Magyar Herald, 1988 (1-4. szám)
1988 / 4. szám
4th QUARTER, 1988 Mi |M QUARTERLY NEWS LETTER OF PfíWfj ifi THE MAGYAR CLUB OF CLEVELAND MAGYAR HERALD “PERPETUATING HUNGARIAN CULTURE SINCE 1924” ^ FERENC LISZT My Country! — English translation — It was a chance-event, that suddenly awakened my inner feeling, which I tought was dead, but — in fact — it was only asleep. In Venice one morning I read an article about the horrible masstragedy in Budapest in a German News-paper. It went to the core of my heart. I felt tremendous sympathy for my unfortunate countrymen and the desire to help the victims of the disaster in Hungary sprung up in my heart. What can I do for them? — / asked myself. What kind of a help could I give them? Since I am in no posession of anything that makes one powerful among human beings. I have no influence, given by wealth; I have no power, given by political might. No matter — though — I said to myself: go and do something! I deeply felt that my heart cannot rest and my eyes cannot close for a sleep, unless I bring my pennies to soothe the colossal need of my countrymen. Who knows: maybe that hand that multiplied the loaves on the hill-side still is at work and will bless the amount of my meager contribution. Maybe God will place more power into the pennies of the artist, than into all the gold of a millionair. Such emotions and such blaze of feelings made me discover the meaning of the word: country. Marvellous vision awakened before the eyes of my spiritual being; the sight of the well-known woods, echoing with the hunters’ voices; a glimpse of the Duna-river, rushing through the cluster of rocks; the view of the puszta, where mild herds of lambs are grazing on the grass; my Hungary, the strong and aboundant Land, where children grow up in noble heritage; — in short — my own native Nation. Then thus I exclaimed with my zeal of patriotism, which might make some laugh: 7 myself indeed am part of this ancient and strong race’, T myself also am son of this aboriginal, untamable tribe’, whose country seemingly is still in the palm of God’s hand for better days to come. P.S. — From a letter written in German by Ferenc Liszt to Lambert Massarth in the year of 1832. It was published in Hungarian in the former issue of Magyar Herald, challenging our talented members of the Magyar Club to translate it into English. Receiving none, challenger himself had to meet his own challenge in the present quarterly publication. TRADITION OR TRADITIONALISM For us, magyars and descents of magyars especially within the family of our Magyar Club, it is imperative to preserve the native language as long as possible; but above all to preserve the Magyar traditions even after the tounge is gone in the irresistable amalgamation of our chosen Land. There are still many among us, who will do their utmost to maintain and protect the first; there are some, who will do nothing; — ‘horribile dictu’ — even some, who will hinder and obstruct the use of the ‘mother-tounge’. The same goes for the second. Mostly because they confuse Tradition with Traditionalism in these — indeed — ‘dangerous ages, when there are lions in the cages.’ There is a fine distinction between the two. Tradition is loyal adherence to the noble convictions and good deeds of our forefathers. (Shakespeare said: “Every thing adheres together”) Traditionalism on the other hand is mimicking the same in a lifeless mood. Loyalty to Tradition is preserving the precious heritage of the Past in the Present for the Future from generation to generation. Two great lessons are presented to us in our Liszt’s immortal letter printed in English as a first on this page. One: to be proud of being a Magyar, language and tradition included; two: to help fellow-magyars in need wherever, the unfortunate Magyar refugees from Transylvania at the present. Recently on a trip to Hungary eighty of us, Cleveland magyars, attended a Sunday service in the great church of Debrecen. In that service among seven babies to be baptized, one was the child of a young magyar couple thrown out from their own home in Erdély by the Romanians. We were just as deeply touched in Debrecen as Liszt was one-hundred and fifty-six years ago in Venice. To all of us on that impressive journey, using the poet’s phrase: “Visszasereglett ami tovatűnt”, “Reverberated in our minds and hearts all that was by-gone”. A new and royal oath of loyalty to our Magyar Traditions was born in us there on that day!
