Itt-Ott, 1974 (7. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1974 / 4. szám
7) As a special goal, the Union would strive to ha.ve the U.S. Congress establish a National Ethnic Heritage Foundation in 1976 in recognition of the ethnics' contribution to the building of America, The purpose of such a foundation would include the preservation of ethnic cultures through support of their press, writers, artists, and youth programs in the spirit of cultural integration -- but not assimilation. 8) An "Ethnic Congress" to be held in Cleveland (Detroit, Chicago) would lay down the foundations of such a Union, Obviously, the realization of such a plan cannot take place overnight. The leading ethnic organizations, our churches and the ethnic press must be won over to promote the awakening of the nationality groups. Our editors should recognize that the ever shrinking ethnic press itself would be one of the main beneficiaries of the reversal of assimilation. Perhaps above all we ought to impress upon our families and our youth that no lesser American is the person who speaks a second language than someone who speaks only English. Instead of casting our ancient heritage into the melting pot, we can best serve this country and ourselves by enriching the fabric of American folklore with colors of our cultural heritage. We also must cling tenaciously to our time-proven traditions. The strongest among these is our traditional loyalty to God, country and family, for these form the moral foundation of every nation. Once torn away from eternal values, a nation begins to drift toward nihilism where nothing is sacred anymore. Therefore, it is with increasing alarm that we witness the spreading demoralization of America that threatens especially young people, the depository of our nation's future. America's youth has become the victim of a catastrophic educational system which devalues respect for authority, undermines discipline, creates disrespect for our armed forces, plays down patriotic tradition, and exiles religion and prayer from public schools — thereby drying up the fountainheads of true ideals and noble emotions. Young people are striving for idealss if true values are withheld from them and traditional idols are torn down, they can be led astray easily by the pied pipers of rock, narcotics, sex and nihilism. The many millions of American ethnics are anxious to help reverse this dangerous trend. When a nation is losing its_bearings, the only way to regain true direction is to raise our sights and rediscover the guiding stars America used to be steered by. If someone quotes Decatur to uss "My country, right or wrong," we shall point to the famous riposte of the greatest ethnic, Carl Schurz s My country — right or wrong; If right — keep it right, If wrong — set it right. 30
