Amerikai Magyar Hírlap, 2006 (18. évfolyam, 1-50. szám)
2006-03-10 / 11. szám
WITNESSING TERRORISM "Munich" Remembered by Someone Who Was There As the Oscars are in progress in Hollywood and Steven Spielberg’s “Munich” is one of the nominees, it is very enlightening to hear one’s take on the horrific events of the 1972 Olympics who was part of it and witnessed it in person, while re-living the chill it brought to our own more-or-less peaceful lives when we first encountered the previously unfamiliar phenomenon of global terrorism, brought about by religious fanaticism. Competitive fencing has provided a life for Dr. Jenő Kamuti that, while providing so many special moments has also left him just short of the final hurdle - his anecdotes seem to always place him as runner up. He was placed second in 1968 at the Mexico Olympic Games, and again picked up the silver medal in the infamous 1972 Munich Games. Of these two near golds, the Games in Munich will forever stay with him because of the shocking events that left 11 Israeli athletes and one German police officer dead. While most learned of the terrorism from news announcements, Kamuti said that as an athlete the event was closer to home - much closer. “From our balcony we (the Hungarian team) could see the room and the balcony of the Israeli team, it was right across the street. When I stepped out in the morning I saw two people with machine guns and nylons on their heads and a dead body on the floor. I realized that it was the trainer of the Israeli team, who was of Hungarian origin, and whom I had had dinner with the night before. From that moment on, time seemed to stand still. I could hardly breathe. We were told immediately to stay away from the windows, as they could have shot us as well and no one knew what they were planning to do. Everything that happened later, we watched on TV with everyone else.” Despite the killings, Kamuti said he felt safe, as there “were policemen and soldiers surrounding the buildings,” and terrorism, he added, was not as common a word as it sadly is today. “The situation was nothing like compared to today. I also noticed that it was a huge dilemma for the German authorities, as the memories from World War II were still in people’s minds and they tried to handle the situation in the best possible way in order not to be blamed for anything. “It had to be handled and communicated very cautiously in order to avoid misunderstandings and connections to the war.” Speaking of the events today, Kamuti said the horror is still with him, and that the event was so alien from the life of an athlete and all that stands for. “The whole thing was just a nightmare. It was so different from a sportsman’s life. It had nothing to do with the notion of competition and peace.” That said, he believes it was a right that the games continued. If they had been cancelled, he explained, terrorism would have won and “would have had a huge impact on future competitions. Even handled this way, the tragedy influenced future Olympic games for a while. They were nothing compared to the spirit of the games before. “Everyone was scared and the event lost its notion of peace, family and togetherness. I think it only started to change again in Athens and it is getting better and better now - it is developing in a good direction. “For me, personally, it was difficult as well, because, on one hand, I won the silver medal but, on the other hand, there was a huge shadow because of the people who lost their lives.” And what does Kamuti think of Spielberg’s movie, inspired by the events and their aftermath? “I have just seen it, and I liked it, although it was more about the aftermath. However, it left a feeling in me that the problem remains unsolved. It is important to work against terrorism, and we have to prevent it from winning. It is unacceptable that terrorism should win over peace.” Even though so many years have passed, watching the movie makes him “very sad when thinking about 1972. I was glad to have achieved so much but the event still leaves a very sad feeling inside. Today both the positive and the negative feelings have faded. Obviously I can’t be as happy about the medal as I was in Mexico, because many innocent people lost their lives.” Today, Kamuti lives a very different life, though one which is still connected to Hungary and the Olympics, and, he says with a laugh, still feeling a little like second place. When the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB) chief secretary Tamás Aján resigned in 2005, Kamuti (at that time vice president of the European Fencing Association and president of the International Fair Play Committee) was elected chief secretary on Dec 17, 2005. He has strived for the post of president of the European Fencing Association three times, but, again, was always placed second. He was, however, a successful surgeon and director-general of the MÁV hospital. Today he is retired as a doctor. Speaking of the MOB election he said, “Most of the time I was placed second in the Olympic Games and in many international championships, but this time I won! ” Despite being placed second for so much of his career, Kamuti says he always kept a positive outlook, and realized even runner up is a success. “I was always very happy and proud to be second, there was nothing negative about it. I think it is still DUNA Travel 8530 Holloway Dr. #102 W. Hollywood, CA 90069 SPECIÁLIS ÁR LAX-BUD-LAX $439.