Hungarian Heritage Review, 1987 (16. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1987-03-01 / 3. szám
HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW (Formerly the Eighth Hungarian Tribe) USPS 046-310 ISSN 0889-2695 The HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW is published monthly by the Rákóczi Press-International, Inc., P.O. Box 2203, Union, New Jersey 07083 (Tel: 201-964-8464) and P.O. Box 67, Station “L”, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6E-4Y4 (Tel: 416-922-2468). Second-Class postage paid at Union, New Jersey 07083 and an additional mailing office at Ligonier, Pennsylvania 15658. Subscription Rate (USA): $25.00 a year; Foreign: $35.00 a year. Trademark registered. Copyright 1985 by Rákóczi Press- International, Inc. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER — please send change of address to P.O. Box 2203, Union, New Jersey 07083. NICHOLAS KORPONAY President PAUL PULITZER Executive Vice-President JOSEPH J. HAMVAS Vice-President ROGER B. GOODMAN Secretary-Treasurer MARTHA A. SUHAYDA Legal Counsel EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD DR. ELEMER BAKO MR. IMRE BEKE DR. FRANCIS R. BETHLEN DR. NÁNDOR DREISZIGER DR. GEORGE FALUDY MS. ESTHER FORRAI MR. ENDRE HARASZTI MR. GEORGE HENCZ DR. ANTHONY KOMJÁTHY MS. AGNES KORMENDY DR. MARTIN L. KOVÁCS DR. GÉZA KUUN DR.JENO NADASY DR. LOUIS SZATHMARY DR. STEVEN B. VARDY DR. AGNES H. VARDY DR. JULIUS VARSÁNYI MR. FRANCISCO VATTAY DR. FRANCIS S. WAGNER DR. CHARLES WOJATSEK DR. ANDREW ZSIGMOND PAUL PULITZER Executive Editor ROGER B. GOODMAN Associate Executive Editor ******** Associate Editors DR. ANDRAS BOROS-KAZAI JOSEPH J. HAMVAS ALEXANDER HODY ENDRE HARASZTI HARRY G. LADANYE FERENC F. SAJGÓ JOSEPH E. HORVATH GÉZA PISZEL KEVIN TOTH LOUIS SZATHMARY ******** TERRY BRADLEY JAMES MclLNAY Production Manager Production Manager DR. IMRE J. KOROKNAY Art Director Editorial, Advertising & Administrative Office: P.O. Box 2203, Union, New Jersey 07083 (Tel: 201-964-8464). Circulation/Distribution Office: West Plaza, Ligonier, Pennsylvania 15658. Printed in the U.S.A. by Bethlen Printing, West Plaza, Ligonier, Pennsylvania 15658 (Tel: 412-238-9244) ■Jfrtmt Ilbitor Some Hungarian clubs and organizations identify themselves as “HUNGARIAN-AMERICAN..others as “AMERICAN-HUNGARIAN... ” That they do, suggests a question: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A “HUNGARIANAMERICAN” AND AN “AMERICAN-HUNGARIAN”? When asked for their opinion, most Hungarians said that there was none. Others, are probably still trying to make up their minds. We, on the other hand, are inclined to believe that there is a great deal of difference, indeed, between the two and that, if this difference is understood and can be narrowed, the Hungarian community in America as comprised today can become revitalized and continue to exist as a vigorous identity within the framework of what is already a rapidly emerging, multi-cultural society comprised of solidly unified and aggressive activists determined to preserve and protect the best interests of their own ethnicities. That we sincerely believe this demographic development to be a hard reality of our times, explains the motivation behind our decision to publish the HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW. We believe that the difference between a “HUNGARIAN-AMERICAN” and an “AMERICAN-HUNGARIAN” is as follows: a “HUNGARIAN-AMERICAN” was born in Hungary, emigrated to the United States, and eventually became a naturalized citizen. He (or she) has remained Hungary-oriented, employs Hungarian as his primary or native language, and is active to some extent in Hungarian community life. Collectively, “HUNGARIAN-AMERICANS”, such as he, are the backbone of Hungarian activities throughout the United States. Unfortunately, however, their numbers are steadily decreasing through natural attrition and other causes, their capabilities of active participation are diminishing, or ceasing entirely, with the advent of old age, and time-cost factors are inhibiting their support of and attendance at social and cultural affairs. Those of this older generation, not affected by these circumstances, are still actively engaged in keeping the Hungarian community in America alive and well. For this, they deserve a lot of credit. An “AMERICAN-HUNGARIAN”, on the other hand, was bom in the United States of Hungarian parentage and is completely American-oriented in language, behavorial patterns, mental outlook, love of country, political belief, education, culture, life-style, and in other characteristics which make an American so markedly different from any other nationality among the world’s family of nations. “AMERICAN-HUNG ARI ANS’’ outnumber “HUNGARIANAMERICANS” by far. Most of them can neither read, write, nor speak in Hungarian and, mainly for this reason, have remained outside the mainstream of Hungarian community life. Nevertheless, they are conscious of their ancestral “roots” and are eager to learn as much as they can about it — in their own native language, of course, which is not Hungarian, but ENGLISH. That this interest does exist among them, provides the Hungarian community with an opportunity to revitalize itself today to assure its survival tomorrow. “AMERICAN-HUNGARIANS”, we submit, are destined to become the custodians of the Hungarian heritage in America and will, in the not too distant future, replace “HUNGARIAN-AMERICANS” as the “backbone” of Hungarian community life. But, for this to happen, the communication-gap between these sectors must be bridged. The presently existing, language barrier to mutual understanding and collaboration must be removed in order to overcome the resistance of “AMERICAN-HUNGARIANS” towards becoming active members of Hungarian churches, clubs, and organizations. Once this is accomplished, it stands to reason that their interest in their “roots” will include learning to read, write, and speak in Hungarian. This is the way the preservation of the mother tongue can be better served and NOT by refusing to lift the language barrier, as some “HUNGARIANAMERICAN” organizations have done and are still doing. It is really encouraging for us to learn that a few “HUNGARIANAMERICAN” organizations have begun reaching out to the great potential for revitalization and survival represented by “AMERICAN-HUNGARIANS”. But, there are still far too many who reliise to see the “handwriting-on-the-wall”. Sooner or later, we are quite sure, they will have no recourse, but to face up to, come to grips with, and to help resolve one of the most serious problems confronting the Hungarian community in America today — who is going to inherit its guardianship after the older generation of “HUNGARIAN-AMERICANS” are no longer around to do it? PAUL PULITZER Executive Editor MARCH 1987 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW 1
