Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1978. július-december (32. évfolyam, 27-50. szám)

1978-07-06 / 27. szám

Thursday, July 6. 1978.

CONG. WEISS: TRANSFER AMENDMENT

A REVIEW OF ART; LITERATURE AND HISTORY - A SUPPLEMENT OF THE MAGYAR SZ6

Hungarians in

of Independence

Unlike some other nationalities, the Hungarians cannot claim that a Hungarian had signed the Declaration of Independence.‘Although Hungarians did not participate in the political side of the Revolution, many did sign their names in their blood on the battlefields, fighting for the independence of the thirteen colonies.

According to Rezső and Margaret Gracza /The Hungarians in America, Minneapolis, 1971 /.there were 141 Hungarians who participated in the American Revolution. Although most were common soldiers, whose role is largely forgotten, a few of the Hungarians became well-known for their major contributions to the cause of liberty. On top of the list is the most famous Hungarian in the Revolution, Colonel Michael Kovats. His last name suffered numerous misspellings such as Kovach, Kowacz, Ko- vatch, and Cowatch. His coming to America is linked to his friendship with General Casimir Pulaski, whom he knew back in Europe. Like many freedom-loving Hungarians, Kovats was also a Franco- phyle, and he stopped in France on his way to America. In Paris at the time, Benjamin Franklin had a large number of petitions and applications from many foreigners who wanted to join the revolutionary crusade. Among the petitioners was the Hungarian hussar officer, Michael Kovats. His petition was rejected, but his perseverance brought him to America. Here he became the protege of General Pulaski, who in his letter of Januarv 9, 1777, to George Washington, recommended Colonel Kovats for the post of “Master of Exercise.”

On Pulaski’s second appeal the petition was reviewed and Washington recommended Kovats as Colonel Commandant of the Pulaski Legion. The

Courage yet, my brother or my sister!

Keep on—Liberty is to be subserv’d whatever occurs;

That is nothing that is quell’d by one or two failures, or any number of failures,

Or by the indifference or ingratitude of the people, or by any unfaithfulness,

Or the show of the rushes of power, soldiers, cannon, penal statutes.

What we believe in waits latent forever through all the continents,

Invites no one, promises nothing, sits in calmness and light, is positive and composed, knows no discouragement,

Waiting patiently »"waiting its time.

Walt Whitman

Continental Congress approved this recommendation on April 18, 1778, and Colonel Kovats became the leader of 330 men, most of them hussars. Under his command, the legion fought in the Battle at Egg Harbor, and it also fought the pro-English Indians to the west. In February 1779 his legion was ordered to South Carolina to help defend Charleston. On May 11 of that year, Pulaski, Kovats, and 120 men attacked the troops of General Prevost, and in this battle Colonel Kovats lost his life.

Signing of the Declaration of Independence

On July 4, 1978 Americans of Hungarian descent reverently recall the memory of the Hungarian heroes of the United States war of independence. Beginning with the U.S. Civil War, the rollcall of Hungarians, offering their lives in the defense of American freedom and democracy has constantly increased:

The words of the Hungarian national anthem, “This is the land upon which the blood of your forefathers have been copiously spilt” applies with almost equal force to our adopted land, America.

Rep. WEISS:

JOBS ARE VITAL TO OUR NATION’S FUTURE

One of the key election campaign pledges of President Carter was the reduction of the military budget by 5-10 billion dollars. Like so many of his other campaign promises, this too remains unfulfilled.

A number of distinguished congressmen, Dellums, Conyers, Mitchell and others, are continuing the fight to implement this key presidential promise to transfer a portion of the bloated war budget to sorely needed peacetime purposes. Although the initial step in the form of the Transfer Amendment has been stymied, the struggle for jobs and health care goes on.

It is with great pride that we note Congressman Weiss’s role in this noble crusade. He is the only Hungarian bom member of Congress representing the 21st Congressional District of New York. His speech supporting Congressman Mitchell’s resolution js an outstanding example of the finest tradition of American democracy holding human values as key goals of government. _______

Congressman Weiss was a member of the official American delegation headed by Secretary of State Vance that returned the crown of St. Stephen to Hungary last January.

Here, in part, is Congressman Weiss’s speech in support of the Transfer Amendment.

The United States is a strong nation - the strongest in the world. It possesses the means to deter or defeat ^ji attack from any quarter. It is second to no nation in its military might and defense preparedness.

Unfortunately, we can make no similar boast about our country’s domestic condition. The United States suffers one of the highest unemployment rates of any industrialized country. Unlike most Western nations, we have no comprehensive program of health protection and insurance. Too many of our older people languish in institutions or await the end of their lives in poverty and despair. Millions of our children face a bleak future of joblessness and semi-illiteracy .Our cities are often places where abandoned buildings line rubbled streets and where crime, drug addiction and arson are ordinary occurrences.

What makes this situation doubly tragic is that this nation does have the resources to erase these conditions. What is lacking is not the means but the commitment. The Transfer Amendment supplies the missing initiative that will lead us toward the ideals which we all espouse.

The reductions in military spending outlined in the Transfer Amendment show quite clearly that billions of dollars can be saved in this area without any impairment whatsoever of our Nation’s capacity to defend itself from aggression. The items cited in the Transfer Amendment for possible budgetary cuts are in no way linked to maintenance of our national security. Instead, they represent the kind of self-perpetuating, wholly unnecessary programs that only serve the interests of the Pentagon, not of our national defense.

The areas to which funds would be shifted by the Transfer Amendment are, on the other hand, vital

(cont. on page 8.)

Liberty

_ 7- AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZO----------