Reformátusok Lapja, 1972 (72. évfolyam, 1-7. szám)
1972-02-01 / 2. szám
4 REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA It might be of interest to note that a bilingual (English and German) daily newspaper, the Daily News, is published in Budapest. Students of all ages, as well as adults, buy the paper regularly. The press run is 10,000 copies a day, but much of this, to be sure, is sent abroad. In the contemporary Hungarian Journal, Idegen Nyelvek Tanítása (Teaching Eoreign Languages) articles on English appear in nearly every issue. The Educational Society for Humanities and Society, a nation-wide association for the dissemination of knowledge in Hungary, offers language courses and other subjects through its branch organizations. English language courses are particularly popular. Dozens of these are offered in Budapest and in many other cities. Highly developed, modern methods of language instruction are used, and both children and adults attend in large numbers. In concluding, we might refer to an article published in 1965 by László Országh, now director emeritus of the English Institute in Debrecen, in which he spelled out a broad program for American studies in Hungary. Little of Országh’s program has been carried out. Implementation of such a program would require a two-way street of contacts between America and Hungary, and cooperation and encouragement at official government levels in Hungary and in the United States. August J. Molnár ♦ HAND ON MY SHOULDER Once a man was getting off a train in the Union Station Terminal, and a veteran got off in front of him, carrying a suitcase in one hand and a cane in the other. The veteran walked awkwardly as he felt his way with the cane. “May I help you carry your suitcase?” the man asked. “No, thanks, I don’t need any help with the suitcase,” came the reply. “But if you wish, you may guide me up these stairs so I won’t run into anyone. I am blind and I have a new set of artificial legs. But I’ve got to learn to make my own way, you know.” When they got to the top of the stairs the man took the veteran rather firmly by the arm to guide him through the crowd entering the terminal. But the blind man stopped at once and spoke quietly: “No, don’t take possession of me, just guide me, please. Put your hand on my shoulder; that’s all I need.” Good words to remember when you help someone. “Put your hand on my shoulder and just guide me, please .. .” Wf Jkt. Uttar A loving heart is waiting, In that village far away; She knows that I’ll be coming, To visit her soon, one day. The yard will be cleanly swept, A feather bed piled high; “Thank God you came home safely,” She’ll say with a hug and sigh. The small home freshly painted, Fine embroidery everywhere; The villagers welcome me, And sing folksongs when I’m there. The children bring me flowers, Or garlands made of cherries; Some will perform a folkdance, Others will pick me berries. The village Pastor greets me, Kind words of blessing and peace; In my Hungarian village, Faith, Hope, Love will never cease. Margaret Fekete Csóványos ♦ A PRAYER FOR A SON “Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory. Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; a son who will know Thee — and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge. Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail. Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high, a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men, one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past. And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meekness of true strength. Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, T have not lived in vain’.” Douglas Mac Arthur
