Amerikai Magyar Hírlap, 2001 (13. évfolyam, 2-43. szám)
2001-10-12 / 39. szám
AMERICAN Hungarian Journaí MEDITATIONS by Dr. Bela Bonis Pastor (562) 430-0876 First Hungarian Reformed Church, Hawthorne IN THE AFTERMATH of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and another failed attempt possibly against the White House, America will be changed politically, militarily, culturally, psychologically and religiously, too. Perhaps it is too close to the events to understand their full impact. Despite a perfect record of failure, doomsday prophets see September 11 as the beginning of the end. Predictions that the end of the world is at hand have come and gone for centuries, and fhey have always had one thing in common. They have always been wrong. Nevertheless, the apocalypseminded are not deterred by errant predictions. Interpreters like Hal Lindsay believe certain passages of the Book of Daniel and also Revelation to support their view. However, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and many Protestant churches reject such end-times interpretations, saying Revelation and Daniel should not be read literally and citing Jesus’ words that no one will know the day and the hour of his return Matth. 24:3). Obsession with end times ultimately discredits the faith in the sovereign Lord God, when they try to take passages in Scripture and attempt to line them up with current events to pin the tale on the Antichrist. I prefer rather to point out that after the catastrophe on September 11, our nation united in an astonishing way. Untold number of people have swarmed churches and synagogues to pray and remember the victims and the loved ones they left behind, as if the country was unconsciously aware that it was time to return to its foundation for solace and renewal of faith in God Almighty. Religious bookstores have already reported a strong increase in the purchases of the Bible and even books on Islam. You might say that people believe such purchases as a precaution. But I believe that deep down people know that God exists, that it is good to be in the Word of God because it will set you free to love Him and your fellowman and that we need to develop a longterm relationship with our Maker and Savior. Frequent visits to the Bible can only strengthen our healing process and our readiness to pray for one another, even our enemies. (TO BE CONTINUED) ************ “It’s Easy to Take Liberty for Granted” Probably you read this already way back when, but now it seems to make a lot more sense, almost prophetic... On my way to work last week, I stopped behind a purple Geo Metro with my least favorite bumper sticker ever plastered across the back. It read: "It'll be a great day when schools have all the money they need and the Air Force has to have a bake sale to buy a bomber." At that moment, I realized who the most undervalued and under appreciated segment of society is. And it ain't teachers. Teachers, I believe, rank second on that list. Heading the list are the men and women of the forces, who, throughout history, have protected our country from the Hitler's and Stalin's - they who would have had our white children marching to the school bus in jackboots and our minority children locked up in laboratories and labor camps. The U.S. military - the most powerful and influential group of people in the world, hands-down - gets an awfully bad rap these days. Many Americans seem to think that simply because the communist Soviet Union no longer exists, the world is as safe as Beaver Cleaver's neighborhood. This, of course, ignores three facts: 1. ) Dozens of countries have nuclear weapons that could take out millions of people with the turn of a key. 2. ) Leaders of several countries (e.g. North Korea, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Lebanon and perhaps China and Russia) would love to see the U.S.and its people blown to pieces and, most importantly 3. ) The U.S. has the greatest collection of human, economic, natural and technological resources anywhere on Earth, making it the greatest natural target for military aggression. Though some would like to fashion the U.S. of the 21 st Century as a flowery feel-good fantasy where war and violence are mere after thoughts of a time gone by, that can never be the case. As bad as our crime and drug problems are, we're still considered the jewel of the planet by the half of the world that has yet to make its first phone call. In ancient Greece, the people of Athens were unparalleled world leaders in art, philosophy and technology. Their rivals in Sparta were not; instead, the Spartans built massive, well-trained