Magyar Hírek, 1985 (38. évfolyam, 2-26. szám)

1985-01-19 / 1-2. szám

garian Monarchy, but this prejudice disappeared a long time ago.)

Hungarian participation in American life created countless things of value in business and cultural life, in the sciences. In spite of being a small nation, Hungarians had disproportionaliy many brains to offer. Perhaps the geopolitical situation of the country was responsible for that.

This region was always “draughty'’, stormy; people needed twice the strength oj others Living m sheltered regions to stay on their feet.

This is a very telling notion. I may add that Hungarian birtn is more fashionable in America now, tnan it was thirty years ago. A nostalgia, looking back, has taken snape, people look for their roots. It is important for people to belong somewnere. Religious thinking has also livened up the world over; the Hungarian leadership correctly recognized this, it established excellent relations with the Churches.

Hungarian Calvinist ministers in America could feel but little incentive to emphasise their Hungarianness in the conditions of Hungary in the fifties. The situation is different with Hungary in the eighties. The Lutheran World Congress in Budapest, for instance, provided a very different background to people professing their Hungarianness,

Hungarian politics in the past twenty eight years give the country an attractive aura. Everyone works here in a planned way, continuously, and increasingly more intensively for the aim of satisfying the natural needs of people. This country is attractive and interesting now. To be a Hungarian in America is different and better now, than ever before.

How does the multi-cultural policy of the American administration assert itself among American Hungarians? We ask this also because the native language movement organized and run by Hungarian and foreign educationalists, and the World Federation of Hungarians provide much help in learning the native language. What is your opinion, Mr. Ambassador about this Hungarian drive, about the development perspectives of cooperation?

I should like you to modify the question, since there is no central government organization or institution in the field of education in America. The local communities, foundations and schools implement the multicultural principle. The ethnic groups are not minorities, and this goes for the Hungarians as well. There is a basic concept that the cultural heritage is an asset. It is moral, economic and intellectual asset, and when it is preserved for generations it is the pride of the group. The English language is the basis. Without it one cannot make it either in business or in social life. But if is right, to want to preserve the Hungarian language and this must be supported. Those with Hungarian roots should know Hungarian. This is also in the American interest. Mastery of a language qualifies people to negotiate in diplomacy, intellectual contacts, or business. This is one more reason to welcome the activity of the World Federation of Hungarians in the preservation and development of the Hungarian language and of Hungarian culture. It would be even better if that could be run on the level of local relations, say, between Szeged and Cleveland, or between universities. Both countries would benefit if children could mutually spend one or two years attending schools of the other country without losing a year, coordinating examination requirements. This cannot be a political movement, but the idea is well known and popular in America, and there are extensive institutions for its implementation.

When I visited the World Federation of Hungarians, the General Secretary mentioned that retired grandparents go out to teach the language their grandchildren, and that this initiative was surprisingly successful. The concepts are right, only the right partners, foundations, or private organizations have to be spotted. Those one million seven hundred thousand people conscious and proud of the Hungarian origin of their parents or grandparents may provide a good starling point.

The meeting of American Hungarian businessmen a few years ago, or the participation of American Hungarian doctors at the Budapest doctors' meeting last year were mutually fruitful. Following these, meetings of agriculturalist and librarians will be held next year. The subject of these conferences is the contribution of Hungarian scientists, artists, professionals of various disciplines to the enrichment of the common cultural wealth of mankind. Do you approve this intention, Mr. Ambassador, and if you do would you personally support it?

It is an indispensable necessity in today’s world to let scholars and scientists of various disciplines meet as often as possible, crossing the frontiers. This is mutually beneficial, for it enables them to pinpoint their own position relative to others, to exchange experiences. And it is particularly beneficial to a small country, because it may improve domestic standards and contribute to world progress establishing personal contact with the best of the world. Therefore this drive is right and worthy of support.

Some interesting papers were published in the United States about the history of American Hungarians related to particular towns and cities. The subject was also discussed recently at a meeting of Hungarian—American scholars in Budapest. The World Federation of Hungarians, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and the. National Széchényi Library organized the conference of scholars of the Hungarian diaspora which was attended also by American scholars and Churchmen. Do you, Mr. Ambassador see a possibility of coordinating American and Hungarian research, bearing in mind for instance that the preliminaries of the great Hungarian wave of migration were in Hungary?

Yes, there is a possibility for cooperation, but I must emphasise that mainly on an institutional and individual basis. The best way may be cooperation between universities. The opportunities offered by foundations must be exploited, scholars interested in the subject must be found, who are interested in participation in the common task.

Do you think that American Hungarians maintaining an awareness of their Hungarian origin can fill a positive role in strengthening relations between the United Stales and Hungary?

Hungarians in America are already doing this. I should like to mention the return of the Holy Crown. I do not know how much the readers of

your paper know about the circumstances of the final moves, that took place in the time of President Carter. At a summit meeting of the Western Powers Madame Barre, wife of then Prime Minister of France met the President at a reception, and in the course of their conversation she enquired why America did not give back the Crown to the Hungarian nation. President Carter showed surprise: on what basis was she urging that. “I am of Hungarian birth, Mr President”—was the answer. When he returned home, Carter listened to outstanding leaders of the Hungarian ethnic group, to executives of Hungarian institutions, and when their majority recommended the return of the Crown, the favourable decision was born. I was not amongst those asked, for I never held office in Hungarian communities, but I am convinced that the decision was right, and I am sincerely sorry that there is no business of even remotely as great importance now in the carrying out of which I could help as ambassador to further improve relations between the two nations.

Are there no more questions? Then I should like to mention one of my pet subjects. Hungary really has a chance to play a leading role in the field of international education. Switzerland, for instance, is a long-recognized centre, but costs are prohibitive there today. Why could not Hungary develop into one of the world centres? The country has sound traditions, talented people, an attractive openness. If these were common knowledge among average American families, even the remaining aversion would be dispelled in Hungarians who still , cast suspecting glances at Hungary. This would be beneficial to the country economically as well as intellectually.

I hear how popular Hungarian medical education has become even with foreigners. Should courses be given in English, and should medical degrees become accepted, if it were made possible to invite outstanding American or other foreign scientists to teach a course or two these universities would become important w<^rld scientific centres.

Thank you for the conversation.

MIKLÓS SZÁNTÓ

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