Itt-Ott, 1974 (7. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1974 / 4. szám
All these fears are well understood by those millions of ethnics who live in the nation's major cities under similar conditions. However, they do not understand why municipal, state, or the federal governments fail to show similar concern for their plight. Why they do not distribute funds with equal generosity for the "community action programs" of Poles, Ukrainians, Germans, Hungarians, Slovaks, Serbs, Croats, etc. In contrast, countless millions (often wasted) flow for programs benefiting Blacks and Puerto Ricans. What the white ethnics fear and resent is the creeping "Manhattanization" of their cities all over the country. Let another little footnote illustrate this one-sided generosity! in November of this year, Yale University proudly announced that it will use $500,000 to collect and publish the works of 19th century Negro author, Frederick Douglas (not exactly a household word in America). No mistake — half a million dollars'« This sum was put at Yale's disposal by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Historical Publications Commission. The question begs for an answers If a single black author is worth this much to America, where is a proportionate magnanimity to support the preservation of v/hite ethnic cultures in this country? Perhaps a third footnote is in order. In the current issue of the Hungarian Nemzetőr, private donations are being solicited on behalf of the Center for Immigration Studies at Minnesota University, lest these studies be terminated for lack of funds .... But let us not be unfair! it is a fact that before the 1972 elections, both Houses of Congress did pass the Schweikert-Pucinski sponsored Ethnic Heritage Studies Centers Act, which could be utilized to aid such studies. Regrettably, it took almost two years after its pa.ssage to allocate any funds because of a lack of appropriations. It seems that once the elections were over, the whole idea was relegated to the cellar. According to the latest reports, even now ethnic groups v/ill get little, if anything, directly, because the funds will be channeled to a few influential universities. With v/hat results? Let us pray for a miracle. V/hite Ethnics in a Political No-Man's Land It is a.n old truth that the wheel which squeaks the loudest gets oiled most often. Here in America, likewise, it is the most vocal minorities that get the most attention. We Central and East European ethnics must admit that we have been too modest, or too proud to shout out our problems to the world. Until now, we have not even learned how to vote en bloc to make our weight felt. Indeed, very often we voted against each other, according to party affiliation. This may be the main reason why we have received little historical recognition and have been left out in the cold as the political stepchildren of America. We have in the past played the Cinderella role, receiving only crumbs during post-election appointment time. Few ethnics, if any, can be found in policy-making positions in the upper echelons of government, diplomacy, the military or in the higher courts. Our delegations are listened to with polite condescension. Rarely are their words heeded. This basic situation has not been changed much even by the latest efforts of the Republican Party, which kicked off a grand campaign to organize American ethnics along Republican lines. Due to the brilliant organizational talent of our compatriot, Mr. László Pásztor, these efforts paid off handsomely during the 1972 elections. 27