armies. When the two countries fought, who won? Sparta. And guess who lost their entire civilization because they didn't think it was important to build an appropriate army? Athens! Right now, the U.S. has the best of Athens and Sparta: we are the most cultured and most well-defended country in the world. As we continue to lower our defenses by devaluing the military, we open ourselves wider and wider to a takeover. A takeover of the U.S.? Ridiculous, one might say. But why does it seem so unlikely? Because the power and protection of the U.S. military has been so overwhelming in the last century that Americans have been free to enjoy a comfort level unlike any in the world. We all take it for granted that we will never be invaded by another country, but few other countries can afford to be so sure of themselves. It's not only Americans who can go to bed feeling safe. Children everywhere from Israel to England, from Brazil to Japan - know that, if their country is attacked, the U.S. will be there to help. On TV, the military is often represented by stiff, buttoneddown generals or the occasional drill sergeant who is accused of feeling up a female recruit. In reality, things are much different. The men and women of the armed forces are, in most ways, just like everyone else: they are mechanics, pilots, cooks, photographers, engineers, secretaries and X-ray technicians. They work from 8 to 5 and then come home to their families. The one difference comes when the U.S. or any of its allies is threatened by a foreign power. In that case, military people pack up and ship out, off to fight - and many times die - so the rest of the country, including teachers, can continue their lives without interruption. Teachers mold young minds into intelligent, independent people, and they should be admired for the job they do; however, I don't know any teachers who are required to catch bullets and swallow shrapnel if so ordered by the principal. So, old-fashioned as it may seem, I'm happy to give my taxes to the military and tell the tots and teachers to fire up the oven if they want extra dough. Make muffins, cookies and candy and be happy you're allowed to. Because, as the old saying goes, if it wasn't for the U.S. military, we'd all be speakin' German now." "It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you." Dick Cheney, Vice President elect HUNGARIAN COINS The Coins and Currency Institute Arthur L. Friedberg, President P.O. BOX 1057, Clifton, NJ 07014 Phone: (973) 471-1441 * Telefax: (973) 471-1062 Hungary’s First Rectangular Coin for Centennial of Artist Colony Widely known throughout Europe, the Gödöllő Artist Colony (1901-1920) was an important meeting point for Hungary’s art nouveau movement. It was the only group that combined architecture, fine arts and applied arts in a workshop setting. On the colony’s centennial, the National Bank of Hungary has an art nouveau masterpiece of its own - its first rectangular coin. The obverse is a typical sample of Hungarian art nouveau - the stained glass windows titled Sisters, designed in 1910 by Sándor Nagy, a founder of the colony. The 4,000 forint piece has a maximum mintage of 4,000 coins in each of proof quality and brilliant uncirculated. It is sterling silver, weighs 31.46 grams and measures 26.4 x 39.6 mm (1.04” x 1.56"). Prices are: Proof: $49.50 * Uncirculated: $42.50. Outstanding Figures in Hungarian Children’s Literature This 4-piece set of copper-alloy 200 forint commemoratives is a tribute to the great works of Hungarian children’s literature, such as Toldi by János Arany, Ludas Matyi by Mihály Fazekas, A Pál utcai fiúk by Ferenc Molnár and János vitéz by Sándor Petőfi. These works are all included in the Hungarian school curriculum, 25,000 sets each in Uncirculated and Proof. Uncirc. Set: $19.50 Proof Set: $22.50 TECHNICAL DATA Denomination: 200 Ft Quality: BU / Proof Fineness: Cu (75%) -Ni (4%) -Zn(21%) Weight: 9,4 g Diameter: 29,2 mm Designer: ifj. SZLÁVICS László Date of Issue: August 1,2001 Issue Limit: 12,000 pcs BU / 5,000 pcs Proof Minted by the Hungarian Mint The Coin & Currency Institute, Inc. P.O. Box 1057, Clifton, NJ 07014 * Toll-free 1-800-421-1866 Fax: 973-471-1062 * E-mail: mail@coin-currency.com New Jersey residents should add 6% sales tax. Major credit cards are accepted. Add $4.50 to each order for shipping and handling, these and other coins of Hungary may be seen on the Institute’s website, www.coin-currency.com/hungary.html Sk********:!:**************:* 0 2001. október 12. AMERIKAI Hagy ar Hírlap Still the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave! ^ Please Support our Advertisers!
