Magyar Hírek, 1985 (38. évfolyam, 2-26. szám)
1985-01-19 / 1-2. szám
ABOUT THIS ISSUE When preparing the first 1985 issue of Hungarian Scene the question that one inevitably asks oneself is: what will the New Year have in store for the world, and for Hungary, within it. One cares about the fortunes of this country whether one lives here, or far away even in distant continents. Professor József Bognár, President of the World Federation of Hungarians set the “reasonable, circumspect, and patient action” in an article published in the Hungarian section against the perils threatening the world, as the only alternative besides “traditional” behaviour in perilous times that is isolation and passivity. He points out that Hungary’s external political activities were consistent with the postulate of reasonable action when it carried out great and successful work in the interest of reducing tension and maintaining the dialogue. Hungary attained international respect with this attitude in every part of the world, which is indicated by the fact that Budapest will be the host of the European Cultural Forum in 1985. The problems of adjustment to changes are also preponderant in the internal politics of Hungary —Professor Bognár continues—, which means that we try to bring our economic activities into harmony with developments taking place in the world economy. “I say harmony—he writes— meaning that the business is not mechanical adjustment, because the best combination of the internal and external factors must be secured in concrete action. In this sense national talents will broaden and not impoverish in the course of adjustment, and this is needed too, for we have to maintain our integrity under new conditions, that is that we cannot realize that on the old basis.” He mentioned the introduction of the further developed system of economic management as paramount among the necessary changes, while substantial changes would also follow parallel with those in educational and cultural matters from the reform of the system of tertiary education to the introduction of micro-electronics into primary and secondary education. “The links that connected us with Hungarians living abroad further strengthened, and spread to new fields in the year we are about to leave behind. We can say without any exaggeration that the majority of the Hungarians living abroad do not only understand us, but also support us within limits ... I also should like to take this occasion to express my thanks for their support in various forms in the name of every Hungarian at home..concluded the President of the World Federation of Hungarians. János Gosztonyi, the General Secretary of the World Federation of Hungarians, also expressed his views on the achievements of the past year, and the aims of the new one in an interview. The past year was characterized by hard work, he said, and not by spectacular campaigns. The summer events of the native language movement, the children’s camps at Lake Balaton, the Sárospatak course for young people, the Debrecen post-graduate course for teachers took place as usual, the third meeting of presidents of Hungarian associations was successful, and the legal aid service, and travel department of the World Federation also worked successfully The activities of the World Federation spread to new fields: a conference was held for the first time for scholars doing research into the Hungarian diaspora, and the visit of retired grandparents to teach Hungarian to their grandchildren born in their adopted countries also proved a successful initiative. As is generally known, pension payments continue to such grandparents over three years of absence from the country. Continuing, János Gosztonyi mentioned that as time went on a “generational change” also took place among Hungarians abroad, “Ever since the Hungarian emigration started”—he said—“migrants have always regarded the preservation of the native language, Hungarian culture and national identity as their aim. This is the task of the native language movement now, and its results indicate that it can justly expect the support of the Hungarian diaspora. At the same time, experience shows that language is not the exclusive means of maintenance of a consciousness of origin. A large proportion of those born in the new countries were conceived by mixed marriages, the language of the new country became their own. therefore we endeavoured to meet their enquiries about the original home of their parents and about Hungarian culture in their own language. This purpose is served also by the English supplement of Magyar Hírek, and the bilingual programmes by performing artists. Hungarian folk-song and folk-dancing already enjoy great popularity among young people who no longer master Hungarian, and that is yet another form of attachment.” During the interview, János Gosztonyi talked about the plans for the new year. The coming year will be the time of the Fifth Native Language Conference, which will be held to coincide with a Folk-art Festival, and to almost coincide with the second meeting of Hungarian scholars working in various libraries all over the world. There will also be a jubilee agricultural exhibition and fair in Budapest, and this provides an occasion for organizing the world meeting of Hungarian agriculturalists. “The conditions are favourable, these events enjoy wide support, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Széchényi Library, the Institute for Adult Education and the World Federation of Hungarians work in harness to obtain the best results. I trust that 1985 will be an important station in the further progress of relations between Hungarians at home, and those beyond the border”—summed up the General Secretary of the World Federation of Hungarians in the interview be gave. One of the features of the Hungarian section of the present issue is international as well as typically Hungarian: it is a compilation of Hungarian humour, a collection of humorous sketches, and Budapest jokes. Some may be familiar to some of the readers, since they might have met them in films or journals of their adopted country, perhaps with other names or settings. Well, that is not surprising, indeed it is one of the characteristic features of the Hungarian (or if you like Budapest) humour. There is something in it that has general appeal, and stands up well to travel. Just how well it copes with that is exemplified by the world success of Hungarian humorists like George Mikes, who lives in Britain or of Ephraim Kishon who made his name in Israel, a representative of the new generation, who chalked up one of the biggest book-successes in Hungary last year with the publication of his volume of humorous sketches in Hungarian. Yet, there is also a less international variety of Hungarian humour: the finely drawn stories of Kálmán Mikszáth, which seized on the weaknesses of 19th century Hungarian society with great irony, or that of the greatest Hungarian humorist, Frigyes Karinthy, whose parodies of literary styles “így írtok ti” (That is how you write) became classic in his lifetime. Some since forgotten writers and poets became “immortals” in the eyes of generations of Hungarian readers precisely because of Karinthy’s parodies. Perhaps we shall attempt the impossible in one of the later issues: to present this almost untranslatable variety of Hungarian humour in English. Let me once again wish all our readers a Happy and Prosperous New Year. ZOLTÄN HALÄSZ Hungarians in America can do much to help improve relations An interview with Mr. Nicolas Salgó the US Ambassador to Hungary Nicolas Salgó was first interviewed last year when he signed the documents that established the Salgó foundation at the Loránd Eötvös University of Sciences. On that occasion he told an interesting story about his career in business and public life. Since then, Mr. Salgó has been appointed US ambassador to Hungary. This time the ambassador received the editor of Magyar Hírek at his Budapest residence. Conversation centred on relations between the US and Hungary, with special attention to the American Hungarians and the complex relationship between them and their native country. At the last census a surprisingly large number of Americans—more then a million and a half— said that they were aware of the Hungarian origin of their family. Do you, Mr Ambassador consider the American Hungarians as a successful ethnic group? Do you think that they enriched American culture by their own? For those wondering about the extent and quality of the contribution of American Hungarians to American culture the Budapest motion picture exhibition, which clearly showed the phenomenal role played by Hungarians in the development and history of the world-famous American film industry and particularly of that of Hollywood was a simple, but convincing example. There was a quip, which—exaggerated as it was—expressed the essence very well: to be successful in the movie business you don't have to be a Hungarian, but it certainly helps. When I went to Washington to work for the Watergate management company, the first manager was a Hungarian. They said it was just a question of time, and everybody there would be Hungarian. This almost came true. Members of all the ethnic groups stick together, and that applies to the Hungarians too. When somebody emigrates, he tries to get the backing of his kith and kin and fellow countrymen. My experience is that the Hungarian group is pretty closed, they stick together and this is one of the secrets of the success of Hungarians. It is also characteristic, though, that the immigrant can consider himself an American right from the moment he sets foot on American soil. I explained once to one of my native-born American friends that my American nationality was more valuable than his, for I wanted to be an American, while he was simply born one. I did not have to give up my Hungarian self either for that. Back home it is no handicap if someone was not born in the USA or does not speak perfect English, since the American nation is made up of immigrants. (The origin of the old, derogatory expression “Hunky” was an aversion to the Austro—Hun-
