learn….and what kills me more is the lack of the fear of God ,…maybe the invasion and genocide are better way to teach you about human equality.

villagers!

Talk talk talk. Of course and Cypriots became racist with all this immigrants we have in Cyprus. We are full with immigrants with political asilum and they don’t offer anything. We are giving each one of them thousands of money every month , and them they don’t offer anything in this country! And even when they don’t get their money on time they cause troubles. What about all those cypriots that they lost their jobs and they don’t have money , they have debts to pay and all the other expenses! Cypriots have to work for money but the immigrants with political asilum, the money come and find them. With this of course and you become “RACIST”.

Yes Cypriots on the whole are racist. Cyprus is not the Cyprus it used to be back in the 60s and now days all the majority of Cypriots care about is money, money, money. Gone are the days of true and real friendship, even Cypriots who come back after many years abroad experience racism to some extent. An expat posted on a forum some time ago, a Cypriot when he wants to sell you something honey drips from his mouth but once he has sold it to you then it is a different case altogether! And in answer to Spencer Hughes-Morris, Why are Cypriots taught to hate the British, the reason for this is because it was because of the British that this island is now divided in two, the British have done her exactly what they have done to India and Northern Ireland, divide and rule and when they were told to leave Cyprus they devised this plan with turkey the USA and the Greek junta and give Turkey the excuse to invade and if you read your history well enough you will find that the T/C and G/C that were being killed prior to 1974 was a product of Denktash, who later admitted to it, that he placed the first bomb in a T/C coffee shop and later claimed that it was the G/Cs that done it and so started the rift between the two sides, before that the tow live peacefully and in harmony. Even to this day they still keep their troops here in Cyprus! Why don’t the British get out of Cyprus take your troops back to England! You were and still are the biggest pirates that sailed the seas plundering and killing in the name of your Kings and Queens, and that were/is your legal piracy’s,
another good example are the Falkland islands that England claims that they belong to her, how would that be, did England win them in a raffle ticket or something or did someone give them to her as a gift legally?

You have just positively generalized Cypriots. This is just as bad as what you are criticising. I’ve met many cypriots and you’re all different. There are many (im not saying majority) of you who do notrespect your families as well as You think they do. There are also many I have met who do respect and value family connections. What has this got to do with racism? One does not preclude the other.

Ο τίτλος θα μπορούσε να ήταν “εγιώ εν τζιαι”.

Unfortunately it is true! Not all Cypriots but big part of Cypriots are Racists and the most Cypriots are Nationalists. And it is true Cypriot people love TV very much. They only watch lies on TV. I don’t know anything about internet usage but maybe it is true. And we don’t want to accept research results. Our Nationalist ideas are the most powerful emotion of ourselves 🙁 but this kind of researches are good for me because we can see our mistakes again and again. I hope one day everybody will understand our mistakes.

I am not surprised!

o monos tropos gia na katalabeis tin koultoura kai ton politismo mias xwras einai (1) na milas tin glosa tous (2)na ziseis mazei tous (3) na mirasteis ta provlimata tous! TOTE MONO ISWS KATALAVEIS PWS SKEFTONTAI KAI PWS LEITOURGOUN!

we were just 3 black guys that entered into a pool and all the Cypriots got out of the pool ASAP…Some drive their cars towards the black guys just to see them jump and fall….some spit at you from their cars(luckily, they don’t do it on foot)…they aren’t racists, are they? Thank God they are non-violent type! but THE MAJORITY hate blacks and Muslims, PERIOD!

Cyprus the most racist country in Europe among other negative aspects.

