Amerikai Magyar Hírlap, 2006 (18. évfolyam, 1-50. szám)
2006-03-17 / 12. szám
AMERICAN Hungarian Journal Vilain or Saint: John Profumo Dead at 91 John Profumo, who was at the centre of one of the UKs most famous political scandals, has died at the age of 91. John Profumo’s public life was dramatically split into two parts: disgrace and redemption. Nearly 40 years after he misled the House of Commons and helped bring down the Macmillan government, the former politician was a dedicated charity worker, for whom his friend Lord Longford “felt more admiration than all the men I’ve known in my lifetime”. May 21, 1963 was the date of Mr. Profumo’s own journey on the road to Damascus. That was the day the then Secretary for War addressed the House of Commons and stressed there had been no impropriety in his relations with a woman called Christine Keeler. Unfortunate liaison In fact, Mr Profumo had met Miss Keeler two years previously at Cliveden, the home of Lord Astor, and embarked on an affair. A government minister compromised by a love scandal was nothing unprecedented, and has happened since, but this liaison proved particularly ill-judged. Christine Keeler was a high class call girl who, under the auspices of her social-climbing Svengali Stephen Ward, had infiltrated some of the higher echelons of London society. Unfortunately for Mr Profumo, one of her acquaintances was the Soviet military attache, Eugene Ivanov. Wife’s loyalty Although an investigation later established that fiercely patriotic John Profumo had never surrendered national secrets in his conversations with Keeler, their liaison provided a heady media cocktail of sex and security, and Mr Profumo’s government days were numbered. He explained that he had misled the House to protect his family. In fact, when he confessed his infidelity to his wife, actress Valerie Hobson, during a trip to Venice, she made it clear where her loyalty lay. They would return to London, she said, to face the music together. Mr Profumo’s fall from grace over one shameful episode was described by Harold Macmillan as “a great tragedy”, for this was a man whose skills could have taken him to the top of the Conservative Party. Kept regrets to himself Graced with an Italian ancestry, a family fortune and the title of Baron which he never used, John Profumo, known to all his friends as Jack, was educated at Harrow and Oxford. In 1940. aged 25, he entered the Commons after winning a by-election at Kettering and becoming the youngest member of the House. It was a tumultuous time and, following the Anglo-French withdrawal from Narvik, Profumo - an Army officer - was among a number of Conservative MPs to vote against prime minister Neville Chamberlain, in a move which paved the way for Winston Churchill to enter Downing Street. Profumo enjoyed a “good war”, rising to the rank of brigadier, but lost Kettering in the Labour election landslide of 1945. Having re-entered the Commons in 1950 as member for Stratford-on-Avon in 1950, he held a series of ministerial posts, most notably Minister for Foreign Affairs. Then, in July 1960, he was made Secretary of State for War. But if he had regrets about his curtailed career, after May 1963, Mr Profumo kept them to himself. Instead, he dedicated his energies to helping the poor and disadvantaged in London’s East End. Within days of his political decline, he turned up at the refuge centre Toynbee Hall and asked to help with the washing up. “One of our national heroes” He stayed for nearly 40 years, used his still intact political skills to raise huge funds, and expanded DUNA Travel 8530 Holloway Dr. #102 W. Hollywood, CA 90069 SPECIÁLIS ÁR LAX-BUD-LAX $439.+TX.I Információért hívják ZSUZSÁT TEL: (310) 652-5294 FAX: (310) 652-5287 1-888-532-0168 Március 17, 2006 the charity’s activities to include social programmes and youth training. His wife, too, gave her time to helping others, working until her death in 1998 for the leprosy charity Lepra. In 1975, John Profumo received a CBE for his services to charity. And 20 years later, Margaret Thatcher, who called him “one of our national heroes”, invited him to her 70th birthday dinner, and seated him next to the Queen. To the residents of Toynbee Hall, he was “a saint” His rehabilitation was complete. Lady Thatcher said then: “It’s time to forget the Keeler business. His has been a very good life.” The 1989 film Scandal and later Keeler’s autobiography kept the Profumo affair alive in the public imagination. However, for four decades after his downfall, the beleaguered protagonist always maintained a dignified silence. He always judged his own actions harshly, but by his friends, peers and society, John