William Penn Life, 2010 (45. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2010-05-01 / 5. szám
Consider & Discuss Beginning with this issue, I will pose a question (or several) for your own group discussion. Most of the time the question will have something to do with our ethnic background, Magyar. Your answers and deliberations are for your own benefit. There are no correct answers; the intent of each month’s question(s) is to open up dialog and conversation. The subject of these conversations may spur you to research the topic even more. So, consider and discuss... ...Did the April elections in Hungary interest you at all? Did you know who won the big elections? Who were the winners and losers? Are the Communists still part of the political scene? Just a few weeks before the official kickoff of the country-wide headcount, I found out that Question #9 leaves a space to declare you and your family members as a minority. Of course, there were check off boxes for African-American, Hispanic and several Pacific nationalities. Only at the end of Question #9 did a space appear for "Other." During a Census Bureau press conference, a reporter asked what was meant by "other." The reply was, "any person(s) that wants to declare their ancestry, write it in that space." The reporter then returned with a clarification question. He asked: " Why is the 'Other' space, not further explained, and why are not the other nationalities listed like the African-Americans or Hispanics as in earlier segments of the question?" The reply from the bureaucratic spokesperson was: "For the sake of saving money and brevity, we felt that it was not necessary." Our family filled out that question as Hungarian. I hope you did, too. Tibor s Take This was the first time that I ever saw him so weakened. He talked with a frail and strained voice; he almost always seemed tired and in need of assistance to get up and walk. For several weeks we had to drive him wherever he needed to go. His visits to the Cleveland Clinic became a family affair of support. As you readers know, I do a lot of thinking in the middle of the night. On one of those cold, snowy nights in early March, I came to really understand just how easily anyone can turn from a picture of health to unexpected sickness or worse. My mother had an even more serious medical emergency and surgery about two years ago. At that time, I did not have the maturity to see how grim my mom's circumstances actually were. I took it for granted that she would get better. I was into my school, jobs and friends. I considered my Édes Anyám’s health a given. Now, two years later, I know how self-centered and utterly ridiculous my priorities were! As a provider of advice, I leave this message to the many young members of the WPA: I implore each of you to cherish and respect your elders. Listen to them and share their lifetime of experience. It will only make yourself better. Back in November 2009,1 was a candidate for Chester Township trustee. Although I finished far from winning one of the two positions, I did learn a lot about politics. I was one of five candidates. Two of the candidates were closely aligned. The remaining two were politically linked together. As soon as I submitted my paperwork at the Geauga County Board of Elections in early August, I was immediately questioned and looked upon with suspicion by both camps as a cutter for the other. I ran as a truly independent candidate. I feel that I had a legitimate chance to win one of the trustee jobs. Unfortunately, the fall semester of school took new precedence in my life. Looking at politics from my perspective, you need time more than money. Monetary support in small venue politics is nice to have, but in an area with roughly 6,000 registered voters, personal contact would win this type of election, not big financial backing. Will I run for another office again? Sure, but there are several other things I have to accomplish first! I recently learned a valuable lesson about the fragility of life and how quickly circumstances and events can change. My dad had a surgical procedure done in early February. Although he was never close to any serious state, his recovery was impeded by a series of setbacks. Up until this time, my father had never been sick. Even when the family used to go through the usual colds, sniffles, flu, intestinal attacks, and late night visits to the bathroom, he remain unaffected. Éljen a Magyar, Tibor Tibor Check Jr. is a member of Branch 28 Youngstown, Ohio, and a freshman at Cleveland State University. He also serves as host of the “Souvenirs of Hungary’’ weekly radio show broadcast on WKTL-90.7 FM in Struthers, Ohio. William Penn Life 0 May 2010 0 9
