Magyar News, 1994. szeptember-1995. augusztus (5. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1995-04-01 / 8. szám

SOMETHING NEW IS COOKING

I was walking from the Fairfield railroad station down towards the Community Theater. As I was passing the restaurant that closed recently, I noticed some activity going on in the building. I was just a bit curious, so I went closer and peeped in through the window. My, was I surprised. There was some disarray, tables and chairs were stacked up. But die place is newly decorated, beautiful pictures are lining the walls depicting Hungarian scenes and people in costumes. This itself was an invitation for me.

I met the owner, the manager and the most important persons who are going to make the food. The food is going to be authentic Hungarian, homemade the oldfashioned way. It will be freshly cooked from fresh ingredients. Dinner will be served every day with the exception of Monday, from five o’clock in the afternoon till half past nine in the evening. They offer a menu from soup to coffee, with a fixed price. Specials and family dinners will be announced later on. In the bar, diners will find Hungarian wines and other drinks.

Naturally I was eaves-dropping and in the process I found out the chefs are from Hungary. Eva came from the Kobanya district in Budapest, and Katica from Nagyvarad, Transylvania.

The Hungarian Restaurant is called Pearl of Budapest and is located on 57 Unquowa Road in the center of Fairfield. You may find reasonable parking as far as downtown areas are considered. If you want more information, feel free to call 259-4777.

I was quite impressed with my visit and I am looking forward to my next visit. Wishing you also: “Jo étvágyát!”

Joseph F. Balogh

THE FIRST/THE FINEST

HOWE

DRIVING SCHOOL

JOYCE HOWE - SPEAKS HUNGARIAN

2318 MAIN STREET STRATFORD, CT 06497 (AT THE FLAG POLE)

375-HOWE

588 MONROE TPKE.

ROUTE 1 1 1 MONROE, CT 06468 261-0500

KOREH-BROKAW

A few years ago Ferenc Koreh was the guest speaker at our March 15 Celebration. His speech emphasized Transylvania, the Hungarians there, also the importance of that territory in the Hungarian history. We knew Koreh, some at least heard about him. Many, who came from Hungary to the United States after the 1956 Revolution, listened to him religiously on Radio Free Europe. They also listened to Dr. Alexander Havadtoy’s regular broadcasts and prayers that were not just uplifting, but they were the voice of hope for the Hungarian people. Koreh and Havadtoy knew each other from their early youth. They came from the same place in Transylvania and they attended the same school. They were good friends.

I wasn’t surprised when I received a call from Dr. Havadtoy telling me that there was going to be a segment on Date Line, channel 4, NBC on Ferenc Koreh. He also said that the station interviewed him, and it was going to be part of the program. Well his interview didn’t get on the air, neither did the one that was recorded in Columbus, Ohio, with the Silbersteins, a Jewish family who were helped by Koreh to escape Naci atrocities.

You might have a question. “What is going on?” Well, back in time, around WW II Ferenc Koreh was editor-in-chief of a newspaper in Transylvania, the Szekely Nep. He was also asked in 1941 by the then Prime Minister Miklós Kallay to go to Budapest and to be the editor of the Tolnai Világlapja. This was a prestigious position and Koreh considered to take it. The publisher had a different idea and kept Koreh’s name on the paper. After a while he replaced it with another person, as it turned out, who was not involved with the editing. A short time later Koreh’s name reappeared as editor without him actually working with the paper. Why was his name so important? Firstof all he was an outstandingjoumalist. Then the family name was respected because many of its members were wellknown to the Hungarian people. Just to mention Koreh the opera singer.

On March 19,1944, Hungary was practically occupied by the Germans. From there on everything became more confusing. Those who experienced it know how bad it was. Those who did not have the experience have to do a great deal of homework even to slightly understand it. There is also an overall picture one has to consider. The geographic position of Hungary happens to put the nation on the super highway of political and religious trends, of warring

countries, generating factions of residues left from historical events. It is influenced by the social structure, the struggle between feudal and capitalistic groups. There are places where one didn’t have to leave his house to live under Hungary, Romanian, Czechoslovakian, Russian and Ukranian rule. This could be very taxing, and it takes the skills of a Hying Volanda to survive. No wonder that the Hungarian males have one of the highest suicide rates in the world. Now imagine under the circumstances how difficult it is to keep establishments and, as a bottom line, the nation intact and to step into the future w ith as little scars as possible. The Prime Ministeraround WW U, Miklós Kallay was known as the leader doing the two-steps. One this way, one the other way trying to take Hungary out of the war. It was a matter of survival.

One could look high and low in vein to find the nice guy during an occupation. To hold an office where opinion and standing had to be declared was not an enviable task. Somebody could have membership in the ruling political party, therefore becoming a representative of the political power. His word and suggestions became commands, even toward those who were higher up and knew better. There was no amendment to lean on for freedom of speech. How far could a head of an institution be responsible for everything, without sacrificing his people, the institution and himself?

Well, Date Line never ventured into the reality of the times. Not into a half century ago, nor into the present, ignoring the fact that every story has two sides. This program was lopsided, one-sided and it was just sided. Is Tom Brokaw responsible for unprofessional journalism to take over his program? Think about it.

After the war, Ferenc Koreh was recruited by the CIA to do the program on Radio Free Europe. The question is: “Did the CIA investigate Koreh?” They found him suitable to do the job. Or is it possible that the CIA didn’t do the job right? Did Date Line look into this? There might be other angles that haven’t been explored.

Neither of us are the court to determine the truth. But doesn’t an 85-year-old man who spent close to four decades serving the United States, out in the open, deserve better consideration? Up to Date, this is where I draw the Line.

Just as a closing remark, the court in Hungary this January found Koreh not guilty of the charges.

Joseph F. Balogh 7