Profumo had been long since forgiven. (Source: BBC News) Berlusconi to Face Corruption Trial Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the husband of a UK minister could face trial in Italy, following a request from prosecutors. A judge has been asked to indict Mr. Berlusconi and lawyer David Mills on corruption charges, say reports. It is alleged Mr. Mills - who is married to UK Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell - was paid a bribe by Mr. Berlusconi after giving helpful testimony in two trials. Both men deny the allegations, which come weeks before Italian elections. In a second blow, Mr. Berlusconi lost a member of his cabinet when Health Minister Francesco Storace announced his resignation on Friday. Mr. Storace has been accused of spying on opponents during a local election last year. He denied any wrongdoing and says he wants to clear his name. Investigating magistrates from Milan are said to have rejected moves by Mr. Berlusconi’s lawyers that would have delayed demands for a trial until after the 9 April general election. “One can only conclude that they want to interfere with the election campaign,” Mr. Berlusconi’s lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini, told Corriere della Sera. Cleopatra Paris 01 Reflections On Susan Dobay's Exhibit In Florida The Artist is Susan Dobay; the event is the recent exhibition of some of her paintings in Florida. Sincere thanks, Susan, for letting me view these works of art in my living room, with the help of the great invention of our modern technology: the internet. It gave me great pleasure to view these visual images that convey emotions, situations, reveal sometimes the soul of a city or of nature and certainly of man. Like, for example, the Lake Vouliagmeni #2 painting where the trees lineup as if bragging, showing off their colors, as if ready to group for a dance. There is rhythm in this pictorial animation. There is happiness. There is life. Then, the depiction of “Provence Seguret” which has a very unique, a suggestive quality. The most prominent objects on this painting are the two houses. Are they alive? They sure are! There is a smaller house a modest dwelling, almost shy with a much larger building next to it. The gate of the large building is wide open (like a big mouth) as pouring out a torrent of gossips to a gossip-hungry listening world, which includes the smaller house. What drama! What dialogue! What atmospheric effect created by the spontaneous strokes of the brush. Vibrant lines and sensitive colors dominate other paintings depicting certain city-scenes between San Francisco and Budapest. The violinist in Paris, for example renders an almost audible interpretation of the player’s solitude and sorrow. Or we can share in the joy, in the happy laughter of the young girl facing the viewer on a busy street of Budapest. The carefree happiness of youth shines at us. Scene-structures, the presentation of objects (like the lovingly designed “Flowers”) in other words, theme, color and line coordination bear witness to the artist’s success in rendering meaning, mood and mystery through her craftsmanship and creativity... All in all, the viewing of the exhibited paintings offers a significant aesthetic experience. They speak to the heart and to the soul of the viewer. And isn’t that the very essence of art? By Anna Winslow About the Artist Hungarian by birth, Susan Dobay currently resides in Monrovia, California. After studying graphic arts both in Hungary and the U.S. she served as an illustrator for advertising agencies, magazines and newspapers. Wanting to explore more creative options, Susan Dobay moved from commercial to fine art, and in 1968 she was invited to join and exhibit with the Aliance of Hungarian Artists both in the United States and abroad. In Los Angeles, Dobay helped found the Arany Janos Hungarian Literary and Cultural Circle, since her work has been exhibited world wide in museums, galleries and public buildings. Dobay’s art is represented in collections in London, Switzerland, Hungary, Canada, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. She is mentioned in: 1988, Hungarian Painters and Graphic Artists, 1989, California Art Reviewl997, International Women Artists 1999, Contemporary Hungarian Lexicon, 2001, Who is Who in America Artist’s Statement: Although I derive inspiration from various sources, e.g., music, nature, the human condition, I try to find the balance between mind and spirit. My goal is to involve viewers in a creative game where both the mind and the heart are stimulated. Susan Dobay’s pictures can be viewed on the website: www.wallartweb.com Susan Dobay: San Francisco