Wow, some interesting points are being made… But your perception of Cypriots is very wrong. Just like in ANY country you have Open minded AND narrow minded people so you should not Generalize Cypriots as being racists.
I am English Cypriot and have travelled and discovered MANY Countries, religions and beliefs. In fact I just came back to Cyprus after spending 2 years in MIami florida and could not be happier being back.
One thing you should ALL know is that some Cypriots might be narrow minded to “Change” but we have grown up with strong ethics, morals and value our Families and friends unconditionally.
RESPECT is something we are taught growing up and we would Not allow an innocent by standard to be hurt or abused “ESPECIALLY Women”.
That is more than I can say about places I have experienced such as Florida US, UK, Bulgaria etc.
Joining the EU had its Pros and Cons for this country and its economy (same as the rest of the world) but such a rapid change for a small island has left some unresolved issues.
PEOPLE OF ALL COLORS AND RACES, if you happen to encounter a Cypriot with a narrow perception (they mean you no harm, just fear the “unknown”) try having a chat with them, explaining who You are and where You have come from (experiences you have had) and Chances are that they will find you intriguing and become fascinated which will completely change their attitude.
For those that Don’t, it will only be a matter of time until they realize they have detached themselves from reality.

Its true they are racist and proudy peoples but I hve question they proud on which thing they even don’t hve industry and any production many peoples even don’t heard name of cyprus.

Μακάρι να ζούσαμε σε μιά κοινωνία χωρίς ρατσισμό και διάκριση… Επειδή κάποιος είναι μουσουλμάνος δεν σημαίνει ότι είναι τρομοκράτης, Επειδή κάποιος έχει σκούρο δέρμα, δεν σημαίνει ότι είναι κλέφτης, Επειδή κάποιος είναι Τούρκος, δεν σημαίνει ότι είναι δολοφόνος…. Η ιστορία παραμένει, αλλά η ζωή συνεχίζεται!

sad but true…

All u morons need to remember that this is NOT ALL CYPRIOTS! I want to know who wrote this article because it sounds so stupid and uneducated to write an article on this! Cypriots are the most caring and loving people and welcome tourists and outsiders from ALL parts of the world! LOVE CYPRUS! oh and if u are a racists it doesn’t mean u discriminate! (look it up and educate yourself!)

I totally agree but on the other hand there is a small persantage that are simply hummans and respect , accept, understand and treat every individual as he/she would wanted to be treat! now who should be blaim? my honest oppinion is the media and the big persantage of fasists! I was born in USA my parents are Greek-italian and cypriot and grew up in Cy I faced many insalts in a young age and the herony is that now I am studing in the Usa and some times I face insaults here too! I would advise that ignore the isaults and be united for a fight against Rasism and fasism!

The facts are that there is no working democracy in any african country. You need the white man to step in and show you how it is done. Most of you will never understand the real value of currency and that is why you see a broke nigger with a $300 pair of jeans. You say I am dumb well why do I have my own business while you all work for a greek or turk who is probabily only employing you because you work for less money. That’s the only reason any of you have a job. That there just shows the true value of your people. I can fuck with you people intelligently but I prefer to tell you straight that if you don’t like cyprus or its people than leave and don’t let the door hit you on your blackk ass on the way out.

Imagine if everyone in Cy had to leave and the Cypriots were sent to a gay region in Africa! What would the neighbours say? Wake up Cy, there are other people, religions, beliefs and opinions in this world, not only what exists on this small island.

AFRICANS HAVE AIDS.

We are all human beings.

Its funny how the blacks act tough but really they never are the ones in power.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLxtyiWiD5Y

why we don’t want blacks in the country.

Well that’s a surprise.

You are seeing this because you got on a boat and illegally came to cyprus. In case you don’t know a whole lot about ancient history. You name it the greeks invented it. We colonised over half the world. To this day there has yet to be a black country that has ben properly colonised by black people with a fair and working democratic system and if you don’t believe me watch this video and hear a blck minister say it. It even tells you in this video. Obamas mother was white. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuEc-nFULY8

Amongst the other advantages, trust in government institutions is a whole controversy, because the government institutions are the first to promote all these negative aspects. If that’s what trust is based on, then we are talking about an organised system where governments encourage citizens to be racist, xenophobic and passive.

