Amerikai Magyar Szó, 2004. július-december (58-102. évfolyam, 160-183. szám)
2004-09-17 / 171. szám
22 MAGYAR SZÓ —A HÍD____ WWW.CHACR.ORG__________ 2004. SZEPTEMBER 17. Action Item cf the Month And now introducing our "Action Item of the Month" section! As you know, CHACR is a grassroots organization. This means that our actions on Capitol Hill are heavily backed by constituent participation. You can help us represent your interests on the Hill in many ways: you may volunteer your time or donate money, among other things. You may also chose to write your representative concerning current issues that are most pressing to Hungarian Americans. This new "Action Item of the Month" section is our way of helping you do just that. Different issues will be addressed each month, so please keep an eye out for it. Writing to your representative is an integral part in the lobbying process, without which we would not be successful in representing your interests. All it takes is a few minutes of your time; we'll even lead you through the process! See, it's that easy. We look forward to your participation-and remember-every letter counts! 1. Please copy the letter below by hand (that's the most effective), and make changes to reflect your own style 2. Send letter to the CHACR lobby office at 316 F Street N.E., Suite #201 Washington, D.C. 20002 3. We will look up your congressman based on your zip code and send your letter to his office 4. We will send you a confirmation that you took part in the grassroots action! Thank you for helping! “Dear Representative, I am writing to urge you to sign on to a letter concerning the unjust taking of property from the only ethnic Hungarian college in Ukraine. As a Hungarian American, I feel very strongly about defending ethnic Hungarians. The Transcarpathian Hungarian Teachers College is the only ethnic Hungarian institution of higher learning in Ukraine, and it is pivotal for the survival of the Hungarian community there. Please help send a message to the government of Ukraine that such violations of rights are unacceptable. Please join other members of Congress and sign on to the letter. I learned of this incident from the Center for Hungarian American Congressional Relations. If you would like further information regarding this issue, please call CHACR at (202) 544-1842. Thank you for your support in this matter. Sincerely, “signature” I Commemoration of the Hungarian Holocaust REMEMBERING THE HEROES On July 20, the Center for Hungarian American Congressional Relations (CHACR) organized a commemoration of toe 60th Anniversary of the Hungarian Holocaust at the Senate Russel Building on Capitol Hill. The event focused on the heroic acts of Raoul Wallenberg, Karl Lutz, Tibor Baranski, and the several hundred Hungarian Righteous Gentiles, who were instrumental in saving tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews’ lives. This was the first commemoration ceremony of those Hungarians who saved lives during the Holocaust. In 1944, the deportation of Hungarian Jews to Nazi death camps began. At the time, 825,000 Jews lived in Hungary. Between May and July alone, nearly half a million Jews were deported to Auschwitz most of whom were killed. The event began with remarks by the Ranking Member of the International Relations Committee, Congressman Tom Lantos, who continued as Master of Ceremonies along with his wife Annette. Kati Marton, journalist and author of the book Wallenberg, spoke on the life of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Hungarian Jews. Ambassador of Switzerland Christian Blickenstorfer spoke about the live of Karl Lutz, the Swiss diplomat who also saved thousands of Hungarian Jews. Nándor Forgach spoke about his grandfather, the Righteous Gentile Tibor Baranski. Dr. Gabor Szekeres, a survivor of the Holocaust, spoke of the numerous Hungarian citizens who played a role in saving his own life. There were also presentations by Ambassador András Simonyi of Hungary, Director Sara J. Bloomfield of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Rabbi Arthur Schneier of the Park East Synagogue of New York City, and Tomicah Tillemann, author of “That We May Save a Nation: Rescue, Resistance, and Anti- Fascism in World War II Hungary.” Sándor Nagy, President of CHACR, provided the closing remarks and stated that “this event is a pledge of a new generation of Hungarians to follow in the footsteps of the Righteous Gentiles.” Embassador of Hungary András Simonyi Ambassador of Switzerland Christian Blickenstorfer, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Sándor Nagy pr. of CHACR, Anette Lantos, Tomicah Tillemann, Gábor Szekeres, Nándor Forgách Kati Marton, journalist, author of the book “Wallenberg” Ambassador András Simonyi of Hungary Rabbi Arthur Schneier of the Park East Synagogue of New York City
