Magyar News, 1991. szeptember-1992. augusztus (2. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1992-01-01 / 5. szám
CURRENT STATE OF OUR HUNGARIAN CULTURE , Continued from page 1) cultural events. Most of them have changed their names, married foreign persons, and assimilated into the American way of life. They don’t wish to speak Hungarian, and if they go to Hungary as visitors, they speak English - which is an open demonstration against their own cultural heritage. The fourth group is represented by those who filtered into the country over the last 30 years. A conservative estimate is about 5000. They are the product of pure atheistic Hungary or the post 56 generation, who don’t know the farmers, the DP’s and the 56-ers. When they confront either of these groups, that is their habits, vocabulary, behavioral patterns, and thinking process, they fell so alien that they tend to flee in horror. They vow never to associate with Hungarian again. Hungarian cultural activities or expressions over the last 80 years have been observed in all Hungarian communities in North America. They were church dinners, stage plays, formal dances, celebration of March 15 and October 23, literary circles, Hungarian Christmas, cork books and Hungarian days. There are many organizations with one purpose in mind, to perpetuate the Hungarian flavor, identity and culture. As impressive as the list and varied cultural expressions may be, few will realize that they have been kept alive by the first two groups of Hungarians! Also, these functions could be carried out because there was a church and in some cases a cultural center. These Hungarians were truly Hungarians in heart and soul. Some of them didn’t even learn English properly and only felt at ease among Hungarians. They only took from the American way of life that which was essential for survival. The ministers and the priests have gladly sided with them because they received much support and cooperation for any Hungarian activity. Today, however, we have a very different situation. We can only summarize the last 30 years and each statement will tell a revealing story. The churches where the cultural activities took place show the following conditions: 1. Many churches have closed because the original builders and members have died and no new Hungarians were brought in. 2. Many churches are struggling and are on the verge of closing because they have less than 100 members. 3. The DP’s were already middle-aged when they came and they had their own cultural expressions. 4. Many of the 56-ers and the Hungarians of the last 30 years do not associate with the present Hungarian communities which are still clustering around the church. Although to their credit, some intellectuals do lead and participate in Hungarian cultural activities. 5. The second and third generation Hungarians are American by birth and cultural conditioning, and they will not feel at home with Hungarian cultural behaviors. 6. Our major Hungarian holidays, March 15, and October 23, have always been poorly attended. 7. Our large churches (only a handful left), had the vision to transfer into and American congregation in order to live on and save the Hungarian built churches not necessarily with the understanding to nurture the Hungarian culture. CULTURAL ATTEMPTS OF THE 70’s AND 80’s At this point we need to say a few words of the so-called cultural activities of the last two decades. What we saw was that some church leaders had the tendency of collaborating with the Hungarian government to sponsor choirs, and theater groups, who performed in key Hungarian communities, both in Canada and the U.S. Also, they worked with the Magyarok V ilagszovetsege to promote our language. We are not sure as yet, what the overall purpose was, to seek a cooperative effort with the Hungarian government, but one thing is certain: the cultural objectives were not achieved. The majority of the Hungarians did not support these programs because they viewed this as a Communist effort to influence and exploit the western Hungarians. It is safe to say that the following serious mistakes have been committed by the leaders of the Hungarian communities. 1. They did not make an effort to accommodate the second and third generation Hungarians in the churches and cultural centers. 2. They chose to work with the communist regime of Hungary for cultural direction. 3. They did not reach out to the newly arrived Hungarians. 4. They did not present a plan to bridge the cultural and ideological differences between the four diverse groups. Today the same leaders, who are very old now, who have been involved in that illfated “cultural” direction of the last 25 years, are now telling us that the Hungarians here have lost their (cultural and ethnic) identity and we need an extensive campaign to recover it. There is no doubt that the Hungarian communities and our church leaders are facing a severe identity crisis. The churches, which have been the center of cultural activities have a hard time to do it because they have to think of survival, and paying large utility bills to keep the buildings open. The weekly offerings of the church members help but not enough to keep our churches open. And this is a fact. There is no need to panic, however, because there is much we can still do to keep our identity alive. Let me offer three solutions: 1. Each church should have a heritage room which is continually updated. Here in Bridgeport, of the five churches of the Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church has one. The United Church of Christ has just voted to go ahead with the creation of a heritage room of their own. 2. There should be an annual heritage day supported by all five Hungarian churches. 3. The perpetuation of the Hungarian heritage should be the responsibility of the family unit The church can only provide the guidance, wisdom, and the facility. It is very reassuring to know that within a 3 mile radius we have five magnificent Hungarian institutions. These churches have been built and maintained by Hungarian vision, sacrifice, and a unique Hungarian flavor. Every year at leastone church should produce a program which reminds everyone in the community that the Hungarian spirit is alive and well. We also have Hungarian organizations locally, the AHHA, the MHB K, Pannónia and the Magyar News which seek to unify the Hungarian community. They are all active and they make an effort to support each other’s activities. In a major crisis or in a triumphant moment the Hungarians rally in an impressive number. For example, when the Russian troops left Hungary after 45 years of suppression there were only two commemorative celebrations in North America. The largest and the most enthusiastic celebration took place here in Bridgeport. I know we can do more. With a little effort and the cooperation of all leaders and willing hearts, our proud heritage can live on. SCHOLARS AMONG THE HUNGARIANS B y the generosity of our Hungarian community and the hard work of the members of A.H.H. A., the American Hungarian Heritage Association gave out two $1,000.00 scholarships this December 15 attheCalvin Hall in Fairfield. It was difficult work for the Mary Katona Scholarship Committee to sort through all the excellent applicants. Personal inquiries came from local areas all the way to East Lyme, Danbury and New York. We wish there was more money to go around. The two applicants who were awarded the scholarship are Karina Racz from Norwalk, and Heather Leigh Kovács from Derby. The academic achievement for both students is the highest one could imagine. Members of the committee, educators themselves, were repeating on-and-on that they have never seen such a perfect academic achievement. The awards were presented at a Tea- Party in the recipients’ honor. As Betty Johnson, committee chairman said,these Hungarian students are true scholars.