50% watch more than 3 hours of tv a day? maybe pensioners… I agree cypriots are racist ect but I believe not to the extent mentioned in this article. But then again I work in the capital. The stats mentioned in the article probably are true for locals in the villages.

Thats a fact.

From the comments alone one can actually figure out some racist cypriots. besides the fact that life is a mandate, we all were made from Gods image which wasnt mention which race wasnt mention, everyone will end up the same way its a mater of time! so those racist cypriots beware that before you all were born this world has been existing and you shall all pass away and the world will still be there! you need to travell around and see how other european countories treat everyone as the immigrants also are part to the economy of wherever they are! take the case of Dk everyone pays the same rate as taxes doesn’t matter where you come from as long as you live and work there, they grade everyone the same entittle to all benefits as things are suposed!

I gues its all inferiority complex.

I will start by commenting on what Andre Demosthenous is saying, its not because Cyprus was invaded that they should behave towards people the way they do, if all countries where to behave like that then I doubt what the world will be, because there are countries who have suffered worst scenerious than Cyprus yet today the are open to outsiders. what about those Cypriots that left Cyprus to America, Africa, other European countries during the war? what if they were treated just the way they treat other outsiders now? How do u explain the fact that Cypriots don’t even socialize amongst themselves, they are so lonely and distant from each other. well I will not blame them most of them are so enclose and donot know what is happening out of this country and so think Cyprus is above all…every body does what they like, it bothers me how people who have sought asylum in other countries can be so arrogant, selfish, conceited and ostentatious set of people.

I am seeing all of this in my day to day life since I stepped foot in Greek Cyprus, i mean it is alarming.you pass near a car, they lock thier doors shut like I would rob them in traffic in broad daylight, i feel so insulted.Funny thing is in my country (Cameroon) we treat foreigners very well.Don’t know what is wrong with my color.

I am half cypriot. So don’t get me wrong. I think a lot of cypriots are racist against different religions that are not Christian, and people who have different coloured skin. Some people though, know how to get along with others.

I am a Turkish Cypriot who lived first 12 years of my life in a small Turkish enclave of 4000 people- surrounded by a larger Greek Cypriot community whose main occupation was to get rid of it by any means possible: economic embargo, limitation of movement, killings,… and finally the 74 war and we became prisoners of war. Living through the war, and the horrible treatment as prisoners of war is something I will never forget. I will not forget it not because I would like to harbor Greek hatred and pass it on to next generations, but more because I do not want any Turkish Cypriot to be in that situation ever again. Only way for Turkish Cypriots to avoid the same situation is to preserve their political equality and freedom on the island. It is simple as that. I wish that Greek Cypriot friends also start thinking around the same lines and do not fall in the past mistakes of wishing to make the island into a Greek island- cause it really is not! Stop teaching and living the hate of 40 years ago. It is so past century behavior.

fight against racism!

OK people.. seriously? Relax.Stop talking. If you feel so strongly about this then just do something. Sitting on your nice little desk, on your most likely expensive laptop, posing your philosophical views on a website doesn’t change a thing. This is so sad. I happen to like my little bubble. Because it’s full of love, hopes and dreams. And lots of people like me. Cypriots or non, if you want to put it that way. Friends and family who share this tiring, hard working bubble. But still manage to love and share and give.

Gamw ton pou ekame tin selida….gaourosporoi.

I was wondering at first if this is mostly inflicted on the black raced people as per my experience but it isn’t so. It was a general thing I noticed from my recent research and speculations. But if one could really ask, What is the cause? Many would say it was as a result of the bi-communal invasion of Turks and the segregation at last. But does that really answer the question of WHY RACISM IN CYPRUS?

Be positive! Things ARE going to change! Stop talkin about it and do something!

I always knew this, just never even imagined to what extent :S And to think Cyprus has so many foreigners…..

All of the above is so true!