+TX. Információért hívják ZSUZSÁT TEL: (310) 652-5294 FAX: (310) 652-5287 1-888-532-0168 Március 10, 2006 ^6j| March 15th, Hungary's National Holiday The events of March 15, 1848 Hungarian National Museum With news of the Vienna developments reaching Pest*, demonstrations broke out. They started when famed poet Sándor Petőfi read a list of demands and recited his fiery poem, called the “National Song”, at the Café Pilvax, in downtown Pest. Participants seized a large printing shop and duplicated the list for distribution. The growing crowd later moved to the National Museum, where famed poet Sándor Petőfi exhorted them to action (in rainy weather). Sándor Petőfi Accompanied also by noted author Jókai, the crowd seized the University also City Hall, where they presented twelve demands. About 20 thousand crossed the Danube to Buda to the building of the Viceregal Council, where they demanded abolition of censorship, release of political prisoners, recognition of a revolutionary Committee of Public Safety as sole authority and neutrality of the imperial-royal military garrison. The Viceregal council acceded to the demands and released the only political prisoner, a journalist (Mihály Táncsics) . The same day a parliamentary delegation boarded two steamships in Pozsony for Vienna, carrying their Address to the Throne. The lead vessel, the “Béla,’’carried many notables, including its titular leader, the archduke-palatine Stefan (himself a Habsburg), Kossuth (who called the trip “Voyage of the Argonauts”), Serbian Patriarch Rajasich, Baron Eötvös, Prince Paul Esterházy, Counts Széchenyi and Batthyány. The mission included 13 members of the upper and 59 of the lower house. The ships departed Vienna (back to Pozsony) on March 17, the “Argonauts” carrying with them an acceptance of their demands by Ferdinand V. Reception in Pozsony was triumphant : Prime Minister Count Batthyány was the first to step ashore. Kossuth followed, knelt and exclaimed “...we bring to our country ... Independence and Greatness...” March 15 has since become a national holiday in Hungary. 30 Years in the New World The “ides of March” bring an important anniversary as well in the lives of the publisher and editor of this paper. Thirty years ago, on March 16, 1976, the Jancso’s arrived in New York City on a rainy night, with two young children and a few pieces of luggage containing all their earthly possessions, to start a new life in the New World. It was a trip well worth embarking on, and the family, now including three grandchildren, celebrates it as a “second Birthday” each year. The Jancso’s also celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last fall. a great achievement to be second in the world. “I always respected my opponents and if they were better or stronger at the competition they deserved to win. However, what hurts, is that for some reason our society tends to speak about world champions only, although the rest prepared for the games in the same way. “We put as much effort into it and we did it with as much enthusiasm but at the event the opponent was stronger. Maybe in another time or another place I could have won, but it simply did not happen at that given moment. I somehow regret that I can’t change it anymore, but I am still proud of my two silver medals.” Out of direct fencing competition, Kamuti has had more success, and he says the notion of sports, of fighting, of competition, of endurance helped him in other aspects of his life. “It helped me to see things from a different angle, helped me to concentrate and I learned that a 24-hour-day can be stretched to more than that. “All of these personalities, me being a surgeon or chief secretary of the MOB, they are all a part of me and all of them are connected to my background as a fencer. Being a doctor is not too much different from being a fencer. “Healing people is as strong a human action as being a sportsman. Both are very beautiful things in their own ways. The most important thing, he explained, is that “if you look in the mirror in the morning you are not allowed to have a guilty conscience! ” How realistic are Hungary’s chances of hosting the Olympic games? “I am positive that there will be Olympic games in Hungary. I think 2016 or 2024 would be realistic dates - Hungarian athletes would deserve it with all their achievements. I think the initiative organized by civilians is a very positive thing, but I am aware of the fact that the country has a lot to do until then.” By Susanne Zolcer (The Budapest Sun) The English Page of the Hírlap can serve as a bridge between the non-Hungarian-speaking members of the family and the community. Use it to bring people together! Subscribe to the Hírlap! Advertise your business in the Hírlap! If any questions or suggestions, please call (323) 463-6376
