Magyar Hírek, 1986 (39. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1986-11-08 / 22. szám
ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THE PREVIOUS ONE Vintage at Tokaj The cover of this issue shows Tokaj scenes. Scenes of the ancient vine clad hills where—to put it with due modesty—one of the world’s great wines is grown. To tell the truth when I travelled there recently to collect new material for the article it was not the ambience of wine, that seized hold of me, but history, for which this hilly country has offered such a tremendous setting. Just think of the many nations that have lived and worked there over the ages: Celts, Avars, Goths, Gepids all before the landtaking Magyars arrived towards the end of the 9th century. They already found cultivated vineyards—to their pleasant surprise—on the hills of Tokaj-Hegyalja. The vineyards somehow survived the storms of history. The nations passed them to one-another in the turmoil of the Great Migration like some precious heirloom, which must under no circumstanced be dropped. The Hungarians were, of course, already familiar with fermentation before their arrival and carried on in their new homes. Later Walloon and Italian settlers brought new kinds of vines and new technologies of viniculture. The wine kept on improving thanks to the work of successive generations. The people, descendants of many nations, loved their country. Tokaj-Hegyalja was the home of the Rákóczis. That is where the people hid Ferenc II Rákóczi from the Habsburg hounds until he could be off to Poland to unfurl the banner: “Pro Patria et Libertate.” Right through the Rebellion associated with his name the Prince did not forget Tokay Wine. He sent gifts of it to the kings and princes of Europe to win support for the Hungarian cause. That was how it reached the court of the Sun King. It was Louis Quatorze, who ordered that the Aszu of Tokay be called: “King Wines —Wine of Kings”. The people of Tokaj-Hegyalja celebrate the late grape harvest with as colourful a folk-festival as their ancestors used to. The wine pressed from over-ripe grapes is still the same golden, fiery, really “royal” wine of magnificant bouquet as it always was! Another article in this issue recalls the Hangli restaurant which once stood between the Dunacorzo restaurant and the Vigadó, where I also wasted many hours of an illspent youth. It was the haunt of writers and artists, but people of all walks of life were amongst the regulars. It was a favourite gathering place of those beautiful and elegant ladies of Budapest. Watching them added an extra flavour for any real man enjoying his food and drink. Mine host belonged to the Rónay family which was also responsible for the Vigadó beer-cellar and the Café Belváros. They were part of that golden age of catering, which I sincerely hope, is now returning. Egon Rónay, who has since established himself in England as THE arbiter gastronomiae is an offspring of that family. People have acquired the habit of consulting one of the many when they wish to dine out, enjoy a publunch with their beer, or when they are merely hungry while on business in one of the great cities of Europe. Rónay never lets you down. * It may seem odd that I follow the praises of Tokay wine and of an eat ing and drinking place of old with remarks on dipsomania but it so happens that alcoholism was discussed in the Hungarian section of the previous issue of the paper. As all agree moderation and a genuine enjoyment of food and drink is not the problem. Unfortunately surveys Suggest that the consumption of alcoholic beverages can not be called moderate in Hungary. Although there are no more than 50,000 registered alcoholics receiving medical treatment here, the number of those who imbibe a daily dose of the equivalent of 20 cl pure alcohol in one form or another, is around 200,000, plus a further 300,000 whose daily intake is the equivalent of between 15 and 20 cl. The spread of alcoholism is made clear also by other medical data: the rising numbers of deaths caused by cirrhosis of the liver, the high proportion of crimes and traffic offences committed in a state of inebriation and a considerable proportion of absenteeism are consequences of reckless drinking. The ultimate root of the high mortality rate in Hungary as well as of the high divorce rate and other adverse social phenomena must also be sought in drinking habits. In the past Hungarians preferred wine, and beer came second. Between the two wars per capita annual wine consumption was 30 liters, and beer consumption 8 liters. The latter increased almost ten fold in the quarter century after 1950. But the most dramatic growth took place in the consumption of distilled beverages. The equivalent pure alcohol consumption was under I liter per head in 1950, but almost 5 liters in 1983, and it is still rising! Alcohol consumption is higher amongst manual workers than amongst clerks, and men drink seven times as much as women. What is the cause of alcoholism in Hungary? Sociologists believe that the stresses due to the rapid and radical changes in society and ways of life, to industrialisation and urbanisation, as well as shortcomings in socialisation, caused alienation and psychological problems, and led to excess drinking. The loosening of family ties and the high divorce rate obviously added to the problem, but this is a case of Catch 22, since alcoholism is one of the principal causes of the disintegration of families. The fight against alcoholism is fought on a broad front in Hungary — from obligatory drying-out treatment to counselling and alcoholics anonymous groups. Let it must be admitted that the results are not satisfactory. Further steps must be thoroughly considered, for experience shows that emergency steps (prince increases, prohibition) do not produce real results. Psychotherapy, prevention, and the improvement of the social climate may — one hopes — help to duce alcoholism. One thing is certain, however, this will be a long and hard process. The dialogue of these who hold a religious faith and Marxists, the subject of a symposium in Budapest in October. Continuation and extension of the dialogue are important because — as Cardinal Paul Poupard put it—“the importance and significance of moral values is at the centre of human thinking and actions in East and West, in North and South”. The Budapest symposium — the Cardinal declared — convened under the aegis of this endeavour, aimed at rekindling the significance of moral issues regardless of ideology in the interests of society, harmony amongst the nations, peace and progress. The addresses given at the symposium by supporters of either side did not for a moment gloss over the fundamental differences of view in respect of certain questions between Catholics and Marxists. But there are many common values as well. As was pointed out by the Roman Catholics: life, peace, solidarity and justice are common values which both sides profess to uphold. As the Vatican representative stressed, the fact that the moral problem is fundamentally important for both sides proved a good starting point at the Budapest talks. In the course of the symposium the participants discussed the Marxist and the Christian attitude to interpersonal relations; the autonomy and responsibility of man according to Marxism and Christianity; the meaning of work according to Marx and Christ; the coexistence and cooperation of Marxists and Christians in society. The other theme of the discussion was given by moral questions, which affect the concrete and everyday life of people and societies. As several Catholic speakers stressed in societies, where man does not feel himself to be exploited, but is acknowledged in his dignity and freedom, the rules that influence social equilibrium are identical because the needs of people are identical, regardless of ideology and social systems. This is a basic truth which everybody can accept —Marxists and Christians alike. ZOLTÁN HALÁSZ Theologians Tamás Nyíri and Cardinal Franz König from Vienna 29