Andrew: “…constantly being invaded and subject to genocide and torture in recent history”.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one:

The UN recently hosted a conference on the demise of the Pink Elephant worldwide. The representative from Costa Rica spoke first on the topic of “Managing Pink Elephants for sustainable population growth”. The representative from Austria then spoke at length regarding Pink Elephant reintroduction programs. Finally, the Cypriot representative stood up. “I would like to talk about the Pink Elephant and the Cyprus Problem”…

Expand your horizons and perhaps you’ll notice the world is round.

You do have to remember that Cyprus is an island, therefore an island mentality does creep in.

I hope the research team included in the research, Turkish Cypriot individuals living in the northern part of the Island. Otherwise, the percentages are false for all Cypriots. If Turkish Cypriots are not included, that is a racist activity too which will proove the result of the research. I can now hear some voices saying that Turkish Cypriots are living in inaccessible occupied area which is not possible to collect data. However it is easy to find ways to do so(telephone, check points and cooperation with universities in north or research companies).

This is ridiculous! I mean there are big problems in cyprus some of which are mentioned here rightly but who the hell wrote this? I mean how can “trust” in state systems be considered something positive? Trust in the system is just evidence of the little people know about it! And how can “racist tendencies” be presented as homophobia; “Cypriots even present racist tendencies towards fellow Cypriots who have different sexual preferences…” what? This makes no sense at all! Whilst I totally agree that our generation in cyprus is victim to a huge complex of cultural inferiority and the learnt value system being forever more enforced the world over, that they are inconsiderate and are loosing that “cypriot warmth”, are hugely socially detached etc.. This is all really true but it is important always not to just state the ‘facts’ but talk about the reasons why… which in the history of cyprus and the “new cyprus” of today, is more than apparent, omnipresent and even obvious. But we are not by far the most xenophobic country in the EU. By farrrrrr! I really think people shouldn’t share this crap.

Despite the high level of education in cyprus there seems to be an extremely low level of enculturation. (Judging from some of the comments on this article there is also a lot of denial going on) The education system needs to become much more focused on inclusion and embrace diversity otherwise I do not see any hope for the future generations who are already repeating (papagalizoun) their parents’ and peers’ habitual mantras of racism, homophobia, classism, distorted views of history etc…

What a load of old tosh, more research by the EU again as in the UK with all the rules and regulations that the UK has to follow and listen to. Do not read into it to much just follow your gut feelings with pople and you will see that Cypriots are family friendly and very socialble people and above all caring for their children which in this day is very rare to see.

Cypriots love only money…
They accept any culture, any color and any different attitudes if and only if talk about rich persons.
We have a immigrant to our home to clean our dirt, but never go to Lydras str. Because we fear the immigrants.
We are rich, with one of the best standard living of the world, but so poor in mind.
We are the most satisfied by the public system and trust the state institutions because everybody dreaming to find a government job…
We don’t want any change the government status, by a solution, because we are not sure for the future of our lovely jobs.
We love the fucking state institutions, because everybody we have connections that maybe help us to find a government job…
We have a variety of scientists and intelligent persons, but nobody working in the Cyprus.
Also, these Cypriots work in worldwide and nobody cries that they took their the jobs, but in Cyprus we have a big number of unemployment because of the immigrants…
This is It…. Welcome to Cyprus of the 21 century…

I always knew we lived in our bubble but never realized it was this bad..

What do you expect from a country that was constantly being invaded and subject to genocide and torture in recent history? People in my family lost their land, property, and all their assets and had to move to America. I don’t think that would inspire a culture that trusts outsiders. Cypriots are some of the most loving and trusting people on the planet when it comes to their families and friends. They are a small vulnerable island and I think trust in their brothers and sisters is what helps them survive.

This research echos what people say on this island every day. I often wonder how so many people both Cypriot and non say the same thing over and over yet nothing seems to change. Hang on a sec, there is a new coffee franchise opening soon – coz that’s exactly what we need isn’t it. Once upon a time Cyprus was a caring, trusting island but further to the points Stefanos rightly points out, this island has lost its way. Its a shame.

