Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1955. január-június (4. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1955-03-31 / 13. szám
March 31, 1955 AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZÓ 2SL THE LEGACY OF MARCH 15 On tiie Ides of March the Hungarian people celebrate one of the most glorious anniversaries of their history: the people’s revolution of March 15, 1848. March 15, is a red-letter day of national and revolutionary - traditions. It was on that day in 1848 that at the signal of an inspiring declamation by Sándor Petőfi, the poet and hero, the revolution was launched for the overthrowing of Habsburg despotism; and led by the poets and statesmen at that time—the Hungarian people wiped out censorship, took over the press, and released Mihály Táncsics, the worker-peasant leader, together with other political prisoners from the “Hungarian Bastille’’ in Buda. The March people’s revolution compelled the Hapbsburg tyrant to appoint the first independent constitutional national Government of Hungary. Under the pressure of the people’s revolution, the estates emancipated the serfs, thereby opening a breach in the centuries-old feudal rule of the aristocracy and the large estate owners. The despotic Hapsburgs, however, only wanted to gain time to suppress one by one the liberation movements which had broken out in their empire. The “Holy Alliance” joined forces to defeat the French and Austrian, the Hungarian and Italian peoples’ revolutions. And while reaction held sway all over Europe, the Hungarian nation, led by Lajos Kossuth, took up arms against the powerful “Holy Alliance.” The young Ibsen, Herzen, Chernyshevsky and Victor Hugo, all the greatest progressive-minden men of Europe cheered the Hungarian struggle for freedom. Its flame could not be extinguished even though its arms were shattered by reaction. During the dark days of Hapsburg domination and Horthy-fascism the Hungarian people drew strength from the glorious memories of 1848—49, which were an inexhaustible source of national consciousness. The greatest Hungarian poets, Ady and Attila József, fired the Hungarian people with the example of the people’s revolution of March and the War of Independence, and the champions of progress inscribed on their banner Petőfi’s motto: “With the people through fire and water!” The people’s revolution of March 15 had a tremendous impetus and profound content because the most distinguished Hungarians of the time were fused with the people in the fire of the revolution. The might of the people lent wings to the poets and artists. It was on the eve of the revolution that Hungarian actors first performed in the National Theatre the uncensored version of “Bank ban”, by József Katona, the greatest Hungarian dramatist. This great national drama is still given a gala performance every March 15th in the Budapest National Theatre. The results of the constructive labor since liberation on April 4, 1945, are a splendid background to the March 15 celebrations. The Hungarian people are making a reality of Kossuth’s dream of the industralizdtion of the country. Millions of one-time dispossessed peasants are tilling their own land. New irrigation works and thousands of modern machines are transforming the Great Plains, the formerly barren stretches of the Hortobágy, into fertile land. The onetime alkaline and unproductive regions are being transformed into the “golden sea of wheat” of which Petőfi sang, through the freed labor of the working people. The treasures of culture are becoming accessible to all in a country where the peoples are masters. To use the words of a great Hungarian of the middle 19th century, István Széchenyi, there are more and more “cultivated human brains” in town and countryside alike. Just as in the War of Independence of 1848— 49 the best sons and daughters of the Hungarian people were inspired by the awareness that they were not only fighting for their homeland, but also playing an important role in the struggle for the freedom of the European peoples—the foremost Austrian, French, Italian and Polish fighters for freedom fought alongside them—so today every patriot is spurred on by the realization that liberated Hungary which is building Socialism has taken its place in the vanguard of progress. "The Hungarian people will never forget lessons of March I-5,>T848V Today, too," the' Sándor Petőfi Hungarian people's profound love of freedom inspires them to solidarity with the aspirations for freedom of other peoples. That is why the Hungarian people today oppose all policies aimed at war or coquest. That is why the condemn the criminal attempts to revive German militarism, for in their history they had been most frequently attacked by it. The most beautiful legacy and lesson of March 15 is that the advancement of the Hungarian people—and of all peoples—is linked with the progress of mankind by two indivisible bonds: the love of peace and the love of freedom. On The Tenth Anniversary of the Liberation of Hungary No one can be a true patriot of his own country unless he feels deep respect for all other peoples, unless he respects the independence, the traditions, the culture, of other peoples. Thus, the so-called American “patriot” who looks down his nose at the way of life of other peoples is a chauvinist, not a true patriot, and will be found to hold sections of his own people in contempt. True national