Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1979. január-június (33. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)

1979-04-19 / 16. szám

Thursday, April 19. 1979. AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZÓ_____________________________7 A REVIEW OF ART, LITERATURE AND HISTORY - ASUPPLEMENT OF THE MAGYAR SZO SMB - SEEDTIME OF HTOIUMSN REVOLUTIONS This is a year of noteworthy anniversaries for Hungarians in general, and for Hungarians in the United States in particular. 1979 is the 200th anniversary of the death of the outstanding Hungarian hero of the American Revolution, Colonel Michael Kovats, who gave his life in the defense of American independence while fighting alongside General Pulaski at the siege of Charleston, S.C. 1979 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of the greatest Hungarian novelist of our century, Zsig- mond Móricz. And this year we celebrate, along with millions of people throughout the world, the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest scientists of all time, Albert Einstein. In Hungary, as well as in Europe and even in the United States, Spring has been traditionally the season not only of blossomtime,' but the seedtime of re volutions. The first massive revolt of the toilers of the Hungarian earth erupted in the Spring of ■ 1514. It was the year of peasant revolts all over Europe,and Hungary was no exception. Nearly two centuries later, in the Spring of 1703, masses of ragged, barefeet Hungarian, Carpatho-Ukrainian and Slovak peasants unfurled the flag of revolt against the oppressors, against the Habsburgs, against the landlords. “Pro Patria et Libertate” /For Country and Freedom/, read the slogan on their battleflag. The flag was sent to them by Ferenc Rákóczi, who was then in exile in Poland. Rákóczi symbolized the undying desire of the Hungarians for indepen­dence. Early in 1704, Rákóczi issued his memorable Declaration of Independence, “Recrudescunt vulne- rae Hungáriáé” /The wounds of Hungary have been reopened/. This declaration preceded, by 72 years, the American Declaration of Independence! And we know, of course, that the first shots of the Ame­rican revolution, the shots that were heard around the world, were also fired in the Springtime, in April, 1775, at Lexington and Concord. In 1848, a wave of revolution swept over Europe. Hungary, too,* was caught up in this wave. On March 15, of that year, the youth of Budapest, un­der the leadership of the poet, Sándor Petőfi, of Táncsics and others carried out a bloodless revolu­tion. They freed the press and compelled the House of Habsburg to recognize the independence of Hungar . It was on March 21, 1919 that the workers of Hungary appeared on the stage of history as a class capable of governing a country and creating a more just and humane society, confirming Abraham Lin­coln's immortal statement that, “We cannot escape history.” No people can avoid the cumulative effects of social and economic development. The marvels of construction that the Hungarian people have accomplished since the liberation on April 4, 1945, justly deserve the admiration of all mankind. Almost 15 million visitors annually visit Budapest with its flourishing social, economic and cultural life. They view with amazement the myriad examples of prosperity in the Hungarian country­side, in the towns and villages. Also in the modern industrial cities throughout the country, the thri­ving cultural and scientific activities are clearly vi­sible. Upon reflection, one might ask, if the Hungarian people are capable of accomplishing this much in 34 i years, what could they have created if, instead of 34 years, they would have had 60 years in which to build. For the Hungarian people were ready to com­mence the restructuring of their social and econo­mic life, and to begin the tremendous work of crea­tion 60 years ago, in 1919. However, it is not only the welfare and progress of Hungary that we have reference to. When the Hungarian working class seized power in March 1919, the Peace Conference of Versailles /the con­ference that was supposed to implement the osten­sible objective of World War I, “to make the world safe for democracy”/ was in progress. Among those present at the Conference were President Wilson, and Prime Ministers Clemanceau, Lloyd George and Orlando. Instead of trying to make the world safe for de­mocracy, they were wrangling about how to divide the loot of their victory and who would get the greatest share. They laid the foundation for the se­cond World War that erupted 20 years later. These agents of world imperialism were thrown into consternation upon receiving the news that af­ter the Russian Revolution, there came upon the horizon another workers’ republic in Europe. They mobilized their forces and their hirelings, the Ruma­nian and Czech business circles and their political and military agents, to crush the first Hungarian Workers’ Republic. The workers of Hungary accep­ted the challenge. They defeated the interven­tionists, liberated a major part of northern Hungary and could have defeated the Rumanians, had not treason within Hungary and huge military and mate­rial aid given to their enemies by the French, tilted the scales against them. The crushing of the Hungarian peoples’ republic was a significant factor in rendering World War II. inevitable. Had they not crushed the Hungarian Republic, Hungary could have become a bastion of resistance against the spread of fascism in Central Europe. Hitler would not have found an ally in Hungary in its attack against Yugoslavia, and later _____ (cont. on p. 10.) Zoltán Deák: /me on tÁe “They quaffed wine, praised their gold, silver, steel, iron, wood and stone gods... At that hour when the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote... on the wall.” Book of Daniel, V. 4. 5. In the measurement of history’s clock it hap- - pened “at that hour,” America’s money-world ru­lers, “one thousand men,” lauded their profit-earn­ings of 1978. 150 billion dollars of profit were reaped by the monopolies, multinationals, armament industries and atomic energy plants in 1978. 26 % more than in the previous year. Yea, they quaffed wine; praised their gold and silver gods! They hailed them at the time when one-third of the nation suffered from an existence beneath po­verty level. When millions of humans were without minimum health-care; when half ot the minority youth were unemployed, condemned to forced idleness. When safety, education, transportation were de­caying in our crumbling and neglected cities. “At that hour” the mayors of metropolises spou­ted eulogies and were closing hospitals, mantaining “there are too many vacant beds.” Yea, “at that hour” the handwriting appeared on the “Three Mile Island” reactor’s wall. “At that hour” the one thousand money-icings, worshippers of gold and silver gods were found wanting in humanness, foresight, compassion... The “Three Mile Island” mishap is an omen, warning the American nation: your life, security, future are in constant danger! 72 atomic powerplants are scattered throughout the states. “Three Mile Island” accidents may occur anywhere! In our skies orbit dozens of planes, in the seas, the oceans cruise submarines, warships, loaded with atom and hydrogen bombs. To avoid cataclysm it is essential that the nation control the atomic energy plants, and proclaim the immediate cessation of the atomic armament race! Translated from the Hungarian by A VS Renew your subscription Has your subscription to Heritage expired? Please note the expiration date on your add­ress-label. If it expired, please send in the $ 3.- subscription fee and thus help us sustain our publication. Use the coupon below for your renewal. HERITAGE 130 E 16 St. New York,NY 10003. Enclosed please find $ 3.- for renewal of my subscription to Heritage. My name........................................................... Address:............................................................

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