In terms of being hard done by, EVERY country has its own story to tell about war, immigration, political uncertainty and social acceptance so its not always a case of comparing Cyprus to UK just because they’re both islands and have shared a reciprocal flow of human traffic & history over the years. Totally different entities.

I moved here from UK and agree that Cyprus is a better place to live. I’m half Cypriot and believe this island has great potential, but views need to change from this nouveau riche culture that’s enveloped everyone. Living with xenophobic tendencies, ignorance of global issues, ridiculous levels of nepotism and self assertion is not the way FORWARD! To say this isn’t the situation is quite frankly misguided. Live here and you’ll see. Fostering immigration to serve the people as maids and cheap labour, treat them like trash, pay them low wages and then moan when crime rates rise and the first people to be blamed are the foreigners – wake up.

I do charity work in Cambodia and that country has suffered far worse than Cyprus. The locals their WANT foreign help and try to understand new ways of working/living. Noone blames them as they are playing the hand they’ve been dealt. They know they have problems and ADMIT to them. The problem with Cyprus is locals THINK they are better than everyone else with no real evidence of that. Start by fixing the driving standards!

Cyprus does have some excellent social values like family, emphasis on education and entrepreneurialism, but sorry to be the bearer of bad new – a reservation and a Porsche don’t make you better than the people serving your lunch.

“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” Carl Gustav Jung.

Andrew you make it sound almost as if racism is something good. Also, xenophobia and racism are similar but not the same. When each household employs a modern-era slave woman, treats her terribly sometimes even in the worst possible ways such as rape, I wouldn`t use xenophobia, or the invasion as a reason. These are not actions of mistrust, but actions of superiority complex and disrespect to human rights. A small volunerable society indeed we are, but do not forget to include narrow-minded and as the article says the last ones to move into the information age. It`s no surprise that we are also one of the most religious countries.

What really is surprising is how we managed to end up so arrogant and selfish when we live in a such a small society. We live in a society so small that pretty much everybody knows everybody yet we are always on a war of proving ourselves better than everyone else (first mistake), and we do it with the stupidest ways like fanatically supporting football teams (as if that`s what matters in life) or stepping on the immigrants in an attempt to feel good about ourselves, as if we are better more deserving humans. Everything the article says, racism, low trust in others, selfishness, negative attitude towards immigrants, possessive individualism, being passive and detached from a set of important issues, and obsession with television all have the same root, the growing psychological need of the typical Cypriot to project himself (or herself) according to a standard ideal image of perfection embedded in our “awareness” as a society.

People have closed their minds to new information or ideas, they don`t even want to hear them. We have defined the procedure of how life should be we are all trying our best to live up to that.

lol

Cyprus has been divided into two. Half of the population is refugees. Refuge is the one that was forced out of their home and thrown in the streets. Refugee is the one that loses all that worked for all their life, all that he created and spend years to achieve suddenly all are erased. Do you know the kind of side effects that this entire story had on Cypriot people’s life’s and life styles? Do you know how much strength it required to start all over again? So far, after 37 years, the Cypriot people they managed to get back on their feet and proved how powerful the come back was.
Do all these people that they say that Cyprus is a racist country, know what the Cyprus people went through to get to where they are now? Do they care? I can tell you that they don’t!
How about those people that had their finger in the catastrophe of Cyprus. What would those say about the Cypriot people?
Well since those people tried to put the Cypriot people down and since they did not manage to do it, what will they say?
Answer: “ That we are all racist”

GAMISTE TOUS ALLOTHRISKOUS KE TOUS MAVROUS

Aphrodite’s home is a cruel place
By Alice Wang
Published on March 13, 2011
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/opinions/aphrodite-s-home-cruel-place/20110313?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d7f78744360f5cd%2C2

