The Eighth Tribe, 1979 (6. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1979-08-01 / 8. szám
Page 4 THE EIGHTH TRIBE August, 1979 ETHNICITY: Being What You Are! By Rev. Austin Mahrbacher, Pastor of St. Nicholas Byzantite Catholic Church, Roebling, N.J. The United States Constitution speaks of inalienable rights. That big word, inalienable, means that they are so much a part of us that any kind of existence without them would be slavery. Once again that big word means that these rights are so basic that it is even rather difficult to put one’s finger on what they really are. Ethnicity is the stuff that a Hungarian has that makes him different from another nationality. It is a way of looking at things; it is a way of worshipping God; it is a way of preparing foods; it is an attitude on life. Ethnicity is like our inalienable rights because they are so basic that we take them for granted. You might say that the ethnic background of a fish is water, A fish can live out of water for a while but eventually it dies. What happens when an essential quality of an ethnic background is eliminated? A person lopes his sense of security and approval from the community. It leads to broken homes, divorces, drugs (either librium or speed). It leads to mental breakdowns. Many of the problems that we as Americans are experiencing today result from the destruction of Ethnicity. Psychologists’ offices are full because of the Ethnic Upheaval. Many times we say with bewilderment, “What is the matter with our children? Why do they do the things of which we so disapprove?” Part of that rebellion lies in the loss of the ethnic background in our young people. For example, many parents no longer have the deep religious enthusiasm of their forefathers though they still go to church out of ethnic habit. It is religion without spirit and it is little wonder that it doesn’t appeal to young people. We need to help our young people find their ethnicity because it will give them the security and approval needed for them to grow and develop. If we deprive them of these basic and deep-rooted, generation-old qualities, they will act like fish out of water. They will rebell and that gallant spirit within them will die. They will be frustrated and angry. If parents want the best for their children, they will have to rediscover their own roots and pass these on to their children. Young girls will never get much praise for throwing out a T.Y. dinner but a good loaf of homemade bread will win lots of approval. That good loaf of bread gets community approval when it is baked for a church affair. It is a good quality producing a good product and ends in a feeling of completeness. What are some of the ethnic qualities brought over from Europe which are essential to our ethnic makeup? The following is a check list. Why not check off the qualities found in your family. 1. Hard work is good for us 2. Thriftiness 3. A deep faith in God 4. Regular attendance in church 5. Respect for parents 6. Waste not — want not 7. Creativeness 8. Good cooking 9. Good baking 10. Always looking for a good bargain 11. Pride in home and garden 12. Self-sufficient 13. Good music and dancing 14. Enthusiastic celebration of holidays and holy days 15. Frequently visiting one another 16. Strong blood ties with relative# What destroys an ethnic background? 1. Too much non-home activities 2. Not sharing meals together 3. Not enjoying recreational activities together 5. Not praying together 6. Divorce . 7. Excessive drinking 8. Drugs Religion plays a very important part in any European background. It adds stabilization and gives a quality of life. People help one another not because they can get something out of it but rather they are anchored in a “life after death" aa well as a “here and now.” A strong belief in God makes for a strong community and mountains can be moved. The German Minority in Transylvania compare their present situation under Romanian rule and that of fity years ago. “Through 800 years we were able to keep our German religion, culture and language while we lived under the protection of the Hungarian Crown — now under the Romanian rule we lost evrything in fifty years.”
