Itt-Ott, 1974 (7. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)

1974 / 1. szám

"One early morning in 1957 I reported for work at Schraffts as a newly arrived Hungarian refugee. 'Your name?' — asked the head of the kitchen, 'Béla Lipták' — I said. After repeating the question two more times, he told me* 'There is no such name. You will be called George.'

I did not speak his language and did not understand his mentality, but I accepted his verdict. Inside I was hurt and confused. Is it not cruel to throw away a name like a piece of used clothina? And why is my name inferior to any other?

It took me 15 years to understand what was happening in that Schraffts kitchen, where Lou (born Luigi) rechristened me. It took me that long because such things are seldom talked about and because I was doing the thinking all by myself.

It is my conviction that America is full of rechristened Bélas, who still do not understand what has happened to them. I believe that the myth of the melting pot is responsible for the inferiority complex of the non-Anglo-Saxon majority of this nation. When the poor immigrant arrived on these shores, he noticed the power and wealth and associated these with the identity and heritage of English-speaking peoples. In observing the poverty and ignorance of his fellow immigrants, he could not help to wish to get rid of his old identity and to become one of THEM. These immigrants had little cultural tradition to be proud of and instilled in their children — the Archie Bunkers of today — a shame of their own heritage and a resentment for and mistrust of those who were oroud of their identity.

The melting pot of today dissolves and destroys the cultural traditions of the ethnic groups. It does not produce a pluralistic culture with a mosaic of many colors, but creates an America with a series of undistinguishable gas stations and shopping centers. The pressure to conform to the WASP mentality is not the consequence of the British cultural influence or of some plot by the rich and powerful elements of this society. It is caused by the millions of Archie Bunkers, who in a roundabout way are trying to compensate for their lack of self-respect.

Up until now only those ethnic groups were able to maintain their culture which sheltered it behind the shield of religion (the Jews, Greeks, Armenians). In the future, when a pluralistic culture is accepted, it will result in a more colorful and more tolerant society.

In the meantime I shall not change my name to Bill or Bella or 3aylor, but will keep it as it is, with the acute accent on the letter e and shall hope that the day will come when people will associate it with the composer Bartók."

Baráti üdvözlettel — Lipták Béla, Stamford, Conn,

ITT-OTTnak* Azok közé tartozom, akik az emigrációban eltelt tizenhét esztendő óta legfontosabb feladatának tekintette az emigrácics magyar^sajtó^támogatását, meggyőződvén róla, hogy az emigrációs sajtótermék valójában nem más, mint a "nyolcadik törzs" intellektuális vérkeringése. Járnak hozzám kanadai, amerikai és európai lapok, sotjiéha még Ausztráliából is érkezik egy-egy kiadvány, mely az ott élő honfitársak gondolatmenetét, problémáit mutatja.

Szomorúvá tesz, hogy némelyik magyarnyelvű sajtótermék lapjain nem látok mást, mint azt, hogy jóegynéhány emigrációs sorstársunk

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