Inside of Outside: The Struggle of Prejudice and Acceptance in Small Communities

Before beginning my article, I would like to state that constructive criticism develops individuals and societies; moreover, since no one is beyond criticism, I write this piece willingly as a patriot, and I hope that everyone, myself included, will find an opportunity for self-criticism.

This article is based on an online meeting held on January 22, 2025, on an online platform called "SKYPE." The online meeting consisted of a single session and lasted 37 minutes and 42 seconds.

In our society, as in all societies, there exist many positive cultural norms as well as harmful (toxic) norms and perceptions.

The greatest difference between Cypriot society and surrounding societies is that it is a relatively small society geographically and demographically.

I consider it quite natural and expected that we have developed more protective reflexes in order not to be politically and demographically absorbed; however, excluding people who have already accepted the common interests and values of the people constitutes serious racism, irrationality, and a waste of potential human resources.

We must understand, especially at a time when we need to support one another the most, that this situation can never continue as a race of pure ethnicity, such as saying: I am more Cypriot, you are half, you were not born on the island…

Excluding a sincere person who defends the interests of the Cypriot people based on their other half or on whether they were born here serves only those who do not wish us well.

This situation, a common phenomenon observed in small and isolated societies, pushes individuals toward a set of perceptions that exclude them not physically but perceptually; whether we go to villages or cities, unfortunately this is a reality of both communities on the island.

As someone who is half Cypriot and half of Kurdish origin, I am only one of those who have been subjected to this.

Another person who has experienced this situation is Professor Dr. Vassilios Vassiliadis, a Greek-speaking Cypriot living in the Republic of Cyprus.

In this article, we will examine the unending difficulties he has faced throughout his life.

Born in Nicosia in December 1966, he is an individual whose life was shaped by war, exile, and systematic discrimination.

His journey begins with a standard childhood in Famagusta; he was exiled to various countries and, despite knowing that the decision to return to Cyprus later in his life would bring even more difficulty to an already difficult life, he nevertheless chose to return.

Dr. V.’s father worked as a civil engineer for an Israeli company and supervised tourism infrastructure projects.

His father’s duty was to oversee the development of the city of "Varosha," which was beginning to expand at that time.

Despite his expertise, he faced economic discrimination due to his Greek-Egyptian origin.

Dr. V. added: "Although my father was more suitable for many positions, he was constantly overlooked and underpaid."

This systemic exclusion prevented them from achieving financial stability and even made purchasing a home difficult.

His father gained extensive experience by working on projects such as "the Suez Canal, the residences of British officers in Cyprus, and chief engineering duties at Nicosia Airport."

However, due to prejudice against foreigners on the island, he was not given many opportunities.

Due to the events of 1974, unfortunately, the course of his life was permanently changed.

As a small child, he was unaware of politics, but when he heard discussions about the coup against Makarios at the age of eight, he began to notice the increasing tension.

His memories of believing that the coup was organized by the Greek Junta and essentially NATO were filled with uncertainty and fear, like those of other people.

Dr. V., who felt constantly excluded in his own country, described Cyprus as a tightly knit and inward-looking society, stating that this makes it difficult for outsiders to integrate.

"Even my mother’s family does not see me as one of their own," he said.

When the interviewer asked, "Have you ever experienced racial tension, exclusion, or bullying?" he replied, "There was no bullying, but there was always exclusion. I noticed a high level of exclusion in academic and professional environments."

"Despite my qualifications, there was never a job for me in Cyprus. They always hired someone else with less professional experience. I retired from the University of Cambridge and then came to the island. All my attempts to reconnect with my family, friends, or professional networks failed."

This situation aligns with patterns of discrimination in small and narrow-minded communities where belonging is often determined by social origin or ethnic identity rather than merit.

"I have experienced this up to today. I retired early at the age of 53 and have been living in Cyprus for four years. Every attempt I made to establish any kind of work was blocked. I feel excluded from society not only because of my ethnic identity, but also because I could not become part of any close social circle," he added.

He believes that the exclusion he faced is not entirely racial, but rather stems from the fact that he spent most of his life in other countries and is now perceived as a foreigner by the local population.

"I think they never saw me as Cypriot, and honestly, I never felt Cypriot either."

All of these experiences reveal the identity struggles of displaced individuals and people with multiple ethnic roots who are caught between their cultural origins and the realities of social exclusion.

When asked about his hopes of returning to the family home, Dr. V. was unfortunately skeptical: "Not in my lifetime, perhaps in the next generation," he replied.

He believes that realistic peace can only be achieved by allowing Cypriots to negotiate without any external intervention.

When asked what advice he would give to another conflict victim, he replied: "If I could speak to another conflict victim, I would tell them this: Listen to my story and think rationally. Do not allow ideology to shape your identity; remember who you are before war defines your life."

With these words, he referred to conflict victims across the world, from Israel and Palestine to the Balkans, where political manipulation leads to divisions and wars.

Dr. V.’s life is a clear example of how discrimination can hinder reconciliation and stability between societies.

References: Why is the north the angriest place in the world? (2025, January 4). Cyprus Mail.

https://cyprus-mail.com/2025/01/04/why-is-north-cyprus-the-angriest-place-in-the-world