Hungarian Heritage Review, 1986 (15. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1986-02-01 / 2. szám
4 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW FEBRUARY 1986 n- by -FERENC F. SAJGÓ PARIS, FRANCE — As their personal contribution towards the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the death of Prince Ferenc Rákóczi II (1985), Professor László Mester de Parajd, a member of the National Academy of Sciences of France, and a group of Hungarian academics on the faculties of various French universities and colleges, have organized and launched a search for the place where the heart of the great Hungarian Freedom Fighter is buried. So far, they have succeeded in pinpointing the grounds of the Camaldules Monastery at Gros-Bois, where Prince Rákóczi once lived while in French exile and to which religious order he had bequeathed his heart in his Last Will and Testament. They have already discovered a memorial plaque and are continuing the search. The Hungarian Heritage Review has been promised a detailed report on the findings of this unusual expedition and, when received, intends to publish it. ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - The Hungarian community of Switzerland is up in arms. It seems that they found out that, in the textbooks on history being used in Swiss and other European classrooms, Hungarians are referred to as “gypsies” — and much worse. Outraged, the Hungarians living in Switzerland have filed protests against such nonsense with the proper authorities and are demanding immediate corrective action. It will be interesting to see what happens next in this new battle for “Justice for Hungary” and for the Hungarian people, who have contributed so much to the development of Western Civilization. TORONTO, CANADA - During the 150th anniversary celebration of the founding of the City of Toronto, a Hungarian was awarded the “Award of Merit”. Sándor Kertész, the founder and director of the Hungarian Art Theatre of Toronto, was the recipient. It is interesting to note that, when he and his family applied for a Canadian visa in November of 1956, he was asked by the Canadian Consul how he intended to make a living in Canada — “as an actor?”. To this question, Kertesz responded: “Many thousands of Hungarians have emigrated to Canada recently and I believe there will be a demand for a Hungarian theatre there.” “That is a good idea,” said the Canadian Consul and issued the visas. Two years later, Sándor Kertesz founded the Hungarian Art Theatre of Toronto. At the Sixth Multicultural Theatre Festival, his production won the “Best Performance Award”. Whoever that Canadian Consul was, who approved the Kertesz family’s visas, deserves an award, too! NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA — The Queen of England's birthday is always the occasion for the awarding of titles and medals for meritorious services either to the United Kingdom or to the British Commonwealth of Nations. It is not often that a Hungarian gets on the “Queen’s List”, but Her Royal Majesty’s recent birthday was different. As the official representative of Queen Elizabeth, Sir James Rowland, the Governor of New South Wales, awarded the “Order of Australia Medal” to Dr. István V. Jani in recognition of his outstanding contributions towards the improvement of Australian society in general and the Hungarian community of Australia in particular. WASHINGTON, D.C. - At its Annual Meeting held recently at the Old Executive Office Building here, the American Hungarian Federation elected a new Board of Directors and Officers. The new administration of the AHF consists of the Bishop Tibor Dömötör, President; Imre Beke, Executive Vice-President; Dr. Elemer Bakó, László Bojtos, Rev. Dr. John Butosi, Rev. Árpád György, Dr. Ignác Kazella; Rev. Mate Kiss; and the Rev. Dr. Zoltán Szucs, Vice-Presidents; Akos Nagy, Treasurer; Aron Bode, Michael Juhasz, Eva Kazella, and Joseph Bonis, Directors. During the dinner held at the Rayburn Office Building after the business meeting, a tele-gram from President Reagan was read and warmly received. BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - The Hungarian Cultural Association of Indiana University recently announced its program of activities for the first half of the new academic year. Among them, is the publishing of the first issue of its official journal — “Indiana University Hungarian Studies”. The journal features student papers on all aspects of Hungarian history, including Kossuth, Széchényi, and other Hungarian notables. Each issue will be available for $7.00. For more information, contact Elizabeth L. Winship, President, Hungarian Cultural Association, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405. SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - Thanks to the intervention of Idaho senators James McClure and Steven Symms, as well as the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Air Force rushed a 12-year-old, paralyzed girl from Budapest to Spokane for treatment at the Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children. Young Trina Tian, whose father is a Hungarian and whose mother, Rose Davison, is an American Indian of the Coeur d’ Alene Tribe of Idaho, was accompanied by her Godmother, Mrs. Janos Tesek. For the first time in more than eight years, mother and daughter were reunited. When her parents were divorced, young Trina moved with her father to Hungary, where she eventually became the victim of a rare disease Hungarian doctors could not cope with. Some of the cost of her expensive treatment here is being covered by “nickel-and-dime” donations from members of various American Indian Tribes, who are in financial need themselves. COLUMBUS, OHIO — The Hungarian Partridge is causing such a ripple in Ohio that even the Columbus Dispatch felt compelled to warn its readers of dire consequences if anyone dared to wrap up this —continued next page
