Itt-Ott, 1989 (22. évfolyam, 1/110-4/113. szám)

1989 / 1. (110.) szám

with Hungarian cultural solidarity on a global plane and American democratic values and commitments — must now attempt to intercede on their behalf.

The Hungarian Community of Friends is a relatively young organization. It was formed first as a corresponding association in 1967, devoted to the cultural development of its members. It established the ITT-OTT periodical for this purpose, and then evolved into an all-purpose cultural movement with an extensive network of members and organizations the world over. This group was able to draw into its fold many of the 1956- ers, some of the 1945-ers and 1948-ers, as well as some second and third-generation Hungarian-Americans whose ancestors had become American prior to World War I. This sponge-like success of our organization speaks well for it. Its avoidance of political partisanship — on either side of the Atlantic — enables it to bypass the divisive issues which have been the downfall of many emigre groups. Thus it has been able to devote its energies to actual problems, rather than to the symbolic encounters of the kind that gave Don Quixote his sense of purpose.

Of late, these issues have concerned mainly human rights and the environment. However, our organized effort has been a central element in achieving the successes. This is not to say we achieved any of these victories alone, but we were a critical part of the coalition in each instance. Without going back too far in history, let me just mention three examples of what can and what will be done:

1. Denial to Rumania of MFN status (lobby campaign in Congress):

2. Four students in Bloomington have organized a benefit concert for Transylvanian refugees (Oct.30);

3. Global demonstrations against the construction of the

Bős-Nagymaros hydroelectric powerplant system on the Danube (efforts led by Béla Lipták).

What does all this signify? That we can do so much more than ever before! Instead of chasing windmills and symbolic rewards, we can obtain real victories, concrete results! Until the advent of modem technology the permeability of state sovereignty was next to zero — except by armed force. Today, technology makes such penetration possible. Today on both the domestic and the international front, knowhow — skill — and determination enables non-state, non-governmental entities, private groups to have an effect on the course of events to a greater extent than ever before. In fact, international nongovernmental organizations are now almost equal to international governmental organizations as actors in international politics, just as small interest groups have learned to gain victories at the expense of large interest groups in domestic policy making. The implications of this are mind-boggling — and at the same time provide hope to those who have been downtrodden. The great equalizer is technology in combination with the effective organization of skills and knowhow — exerted at the right time and the right place.

The Hungarian-American community need not abandon its great symbols — particularly not the ideals of 1956. However, it now has the capability to do something about them by influencing the actual process of policy making. If I have helped you to realize this one point, I hope it means that you can never be wooed by symbolic payoffs, that you will instead join in the ranks of those who can demonstrate concrete results in the name of those symbols — and that, after all, is the real celebration of our loftiest aspirations, including that cluster of values and ideals which lights our way, the values and ideals ofl956!

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARTICLES RELATED TO HUNGARY AND

HUNGARIAN CULTURE IN THE WORLD & / MAGAZINE

(A Publication of the Washington Times Corporation)

Compiled by

Agnes Huszár Várdy, Robert Morris College

Congdon, Lee: “Aurél Kolnai: In Defense of Christian Europe.” The Worlds, I, vol. 3, no. 9 (September 1988), pp. 631-645.

Congdon, Lee: “Fin de Siede. A new portrait of Budapest argues that diplomatic miscalculations — not internal dissolution — precipitated modern Hungary's national tragedy." The Worlds I, vol. 4, no. 1 (January 1989), pp. 374-380.

Congdon, Lee: “Michael Polányi: An Introduction.” The Worlds I, vol.

2, no. 8 (August 1987), pp. 608-609.

Congdon, Lee: “Michael Polányi and the Treason of the Intellectuals." The World S I, vol. 2, no. 8 (August 1987), pp. 628-637.

Dégh, Linda: “Kakasd Revisited." The World S I, vol.2, no. 8 (August 1987), pp. 163-169.

Gelwick, Richard: “A Philosopher for Our Time." The World S I, vol. 2, no. 8 (August 1987), pp. 638-649. (About Karl Polányi).

Lukács, John: “The Displaced Persons." The World S /, vol. 1, no. 8 (November 1986), pp. 675-682.

Palmer, Mark: “Hungary: A New Opening." (Part of “Special Report — The Freeing of Eastern Europe?"), The Worlds I, vol. 3, no. 8 (August 1987), pp. 23-24.

Scott, William Taussig: “Science: Its Successes, Its Mischiefs, and its Humaneness. A Polányian view." The World S /, vol. 2, no. 8 (August 1987), pp. 610-627.

Sozan, Michael: “Socialism and the Hungarian Village.” The World SI, vol. 1, no. 4 (April 1986), pp. 190-207.

Várdy, Ágnes Huszár: “The Coffeehouses of Vienna.” The World S I, vol. 2, no. 10 (October 1987), pp. 492-505.

Várdy, Ágnes Huszár and Steven Béla Várdy: "Peasant Wit in Magyar Folk Tales.” The World and I, vol. 2, no. 3 (June 1987), pp. 520- 531.

Várdy, Steven Béla: “Magyars in America.” The World & I, vol. 2, no. 3 (March 1987), pp. 462-477.

Várdy, Steven Béla: “The Mystery of the Hungarian Talent." The World S I, vol. 2, no. 4 (April 1987), pp. 498-513.

Várdy, Steven Béla and Agnes Huszár Várdy: “A Nation's Sacred Destiny." (Part One) “Heroic Legends of the Huns and the Magyars." The World S I, vol. 3, no. 7 (July 1988), pp. 493-502.

Várdy, Steven Béla and Agnes Huszár Vardy: “A Nation’s Sacred Destiny." (Part Two) “Legends of Magyar Heroes after the Conquest of the Lands that Became Hungary." The World S I, vol. 3, no. 8 (August 1988), pp. 524-533.

Volgyes, Ivan: “The Twilight Zone of Kádár’s Hungary." The World S I, vol. 2, no. 2 (February 1987), pp. 657-675.

Volgyes, Ivan: “Waiting for Godot: Eastern Europe between Stagnation and Reform.” The World & I, vol. 3, no. 8 (August 1988), pp. 659-679.

[Olvasóink figyelmébe ajánljuk a fenti népszerű, magyar témájú cikkeket, melyek a World & I c., gyönyörűen illusztrált havi folyóiratban jelentek meg. A folyóiratot minden nagyobb könyvtárban meg lehet nézni, s a Dalton és Walden nevű könyvesboltokban meg lehet vásárolni. Régebbi számokat a kiadóhivataltól lehet megrendelni. Címe: The World & I, 2850 New York Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002. Telefon: (202) 635- 4000.

18 ITT-OTT 22. évf. (1989), 1. (110.) szám