Amerikai Magyar Hírlap, 2013 (25. évfolyam, 1-50. szám)
2013-01-04 / 1. szám
Hungarian Journal The Threat of Terrorism in Hungary By Kalman Julius Andrassy While the threat of extremist religious terrorism, mostly from radical Islamist terrorist groups is an everpresent danger around the world, groups like Al-Qaeda might not be the greatest threat to the security of Hungary. Continuing socio-political and economic issues throughout Europe have led to increasing extremist activity at the far ends of the ideological spectrum. As such, it is likely that if a terrorist attack were to occur, the ones most likely responsible will be either far-left or far-right groups. European far-left extremist groups like Italy’s Informal Anarchist Federation (FAI) and a variety of Greece’s anarchist, socialist, and communist groups have targeted government officials, financial or political infrastructure, and transportation networks. Far-left groups tend to be dissatisfied with government budget austerity measures, unethical practices in banking, and alleged interference in a country’s affairs by the EU or IMF. On the reverse, a number of prominent neo-Nazi and anti-immigrant groups and so-called “lone wolves” staged attacks against immigrants, political opponents, and minorities across the continent. This includes the July 2011 attack in Norway by Anders Behring Breivik, the recent destruction of immigrant shops by members of the far-right Golden Dawn party in Greece, and a number of attacks against Roma and Jews in recent years in central and eastern Europe. Terrorist activity by groups such as these have occurred in all parts of Europe, and Hungary should not consider itself immune. The Hungarian economy remains stagnant and ranks among the most unstable in Europe at this time, while the conservative Fidesz party holds an overwhelming majority in parliament. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has pushed out the IMF and blamed banks for the financial situation, providing ample reason for dissatisfaction with financial institutions, if not the government itself. This situation is ripe for the rise of left-wing extremists. At the same time, there has been a rising trend of far-right nationalistic activity in Hungary that may lead to extremism. With the acceptance of the ultra-nationalist Jobbik party - gaining nearly as many seats in parliament as the socialists - there are concerns that the door is open for anti-Semitic, anti-Roma, and general anti-minority violence in the increasing calls for national ethnic and racial purity. Though the party itself may not be responsible for directly instigating that violence, its rhetoric may drive some to act radically. Absolutist assertions that a particular minority, government, or financial institution is the cause of all of a country’s problems run contrary the spirit of problem solving. Blaming one or more groups will only lead to bitterness, resentment, and violence, rather than lead to concrete steps to improve the situation in Hungary. Part of the reason there is a political system in place to deal with these problems is to avoid mob justice and violence. Hungarians must exercise their right to vote or face the consequences of a lawless society. AMERICAN - i /fdBBBSB This article’s author is a young political scientist with Hungarian origin, born in a Hungarian family. Kalman Julius Andrassy is a political science instructor at Westwood College, teaching political science, international relations, comparative politics, and United States government. He has also worked as a geopolitical analyst, specializing in Europe and Central Asia, and will be taking the State Department’s foreign service officer examination in February. He is currently a doctoral candidate at Valdosta State University in Georgia in public administration and policy, finishing his dissertation on public-private partnerships deploying geopolitical analysts to abroad to enhance comprehension of crisis incidents and improve situational readiness in the event of a major catastrophe to maintain business and public service continuity. L.A. County Honors Judith Nesleny and the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition L.A. County commendation honoree Prof. Judith Nesleny (left), County Commissioner Dr. Frank de Balogh, and honoree Dr. Geraldine Keeling (right). On November 18, 2012, on the 22d anniversary of the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition, a letter of commendation (scroll) from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors was presented to Prof. Judith Nesleny, co-director of the competition, in recognition of her over two decades of distinguished service to the competition and for, “numerous contributions for all citizens of Los Angeles County”. Making the presentation at the Trinity United Methodist Church of Pomona