Amerikai Magyar Hírlap, 2001 (13. évfolyam, 2-43. szám)
2001-02-02 / 5. szám
AMERICAN Hungarian Journal MEDITATIONS by Dr. Bela Bonis Pastor (562) 430-0876 First Hungarian Reformed Church, Hawthorne The family in a sense is a funny istitution. We make much of being related to each other, of sharing common ancestors, common history, common DNA. We speak of fierce loyalties with phrases like "Blood is thicker than water." What’s curious is that in a culture in which having choices is viewed as a God-given right, we have such strong ties to people we do not choose. Who our mother is, who our brother is, who our great-gandfather is - these relationships are out of our control and our choosing. They are simply God’s gifts to us. We accept this as a part of life that gives us both pain and pleasure. The Christian community is often called the family of faith. We call ourselves brothers and sisters in Christ. We understand ourselves bound together in a mystical way, not by blood, but by water - the water of baptism. Just like biological families, we do not choose one another. Anyone who is baptized is automatically in the family, and we are expected to act as family toward them. This means we love them (yes, even if we don’t particularly like them), we practice hospitality, speak words of forgiveness, perform acts of kindness and mercy. The apostle Paul was the first to suggest that the gift of baptism be extended to those outside the family of Israel. This adoption by baptism allowed the family circle to stretch beyond the blood and covenant of the Jews. As Paul writes to the churches in Galatia, he tells them an advice how to be a functional family: So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we shall reap at harvesttime if we do not give up. We can almost feel Paul’s arm around our shoulders, giving us a squeeze, and his pastoral words of encourangement. Don’t grow tired of it all and for goodness’ sake, don’t give up. What makes us weariest, he teaches us, is not that we are different, but that we act as if our way of functioning in the body of the church is the best way. This causes family fights like nothing else. We do right when we understand our differences as gifts of God and not devices of the devil We do right when we publicly acknowledge that left to ourselves we can do nothing right We do right when we keep Christ in the center. All this is hard work. We crave the instant gratification of Christian consensus. When you are weary and ready to give up, think of the times when you glimpsed the kingdom of God and the presence of Him who is Emmannuel. «oca caaso Happy Birthday Ronnie! by Su4&*i/Jcwici<r One of the most popular U.S. presidents of all time (only fourth after Washington, Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt) Ronald Reagan will celebrate his 90th birthday this February 6th. The insidious disease has already fully engulfed his mind and body, robbing him of his consciousness, his feelings and memories, as well as causing bodily harm such as the recent fracture, resulting from a fall, that landed him in the hospital. And yet, those who knew him, who ever met him, if only for a few moments, or heard him only in the televised speeches and ceremonies, anyone who ever heard his electrifying speeches radiating secure optimism, unbridled faith in the future of America and its leadership role in the world, as well as a strong stand against the powers of evil - anyone whose life he ever touched, will remember him as he was at the apex of his career and that of the history of the United States. During his presidency, we were proud to be American citizens, and it was easy to believe that "the best is yet to come!" There are great actors who secured their place in the eternal Hall of Fame by unforgettable performances on the stage or the silver screen. Ronald Reagan may not have been as great an actor as some of his contemporaries, but his presidency was "the role of a lifetime". His life itself, and the way it shaped our world, was the work of art designed to last and shine through the ages. My husband and I are among the lucky ones who had a chance to meet and speak with Ronald Reagan during his candidacy, and then his presidency. At a time when we had just arrived to this great country as refugees from Hungary, we actively participated in the campaigning and fund-raising with our friends Alex and Ella Stiglitz, and with other ethnic activists who had a significant role in getting Reagan elected. On one occasion, we watched him taste and heard him praise Elluska’s homemade stuffed cabbage. With the Stiglitz’s, Dr. Frank de Balogh, Ilona Reksz and others, we were there in Washington, D.C. at both Reagan inaugurations, and these memories remain forever cherished. George W. Bush may be "the fastest dancer in the West" (so labeled because of the extremely short time he spent at each of the Inaugural Balls) but Ronald Reagan was certainly the most elegant, with Nancy at his side, radiant in her much-discussed $10,000. Galanos gown. Reagan took his time to shake hands with most invited guests, and he had a kind word for everyone. Only then did he put his arms around Nancy and lead her in a beautiful dance around the floor... No one ever looked more "presidential", even though "Ronnie" was 70 years old when he first moved into the White House. Patti, Paul Grilley, Nancy, Ronald Reagan, Doria, and Ron Reagan at Christmas, 1983 Most memorable from these, our first years in the United States was the feeling of elation that this, indeed, is a free country, where everyone can participate in the political life if they so desire, no matter where they came from, and immigrants are not regarded "second-rate citizens". I shall never forget Reagan’s first New Year’s address - what a difference from the dogmatic, flat and uninspired speeches of our communist officials... When we listened to Ronald Reagan, it was such a relief to feel that he understood the Soviet mentality and realized they had no idea what "fair play" was. You had to deal with them with an iron hand! During his presidency, it was a pride and joy to be American... At his 90th birthday, we send our love and heartfelt good wishes to the former president who has long secured his prominent place in the history of this great country. It is not as a frail and sick old man that he will be remembered, but as the formidable figure who stood at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and sent this powerful message to Gorbachov: "Mr. President, open this gate! Mr. President, tear down this wall!" ***************** * * * * Russia's Ivanov Ducks Wallenberg Issue in Hungary BUDAPEST - Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov dodged questions about the fate of Raul Wallenberg on the day Sweden said its diplomat seized by Soviet troops in 1945 in Budapest may still be alive. "Why here?" was all Ivanov said to a reporter when asked at a news conference to comment on Wallenberg, whose disappearance was thrown into the spotlight once again by a report released in Stockholm. The fate of Wallenberg, who saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews by issuing them false passports and affording them protection of the neutral Swedish flag, has been a mystery since he was arrested by Soviet occupation forces. But based on the results of 10 years of Swedish-Russian investigations, Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson said there was no clear evidence that Wallenberg was dead, and his government would try harder to find out what happened to him. The Soviet and Russian authorities have said he died in Moscow's notorious Lubyanka prison in July 1947. But there have been persistent reports that he was alive in a Soviet camp or psychiatric hospital, perhaps as late as 1989. If alive today, he would be 87. There was no indication that Wallenberg figured in talks in Budapest at this time between Ivanov and Hungarian Foreign Minister János Martonyi. But Martonyi said the talks would continue and he did not rule out other issues being raised. There are several statues and memorials to Wallenberg in Budapest, but Ivanov's public schedule called only for a visit to a Hungarian-Soviet war memorial. Hungarian Grand Prix Chief Resigns BUDAPEST- Hungarian Grand Prix chief Ferenc Studniczky resigned on Thursday, Hungarian television said. The chairman and chief executive officer of the company which runs the race quit after the board of Hungaroring Sport Rt, in which the Hungarian government holds a majority interest, refused to accept his accounts for last year and his business plan for 2001. A Youth and Sports Ministry official said the row hinged on planned developments to make better use of the track. Vice-chairman Attila Gaal was asked to head the company until its annual meeting in February. A grand prix has been held at the circuit since 1986. The current contract ends in 2006. There are several statues and memorials to Wallenberg in Budapest, but Ivanov's public schedule called only for a visit to a Hungarian-Soviet war memorial. ❖ S) <* S) ❖ <9 ❖ S) ❖ <9 ❖ <9 ❖ S) ❖ <9 ❖ <9 ❖ S) ❖ S) ❖ S) ❖ 6 Major Earthquakes of the 20th Century (AP) ♦ Jan. 26, 2001; India; magnitude 7.9; at least 2,500 killed. Estimates put death toll as high as 13,000. ♦ Sept 21,1999; Taiwan; magnitude 7.6; 2,400 killed. ♦ Aug. 17,1999; Western Turkey; magnitude 7.4; 17,000 killed. ♦ Jan. 25,1999; Western Colombia; magnitude 6; 1,171 killed. ♦ Feb. 4,1998; Northeast Afghanistan; magnitude 6.1; 5,000 killed. ♦ May 10,1997; Northern Iran; magnitude 7.1; 1,500 killed. ♦ Jan. 17,1995; Kobe, Japan; magnitude 7.2; more than 6,000 killed. ♦ June 21,1990; Northwest Iran; magnitude 7.3 to 7.7; 50,000 killed. ♦ Dec 7,1988; Northwest Armenia; magnitude 6.9; 25,000 killed. ♦ Sept 19,1985; Central Mexico; magnitude 8.1; 9,500 killed. ♦ Sept 16,1978; Northeast Iran; magnitude 7.7; 25,000 killed. ♦ July 28,1976; Tangshan, China; magnitude 7.8 to 8.2; 240,000 killed. ♦ Feb. 4,1976; Guatemala; magnitude 7.5; 22,778 killed. ♦ Dec 26, 1939; Erancan province, Turkey; magnitude 7.9; 33,000 killed. ♦ Jan. 24,1939; Chilian, Chile; magnitude 8.3; 28,000 killed. ♦ Sept 1, 1923; Tokyo-Yokohama, Japan; magnitude 8.3; 200,000 killed. ♦ Dec 16,1920; Gansu, China; magnitude 8.6; 100,000 killed. ♦ Aug. 16,1906; Valparaiso, Chile; magnitude 8.6; 20,000 killed. ♦ April 18, 1906; San Francisco, United States; magnitude 7.7; 3,000 people killed in quake and fire. 2001. február 2 AMERIKAI tfagyar qirlap a