MY FIRST Greek lesson started with a proud explanation of the famous Cypriot hospitality as my teacher showed slide after slide of honey-drenched delicacies and sunny villages on carob tree-dotted slopes. I smiled in agreement, knowingly. I had just arrived in Limassol from the United States on a research fellowship the previous week and had already experienced the famous Cypriot hospitality. My landlady and landlord are the loving grandparents of the Cypriot family house I had moved into, and they had declared me a part of the family over freshly baked Cypriot fish during family lunch on Sunday. I resolved to learn all about the culture of this pretty little island during my nine months’ stay.
I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, having immigrated from China with my family at age nine. In Atlanta we pride ourselves on Southern hospitality, and I was determined to show Cypriots the famous Southern warmth from the other side of the world. As I walked to my office on one of my first mornings in the morning, I smiled and said “Kalimera” to neighbours and shop owners I met in the streets, proud of my newly learned Greek greetings. Most people looked surprised at first, and I thought to myself that perhaps they are not used to seeing an American here. A car drove by with a back seat full of children, and the driver yelled out “Nihao Chingchong!” I turned and stared in bewilderment, and a smiling grandfatherly figure came up to me and asked “Are you OK?” I smiled and greeted him, and he grabbed my shoulder and said “Come with me, I pay! Twenty euros one hour, two hours, we look, together!” “Excuse me?” I stared at him in confusion, and my eyes widened in shock as I realised his meaning. I flung his hand away from my shoulder and ran across the street. I was outraged as I had never encountered anything like this, and my hands trembled as I crossed the next intersection, where a car swung by to block my path. The driver waved for me to get into the car. In my panicked state, I thought that he was my landlord, with his white hair and grandfatherly face, because I could not imagine why any stranger would stop his car for me. As I ran to the car for protection, the grandfatherly face turned into an ugly grin as he threw open the car door from the driver’s seat. I stared in nightmarish disbelief, slammed the car door in his face, and ran all the way to my office.
By three weeks after arriving in Cyprus, I no longer raised my head when walking outside. When anyone called to me on the streets, it was no longer a friendly greeting but a painful reminder of the complex ills of society. I had learned to avoid being outside during the hour of 1pm to 2pm on weekdays, because the actions of school children are magnified projections of the opinions of the society. My heart broke when a grandfather propositioned me when picking up his grandson from school. On my daily 15 minute walk to and from my office, I was propositioned about once every five minutes, with chilling regularity. With my eyes glued to the sidewalk for fear of making any eye contact with the men lounging around the streets, the sound of each approaching car made my heart beat faster with fear that this will be the one to honk, slow down, and follow me down the road in an attempt to bargain a price, which inevitably happened. I armoured myself with large sunglasses which covered half of my face and a large hat whenever I went outside, not for protection against the blinding sun, but against the humanity on the street
By six weeks after my arrival in Cyprus, I was no longer using any of my Greek greetings I was so proud of. I had discovered that my perfect American English was now my only identification as anything except a Chinese street worker. Curious but good natured inquiries into which Madam I work for at the neighbourhood vegetable market made it painfully obvious how concretely I was defined by my Chinese face in Cyprus. I felt stripped bare of my country, denied by society, and my heritage, forced to hide under sunglasses and hats. My attempts to meld into and experience Cypriot society had run into intangible walls, and I felt loneliness like never before under the burning Mediterranean sun. My eyes met the kindly face of the grandfather of the neighbouring house at the neighborhood vegetable market, and I gave him a rare smile and nod in a moment of yearning for human kindness. He waved me aside and said, “You want to come with me? To my bed?” My landlady is disappointed in my slow progress in Greek, but how can I explain to her this lesson of Cypriot hospitality?
Now it has been almost six months since I arrived in Cyprus. I have taken to riding in taxis to and from my office everyday even though it’s less than a five minute drive. The taxi drivers have assumed that I must be a very important American since I require taxi pickup every day for such a short distance. I am addressed as “Madam” when the driver bows and opens the taxi door for me. As I looked out the taxi window at the beautiful Limassol seaside and the society I can only watch through glass, I wondered where I can find:
O Cyprus, set in the sea,
Aphrodite’s home
In the soft sea-foam,
Would I could wend to thee;
Where the wings of the Loves are furled,
And faint the heart of the world.

