Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1990. január-június (44. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1990-03-22 / 12. szám
Thursday, March 22. 1990. 11. AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZO nmÉBiiflíi HuncflRiflns Bertalan Stiller HUNGARY- PROBLEMS OF TRANSITSION The excellent editorial by Zoltán Deák will be borne by the Hungarian people, entitled "Vigyázz Magyarorszag" (Be careful Hungary!) and the article by Iván Szelényi leads me to take pen in hand to put down my own concerns about the future of Hungary. My wife and I spent last August travelling by car in Hungary, as we have done on many other occasions since 1970. We found that the exciting political events taking place in Budapest were not being very closely followed in rural communities. In fact, concerns were being expressed about the possible loss of social gains that had been achieved under 40 years of socialism, such as universal education, free medical care, pre-school child care and extensive housing construction in villages. Since the majority of Hungary's population is still rural, these concerns will have an interesting impact on multi-party elections in the near future. And could it be that freedom of speech, freedom to travel, freedom of the press and multi-party politics are more urban needs, whereas the more fundamental human rights such as the right to health care, employment, literacy and housing mean more to rural populations? If so, then is it possible to evolve a citizen-controlled socialist system that would provide for the different needs and desires of both rural, and urban populations? The suppression of intellectual rights, as has been the case in all socialist countries without exception, is not a necessary or theoretically-required part of socialism. It is primarily an expression of paranoia on the part of dictatorial leaders who do not trust the citizens of their countries to recognize the positive gains being made by profit-free economic systems. The agricultural success of the Hungarians is unparalleld in perhaps all of Europe. Not only do they feed themselves very well, but they export agricultural and meat products all over the world. However, a centrally-controlled economic system has certainly not produced an economically-viable industrial economy, but controlled by worker- appointed managers. These elected managers should receive intensive training in market- oriented management techniques because there is no reason to believe that Hungarians are less able to manage than capitalist managers are. It is a matter of training them in the manager-responsible techniques that are as successful in the West. To attempt to improve the industrial sector in Hungary by selling off factories to capitalist enterprises, just to bring in good management, is not in the best interests of the Hungarian people. Especially is this true when managing control is surrendered through the sale of entire factories and the sale of controlling interests, such as in Tungsram to G.E. (and at far-undervalued prices). In addition, obviously the capitalist purchasers will be taking profits out of Hungary. Where then will the Hungarian government funds come from to pay for social benefits to the many workers who will be laid off by the new imported managers in the interest of efficiency? These costs the majority of whom are not involved in the industrial sector, or else these social benefits will be cut back and/or eliminated. Hungary was the first East European country to take down "walls" between itself and the West. It was also the first to grant unrestricted-travel passports to its citizens. Yet, so few Hungarians have fled from Hungary that the Western press, always on the alert for anti-communist "news", has never even mentioned these numbers. Might we conclude that life in Hungary is more than tolerable, and that Hungarians realize that fleeing their homeland to be able to buy useless consumer goods, is not worth the risk of being at the mercy of for-profit capitalist employers? In closing, I would like to ask if these issues are being raised in the political discussions now under way in Hungary, or is the euphoria over freedom of political expression preventing political parties from thinking about where they might be taking Hungary? EGER HEALTH RESORT The latest medicinal holiday home of SZOT was opened recently in the historic town of Eger, in North Hungary. Treatment is provided with thermal water of 36 degrees Centrigrade and various therapeutic means mainly for patients suffering from locomotor disorders, arthritis, spinal complaints, and chronic inflammations. However, the holiday home with accommodation for 332 adults and, mt the summer vacation for the same number of children, also offers pleasant recreation, rest and entertainment. LINGVATÉKA is Hungarian Language course in HUNGARY from July 15th to Aug 4th, from Aug. 5th to 25th 90 hours of intensive teaching for beginners, and advenced students. Price, including room and board, cultural programs excursions, sportprograms, U.S $ 1.290.For morq information write to: LINGVATÉKA KFT, 1118 Budaoest Nagyszalonta u 2. Hungary Phone:(36) 1-186-1740 CARNATIONS & CHILDREN With the one year anniversary of the 7th December Armenian earthquake now past, Red Cross, Red Crescent correspondent Jo Fox reports on a Hungarian Red Cross project that brought help to children . Similar projects have been sponsored by the Czechoslovakian and Soviet Red Cross Societies. "When these children left Armenia, none of them smiled. Just look at them now, its quite remarkable"- , Rezső Sztuchlik of the Hungarian Red Cross surveys the happy laughing faces around him. We are on a flight from Budapest to Yerevan. The children are on their way home, having just spent one month in Hungary as part of a Holiday Recreation Program which was set up last April by the Hungarian Red Cross to help the young victims traumatised by the earthquake. Each month over 100 children, accompanied by teachers and doctors from Armenia, took part in the Program. Through sightseeing and meeeting Hungarian children, the youngsters have been able to put behind them the unimaginable horrors of last December. "These children have special problems" explains Eszter Légrády a volunteer with the Hungarian Red Cross, who has been involved with the project. " There were many cases of bedwetting, and fear of high buildings. One day several planes flew over the dormitories and many of the children ran out, terrified that the earth was moving again. But the amazing thing has been to see how these fears begin to fade away during the month. The scars left by this terrible experience will obviously take years to heal, but we hope that this break will have quickened that process." Movsepion Hiepseme, a pretty 12 year old girl from the city of Spitak, the town at the epicentre of the earthquake, was in her classroom listening to her teacher when the walls caved in. "Then there was silence. I crawled out through a small hole with my friend and ran to the factory where my father worked. It wasn't there any more." Her father had been killed and she was devastated. But now she is laughingly pulled up to the front to receive a prize for best singer. When she returns to her seat she speaks happily about the new Hungarian friends she will write to when she gets home.'They like singing too. I learned some of their songs." When the plane lands, the children rush through customs to be reunited with their families outside. And what a reunion. Not only family but relations and friends, a whole village, with armfuls of red and white carnations. There are tears and hugs. Says one old man holding his grandson: "You have brought our childen home smiling. God bless you." Jo Fox GIVE THIS PAGE TO A FRIEND!