feeling must always involve the strongest bonds of international brotherhood. For this reason, as one who loves his own land, I supported the liberation of Cjiina from the rule of the imperialist puppet, Chang Kai-Shek. For the same reason I regard it to be a victory for universal freedom whenever any colonial people, such as the people of India, achieve their independence. For this reason also the liberation of the Hungarian people from Fascism—both domestic and foreign—was an event that gladdened my heart. On this tenth anniversary of that liberation, I consider it an honor to greet the people of the new Hungary. I greet your peaceful labor of reconstruction, I rejoice in your changing, progressive society, I support the right of your people to follow the path of socialism. J wish you peace and prosperity. Albert Malt/. “FEEDOM IS A REALITY” “Freedom of religion is á living reality”, said the Rev. C. F. Harman, President of the British- Hungarian Friendship Society, at a press conference given in Budapest at the end of two- week tour of Hungary. “I regard it as a duty on returning to my country to refute the erroneous views spread about the position of the Churches beyond the ‘Iron Curtain’ and to help eliminate the ignorance which is unfortunately characteristic not only of England, but of broad strata in other Western countries as Well. “I was particularly impressed in Hungary by th'e affectionate''concern for infants and children, and the aihieVbments'In the care of disabled old people aitd in bringing down the infant mortality LOOKING AT SPORTS Detroit and Budapest have both put in their bids for the 1960 Olympic Games. Offhand, it seems that Budapest would be better equipped to handle the situation, for its People’s Stadium seats around 100,000, and is ideal for all sorts of track and field, as well as soccer. Briggs Stadium, a baseball park that seats around 56,000, is the best Detroit can do. Can it be that Detroit would use the University of Michigan’s Stadium, at Ann Arbor, which is about 30 miles from Detroit? That, too, is fine for track and field, and its seating capacity is somwhere up in the Budapest People’s Stadium’s class. ★ Wilt Chamberlain, the sensational 18 year old 7-foot Negro basketballer from Philadelphia’s Overbrook High School, is so good that he has been besieged by offers from the Harlem Globetrotters and National Basketball Association clubs (one reportedly offered him $12,000 for a season), and well over 100 colleges have tried to “recruit” him with “athletic scholarships” and other monetary inducements. So far, Wilt, who will be graduated this June, has looked over all the offers, but has accepted none. Take your lime, and choose the best. Wilt! / ★ Don’t look now,, but these awfully overworked athletes of the National Basketball Association may organize a union. Chief spokesman for the newly-formecl NBA Players Committee is Bob Cousy, the Boston Celtics’ wizard. Just by coincidence, Cousy is the biggest paid player in the league. Chief problems that the committee will discuss withe the club owners will be job security (in the event of clubs that fold up,) schedules* (less all night train travel), allowances for, meal money, rules changes, and limits on exhibition games. Clubs owners are about evenly divided in their attitudes for or against the proposed union. The Fort Wayne Pistons will not send a representative to the committee, because Fred Zöllner, the owner of the club, has a non-union factory, and they don’t want to offend him. Boy, are they silly! Boston’s Celtics are the highest paid outfit in the NBA, and Cousy is the NBA’s highest paid! player, yet they plug for the committee.- Hooray for for Cousy and the Celtics! ■ ★ SPORT Magazine conducted a poll among 123 top-ranking college and professional basketball coaches. Big George Mikan, former De Paul and Mineapolis Laker star, was chosen as the best player of all time. That is no surprise to anyone. To round out the first five, the poll selected four team-mates for Mikan. La Salle’s Tom Gola, today’s best college player, Hank Luisetti, the Stanford ace (1936-38), the aforementioned Celtic’s union organizer, Bob Cousy, ,and Charley Hvatt, who starred at Pittsburgh from 1928-30. The second team included a guy called Nat Holman, who. played his college ball at a place called Savage Institute, but who is slightly better known for his play with the original pro Celtic, and better yet known as the coach at the CCNY. Another coach who made the second team is Johnny Wooden, UCLA’s mentor, who was quite an all-American at Purdue. Their three other team-mates are Jim Pollard, the former Stanford “Kangaroo”, w7ho now stars for te Minneapolis Lakers of the NBA, Bob Davies, of Seaton Hall College and the Rochester Royals, and Bob Kurland, of Oklahoma Aggies and the US 1952 Olympic basketball team. Pretty good pair of quintets aren’t they? Those polls usually come out pretty well, when the coaches do the selecting. (Emery) rate. “In conclusion I must emphasise that I was almost overcome by the warm and friendly reception given me. Wherever I want, I met warmhearted people who were keenly interested in the life and fate of my country, and this gave me inspiration and encouragement. “Upon my return to my country I will speak about my experiences in Hungary and I am certain that thereby I shall be of service to the cause of friendship Of "Our peoples and of peace/'
