Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1988. január-június (42. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)

1988-02-11 / 6. szám

Thursday, Feb. 11. 1988.

AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZO

11

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To the Editor Hungary’s Image Abroad

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The English page welcomes all

letters and asks that in view of our

limited space you keep them short. * I

______________________________B. K.

Dear Editor:

I occasionally get to read the English page of the Magyar Szo and find it generally interesting and worthwhile.

However, I must take exception to your article on Hungarian gypsies which appeared in the January 14 issue. I feel compelled to level some criticism - not for the effort but for the manner in which the topic is dealt with.

I was really shocked to read the author's characterization, in the next-to~last paragraph, of the Hungarian government as "Budapest's present communist rulers...", and the earlier quoting of a Miklós Haraszti, "a leading Hungarian dissident." Perhaps I should be more shocked at the fact that the editor(s) printed this article.

Is this the way in which a working class newspaper, a partisan of socialist Hungary, should describe the Hungarian workers' state? Do the readers of the Magyar Szo have to be subjected to this enemy-type language? This type of language emanates from the U.S. State Department, the CIA, and the reactionary press. It is a counter-revolutionary description and has no place in the Magyar Szo.

And who is this "dissident" and why is he quoted? What is his expertise? What are his credentials? Why quote him? Does it add legitimacy to the article?

Gypsies in socialist states present an especially complicated situation, as history has shown. While the article attempts to deal with some of these, it does not do the subject justice. Certainly this topic can be examined in our press in a more constructive manner, citing legitimate experts and sources. It would certainly be interesting to learn how Lakatos, his "association", the Peoples' Patriotic Front, and other Hungarian organizations are working to solve these real problems, rather than reading the slander of so-called dissidents and unidentified "critics."

All-in-all, the January 14 article is a hodge-podge of some honest questions, half-truths, unsubstantiated opinions, an unabashed slander. We can continue to rely on the "establishment" media for this type of information. The Magyar Szo need not chime in.

I hope to see an apology to the readers for this presentation.

Ted Reich

CORRESPONDENCE

An article in the January 14th issue of our English page drew fire from one of our readers. Titled "Hungarian Gypsies" it featured an account of their status in Hungary.

Ted Reich contends that the phrase "Budapest's communist rulers" is incompatible language with the style of the Magyar Szo. Further that to quote Miklós Haraszti "a leading Hungarian dissident" is also out of place.

We reviewed the article and agree that

Hungary's reputation has grown in the 1970s and 80s. Its policies are known and recognized for being consistent, frank and continually open to reform. Generally its economic activities and the process of democratization both in state administration and society have received general approval.

A favorable assessment has been given to its efforts to strengthen ties with the socialist countries, to promote East-West relations, and to

contribute to the-------------------—

detente process. Janos Barabas

The shift, however, in the state of international relations has considerably changed the way in which the world ought to be informed about Hungary.

Shaping the- country's image abroad was the subject of our talk with Janos Barabas, department head at the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party Central Committee.

HUNGARIAN PORCEIAIN

In Hungary Chinaware was first made at the beginning of the 19th century, and in the 1830s the mass production of faience and earthenware began. Among the early pieces can be found works made in Chinese style, as well as those bearing the characteristic of Hungarian folk art.

In the beginning the world-famous Her- end China Factory applied the forms and patterns used in Meissen, Sevres, Capodi- monte and Vienna. At the Zsolnay Factory, another world-famous china factory still operating in the southern Hungarian town of Pecs, the method of putting porcelain glaze on faience objects was first applied in the second half of the 19th century. Hungarian pottery was enriched by the work of the Habans who fled to Hungary from Switzerland in the 16 th century. Their potters beautifully combined Hungarian motifs with those of their native land.

if we were writing it (we didn't) we would not use the phrase "Budapest's communist rulers". That to quote a dissident depends on what he says. (Does anyone reject the contributions of Andrei Shakarov?) The quotation said in effect that if the Gypsies get their own institution with real power, they could be stronger than any trade union. Without agreeing or disagreeing it is something that could be discussed. We thought the automatic rejection of ideas because we don't approve of the source is something from the past.

The major tone of the article is that the Hungarian government is dealing with the issue of the Gypsies in a constructive way.

The Editor of the English page

Sometimes, however, an extreme picture of Hungary is painted abroad. Hungary's achievements are overexaggerated by some people in such a way as to cause friction between us and our friends.

Recently it has become accepted that the socialist countries are not the same. Their development is varied, and it is futile to try to become uniform. I do not think it is wrong of journalists to show to be different what is actually different. But we utterly reject any attempt to cause friction between us and our allies. It is worth nothing that, as a result of the momentous changes taking place in the Soviet Union, there have recently been attempts to cause friction aimed specifically at Hungary, by saying: "What has happened to the famous Hungarian reform?" I consider this a totally unrealistic attempt to stir up trouble. I would, however, like to emphasize that we hold in high regard most of the journalists who come to Hungary, in fact, they play an unquestionably important role in forming a fair image of this country abroad. (from Hungarian Digest)

R. Bányász, Government Spokesman:

Hungarian tourists will continue to receive hard currency if tourism produces it. Last year 20 percent more Hungarian citizens traveled to Western countries than in 1985. According to information received from the National Tourist Office, this year a 6 percent increase in convertible-currency earnings from tourism is anticipated while expenditure is expected to rise by 4 percent. Last year, convertible currency income from tourism amounted to $364 million, as against $217 million in 1980. Expenditure, including the convertible currency granted for tourist travel, visits to relatives, traffic by people living on either side of a 25 kilometer border zone, and the costs of car fuel, came to $165 million as compared to 86.6 million in 1980. In six years the number of people traveling to Western countries has doubled, while the convertible currency costs per traveler have remained more or less unchanged.

TO MY COUNTRYMEN IN AMERICA By Endre Ady

My countrymen, you whom your common curse Has taken from us and has rent afar Perhaps too often in your thoughts we are.

Ah, nathless, Magyar life is overwhelmed,

And from the deluge they alone emerge Whom distant shores from present peril urge.

You far-off Magyars, how I envy you!

At home already all by us is lost;

You, happy folk, are far from ruin tossed.

Hard Currency for Hungarian Tourists Traveling

to Western Countries