on behalf of the Board of Supervisors (sponsored by Supervisor Mike Antonovich) was L.A. County Commissioner Dr. Frank de Balogh. He lauded Prof. Nesleny for her exemplary achievements which include her leadership in sustaining this prestigious piano, voice and organ competition (a 3 day event); developing its international outreach; ensuring its high standard of artistic excellence, and, promoting the enduring legacy of Franz Liszt, one of the giants of the classical music world. By doing so, Prof. Nesleny also enhanced the public standing of Hungarian-Americans in the United States as a people with a significant cultural heritage. Prof. Nesleny and Dr. Geraldine Keeling (also honored as a scroll recipient), founder and co-director of the Liszt competition, have made it possible for over two decades for a thousand young persons from throughout the world to experience and grow from their participation in this rigorous competition. Also present at this important event representing Hungary was Consul General Dr. László Kalman and special guest, Ambassador György Granasztoi, senior advisor to the Hungarian Prime Minister. Commissioner de Balogh concluded his presentation by extending the best wishes of the Board of Supervisors to all and by quoting the immortal Franz Liszt, who said: “Music is the heart of life.. . .without it there is no possible good and with it everything is beautiful”. The Commissioner urged the participants to, “keep making beauty! ” (Source: The Life of Chopin, by Franz Liszt) w w w.Goodreads .com/author/ quotes/74304/Franz_Liszt (Photos courtesy of Frank de Balogh III) Január 4, 2013 ÍD AMERIKAI Hfagyar Hírlap ‘Tis the season’ for chestnuts - you know, the ones roasting on an open fire... Well, it turns out that a lot of them are from Europe or China. Food commentator Bonny Wolf recalls a time when they would have been from American trees. The American chestnut was king of the forest. One of every four hardwoods in the eastern woodlands was a chestnut. They grew so tall - up to 100 feet - they were called the redwoods of the east. Then a lethal fungus killed them all - four billion trees. A few stragglers made it through but the American chestnut was pretty much obliterated by the 1950s. Now, scientists are trying to stage a comeback. The American Chestnut Foundation has developed a seed called restoration chestnut 1.0. It’s the result of six generations of breeding between the American native and a blight-resistant Chinese variety. Why is it so important to bring back the chestnut tree? Advocates say the trees were critical to the economy of rural communities and the ecology of the forests. Some even say chestnuts can help with global warming. They apparently have a good carbon footprint. A century ago, Americans could pull up a chestnut chair to a chestnut table under a roof of chestnut beams - all made from the light straight-grained rot-resistant wood. They might eat turkey stuffed with chestnuts, followed by chestnut pudding. Then maybe somebody would play a tune on a chestnut fiddle in front of a fire of chestnut wood. They probably lived on Chestnut Street. This was some amazing tree. Animals like chestnuts as much as humans do. Before the blight, farmers let their hogs loose in September, when the chestnuts were thick in the forest. We’re told hogs fattened on acorns in the mountains of Spain are something special. Apparently, you haven’t tasted special until you’ve had meat from a chestnut-fattened hog. American chestnuts are smaller than the European or Chinese variety, but they’re sweeter and more nutritious. They’re so high in carbs but low in fat they’re sometimes called bread of the mountains. Chestnuts make good soup, sauces and stuffings. They can be made into pasta and polenta. Chestnuts can be glazed, braised and sautéed. For dessert, chestnut ice cream, soufflés or cakes. And, of course, chestnuts may be best roasted on an open fire. Where Did All The Chestnuts Go? Once an important hardwood timber tree, the American chestnut is highly susceptible to chestnut blight, caused by an Asian bark fungus accidentally introduced into North America on imported Asiatic chestnut trees. The disease was first noticed on American chestnut trees in what was then the New York Zoological Park, now known as the Bronx Zoo, in 1904, by chief forester Hermann Merkel. While Chinese chestnut trees evolved with the blight and developed a strong resistance to it, the American chestnut had little resistance. The airborne bark fungus spread 50 mi (80 km) a year and in a few decades girdled and killed up to three billion American chestnut trees. Salvage logging during the early years of the blight may have unwittingly destroyed trees which had high levels of resistance to this disease and thus aggravated the calamity. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
