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

1979-06-21 / 25. szám

Thursday, June 21.1979. The dual existence of unspeakeble evil and trans­cendental good is one of the basic characteristics of all history. Every high school student is aware, of course, that the inquisition which for centuries paraded as the defender of the faith of love formed one of the bloodiest chapters of world history. Yet the same . centuries«.that are disfigured by its horrors, gave li­terally numberless geniuses to the world. He who ascends the hills of Fiesole may recall the march of great geniuses as they passed over those roads of history. Should you on the other hand hap­pen to step into the church of Santa Croce in Florence, you will involuntarily bow not before the altar but the tomb of Michelangelo. Who can fur­thermore describe the emotion when you stand be­fore the casket of Galileo? Who can resist the over­whelming emotion when viewing the mausoleum of Machiavelli? Who can say that he ör she is not view­ing with the eyes of a child the ashes of Dante, who does not shudder upon hearing the name of Colum­bus or even Amerigo Vespucci? But then almost every city and town in Italy has given birth to geni­uses who changed the world. It is through such experiences and emotions that one begins to realize that man is indeed a giant. And I do not mean to minimize the contributions of other nations or the giants of ancient civilizations. To me these colossi of beauty, of science, of progress are the milestones that reassure me that the trend of history is toward higher, nobler grounds. Why do I then soliloquize on the glories of Italy ? I have recently visited the Capitol of Rome. It was my sixth or seventh visit. The residents of today’s Rome call it Piazza del Campidoglio. At the time of the Roman Empire it was called “Caput Mundi”, the “Head of the World”. The whole square with the Museum of the Capi­tol with the Palazzo del Conservatori and the Pa­lazzo Senatori is built on that marble carpet that was designed by Michelangelo, who furthermore designed every window, every column, every stair­way and that magnificent gate that seems to beckon to the whole world. This is where students and masters alike can learn what space means both as an architectural and symbolic masterpiece. This is where one, even the greatest, can learn what proportion means or should be in construction. This square was witness to Ceasar and to all the little ceasars. It saw the fall of a united Italy and its resurgence. The blood of Rienzi flowed on its cold slabs and it also was covered by the flag of Garibal­di. The whole world served as inspiration to Michel­angelo because he couldn’t be bothered by anything less than majestic, anything local, anything irrele­vant. The entire square is like a peak from where you can view the whole world. It is not merely an archi­tectural triumph but the testament of a mental superpower, about the endless possibilities of art. Yet there was a man, an unspeakable monster, a murderous fascist who raised his hand against this inspired béauty and who attempted to destroy or gravely injure it. He placed a bomb in the portal of AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZO “CAPUT MUNDI” the City Hall so that it broke into innumerable smithereens. Every bit of stone has since been re­covered but it is just too horrible to think that there existed on this earth a monster in human form who dared touch this priceless diamond, this common treasure of all mankind. How many people died in world wars? How ma­ny perished in local wars? How many were killed in the name of an idea? How many cities were des­troyed, how many homes, how many hospitals, how many schools were ruined? I stood in France before gothic cathedrals of breathtaking beauty whose horrendous wounds are still visible. Still I believe that there is a basic humanism binding us to­gether. I still want to participate in the laying of the foundation of a better, more human future, even if I know that I personally will not see it emerge in my lifetime. I still believe in every possibility that is beautiful, that is human. I believe in all this. But one thing I do not believe. I do not believe that the worst enemies of mankind against whom we fought World War II have given up their efforts to fight and subdue humanity. It is their vanguard that are besieging in their anger the masterpieces of civilization in so many countries. And I do not have reference only to that madman who almost destroyed Michelangelo’s Pieta or slashed the canvas of Rembrandt’s Night Watch. I tremble when I think of the fact that in Rome, in the San Pietro in Vincoli the statue of Moses is only at arms length from the Pieta! Moses who is not a leader and a legislator, but THE leader and THE legislator. We have reached a point when we have to tremble for the continued safety of the greatest treasures of our civilization. We have already defeated fascism. I fear that their wounded vanity coupled with their insane ideas will make them try once more to exter­minate everything that is human in man. That is the reason that whenever I see or hear the word Peace written qr uttered I feel that I see or hear an ally, one who even if by different ways and means, is try­ing to defend everything that I consider precious. That which has happened in the Capitol of Rome or is happening under the headlines of terrorism in Italy or in other countries should make all decent people join in the defence of common human values. ' The attack against the Caput Mundi is a symbol of a newly forming attack against not merely the head but the heart and life of all mankind. Let us join forces to halt and defeat it. A POEM BY THE POPE Besides being an outstanding theologian and phi­losopher, Pope John Paul II is distinguished by poe­tic ability, too. The following poem titled the Ar­mament Worker has been selected from the book: “Easter Vigil” I cannot influence the fate of the globe. Do I start wars? How can I know whether I’m for or against? No, I don’t sin. It worries me not to have influence, that it is not I who sin. I only turn screws, weld together parts of destruction, never grasping the whole, or the human lot. I could do otherwise (would parts be left out?) contributing then to sanctified toil which no one would blot out in action or belie in speech. Though what I create's all wrong, the world’s evil is none of my doing. But is that enough? TO OUR READERS HERITAGE has just acquired a limited stock of George Lang’s THE CUISINE OF HUNGARY. “Immensely edifying”, Craig Claiborne said of this cookbook, and Gael Green, in New York Ma­gazine commented: “THE CUISINE OF HUNGARY is exactly what a visit to an unexplored kitchen ought to be: history, anthro­pology, sociology, gossip and a cooking primer.” This fascinating cookbook is yours — FREE — if you act NOW! Renew your own subscription to HERITAGE for $ 3.00, and send us a new subscrip­tion at $ 3.00 (for a total of $ 6.00). HERITAGE„130 East 16th Street, New York, New York 10003. Please send me a copy of THE CUISINE OF HUNGARY Name:--------------------------------------------­' Address:----------------------Zip no:---------­I enclose S 6.00 — (check or money order) for my renewal subcripition to HERITAGE — and a new HERITAGE subscription to be sent t0: Name:-------------------------------------------­Address:------------------1--------Zip no: — GABOR GODA: ID

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