n Alice Wang attends the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and is currently in Cyprus as part of a research programme

“Cyprus the most racist country in Europe”….it is not true, there are other countryes much more racist.I live in Cyprus and I met good and friendly people.Maybe some of what you write above are right but in every country on the Earth there are good and bad people……

I don’t think that is gonna change things… We are already a mixure of cultures in Cyprus.. We ve been like that for at least 15 and so… years now… It’s what we teach ppl to be… Not what they really are… So the mentality isn’t gonna change by our look but from the way we brought up ppl… And even if parents try to change that… School will twist it around!!!!

Its Just a matter of time i am sure things are going to to change cause they have got no choice but to let things happen, look around u and tell me if u have not noticed any change yet, ok let me give some examples sometimes in Cyprus u hadly find inter racial mariages, but now there are a lot of them with offspring and sure this kids have different mentality and training in which in tiime will start to manifest. Time will tell

cypriots are the nicest people you could hope to meet. they are warm and friendly and make all visitors feel very welcome. i hope they never change.

Yeah right been sacastic here, well i think u don’t know what the word nice means cause if u do u won’t use it here at all. Do you think someone who is hindering or trying to frustrate the progress of his/her fello human is a nice person? A lot of cypriots are know for this and i am a living witness but luckily i overcame

Your comment is 100% wrong!!!

Αρλούμπες πρώτου μεγέθους! Ανάξια σχολιασμού! Ας αναζητήσουν αλλού τους ρατσιστές!

Kiprioi san esena apartizoun tin pleiopsifia tou deigmatos autis tis ereunas!

To statement ‘as anazitisoun allou tous ratsistes’ mou ferni sto nou sxolia tipotenion politikon prosopon opos ton themistokleous tou dysi k ton koulia or worse yet fouskoton arvilomenon pseudo macho ipokimenon tis xrysis augis.

Oi empirognomones sissomoi FONAZOUN gia tin eksarsi tis ratsistikis vias stin kipro kai si zis se ena kosmo magiko.

Wake up and smell the coffee. IDIOT!

It’s nice to prove the research right!!!! Thank you for that Marinos!!!!

From an academic point of view..
The research could be biased, to everyone that knows statistics it easy to prove many things the way you want them to be. Am not saying that I agree or not to the research, but one thing that I learned from my studies is that one opinion/research is never enough.

The research found that Cypriots are satisfied by the “health system, the tax system, the standard of living and trust in state institutions”….beside the standard of living, noone is satisfied about the other factors especially the health system! Ask anyone you want.

This research is inadequate.

Spencer you narrow minded fuck I really hope none of your family ever die in a war because then you will see what its like, the Turks have a far worse reputation then the Cypriots ever will and to say what you have about the history of it all clearly means you have just heard a few things and decided to run with them, i’m not saying that some of the things in this article aren’t true but how dare you say the Cypriots deserved it or that they bourght it on themselves good men lost their lives better men then you it was the fault of the Americans not the Cypriots

Ah the basis of every good argument, personal insults. Just goes to show the depth of your intelligence and once again its blame everyone else. Just out of interest how do you know he has not lost people, family and friends in wars or are you just making assumptions, another basis for an argument. I think you are the narrow minded fuck, The Cypriots and the Turks were/are as bad as each other, just because they killed more than the Cypriots does not exonerate the Cypriots vile behavior towards the Turks before the invasion. But once again its everyone elses fault because the Cypriots are so whiter than white. Get real.

Maybe you can blame some ppl in the past for what they’ ve done… Or some countries… But in this time and age… If you blame them… You just approve the fact that we are incapable to change things.. and we are just satisfied with the low levels of intelligent across Cyprus… I blame the youth… From 20 to 30… For relaxing and just accepting what this poor society has to offer!!!!