Who says that Greeks and Turks can't be friends???

Question

I'm Greek and have been to Istanbul twice. Both times all people were nice, friendly and polite. In general I feel like having a lot more things in common with Turks, in terms of culture, way of living etc, than with the rest of Europe. So who on earth are those people who support a stupid rivalry and say we can't be friends???

Answer 1

Again, not me - you know me neighbour :-)

We're waiting for your beautiful questions again. Have a nice day friend!! :-)

Answer 2

I have to agree at least partially with fysikaellinida.
I have a very good friend of Turkish origin, but we never go into politics and history... As nations we can have peaceful but not friendly relations. It is not just the 400 years...
The family of my grandmother was slaughtered in Smyrna during the Minor Asia catastrophe. They lost family, friends, all their belongings and had to leave their home. Although during that war Greeks were no saints either, I cannot forgive the slaying of thousands of Greek defenseless civilians by the Turkish army.
A few decades later Turkey invaded Cyprus, many Greek-Cypriots were killed, many "disappeared" and many were kicked out of their homes.

Turkey doesn't allow Greece to do research in the Aegean Sea for the oil reserves and threatens with war even if we try.
Turkey forbids Greece to expand its national waters from 6 to 12 miles (as all other EU countries have done almost a decade ago) and threatens with war. They don't even agree to discuss about it.
Turkey does not respect the rights of the Orthodox Church in KONSTANTINOYPOLI.
Ancient Greek monuments in Minor Asia are sometimes presented as Turkish.

You see it is not just the past, but also the present and the extrapolation to the future which are forbidding.

As far as the cultural similarity is concerned, there is some but it is natural. When the Othomans came from Asia their culture was way lower than that of the Byzantine empire. They spent several centuries pillaging the Eastern part of the empire growing continuously in size and strength. Thus they adopted and assimilated many characteristics of the higher civiliztion with which they came in contact. Once the Othoman empire was established, Greece spent 400 years under the Turkish yoke.
Is it strange that we have some similar habits?
Also remember the child gathering. Many "Turkish" people are in fact of Greek origin, though they were raised to believe they are "pure" Turks and hate Greeks. History teaches us that these "γενίτσαροι" were the most cruel against the Greeks but had no knowledge of their true origin.

Answer 3

stereotypes!

older people hate Turks while young people don't fell like they are enemies.. the same happens with Albanians.

i don't have problem neither with Turks nor with Albanians and i have to say that in school i have four mates which of them three are Albanians, because they are much better than some Greeks.
I'm just not racist like the others are

Answer 4

The Greeks and Turks seem to be the ones unable to be friends.

Answer 5

Oh my God another question about Greeks and Turks!!! Come on people get over this....
Im tired of seeing all these questions on the greek section. "do greeks like turks?" etc.

Answer 6

Hello Kicky:)
I am Turkish girl from my beautifull city istanbul:)

Kicky Turkish ppl are friendly...you are always welcome to my country... I think we both should be friendlier to each other...Past must stay in past...we have to think about future... because I think we can have good community, trade, amd etc...
I have soe very good greek friends in istanbul...I like spend time with them...I like them a lot...bcoz there are fun and good friends of mine...

belleroph and fissikael: your answer was at all absurd...
Turkish ppl was nice with her not because she is beautifull its was because she was nice,inteligent and kind with them too...

here is lotsa nice girls, please guys lets see truth...!!!

And another thing you both told that Huge Ottoman Empire was murdered your ancektors. What you will say about Bizantine Empire ? Will you say that Bizantne Empire was nice withh all ppl? lol...
You are mad because your ancektors was slave for a 400 years under of Ottoman Empire!!!

Ranger: you asked quastions so my answe it: No they dont like us....you can read reason apper...
But if you will ask me "do I like Greeks" I can say you that I dont feel anything against to Greeks...maybe its because I dont care :)

I hope its enough for today:)

Answer 7

Me!!!!!!!!!!!I think u were just good-looking!!!They never treat badly good looking women.!!!!Well turks are trying to put the blame out of them.And they come with words like Peace!!!!I've started believing tht they want Peace!!!!Don't show it only by words.I have still many doubts whether we could be friends...400 years are not easily forgotten.I think I owe this to my ancestors which u once mentioned in your answer to my question.And I owe to present greeks not to forget many air conflicts and deaths of greeks caused by mistake from the turkish side..We are being dazed by their lies all day long..So why not the words Peace,co-operation and friendship be a bubble?I have to add tht I have some turkish on-line friends tht I like them a lot.
So a dedication to them who like these lyrics:
SEN YANMASAN BİZ YANMASAK NASIL ÇIKAR KARANLIKLAR AYDINLIĞA.. Nâzım Hikmet.(Translation from the greek translated phrase...The translation of the translation..Haha!!"If I don't get burnt,if you don't get burnt how do you expect darkness to become light?")

Edit:Bellerophon you partially agree with me but I completely agree with you.I would like to know the meaning of your nickname.

Answer 8

I totally agree with Bellerephon.
By the way,very nice and interesting nickname!

Answer 9

Because turks are mongols that have to go back to central asia.

Answer 10

I don't know but I love both foods and dishes from both...