Magyar News, 1990. november-1991. augusztus (1. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
1991-07-01 / 9-10. szám
Magyar News Monthly Publication in Cooperation of the local Hungarian Churches & Organization JUSTICE IS THE SOLID GROUND Fifty years of service in the church, the Golden Jubilee was celebrated by Fr. Baan Vitéz last year. He had this celebration in Fairfield where he spent the past years on his way to Hungary. He hasn’t seen his home land for 35 years, and in May with a mixture of feelings, full of excitement Fr. Baan crossed the border in the hope of breathing the fresh air of freedom. Born in Bagyog, Sopron Megye, a small place between Győr and Sopron, then being ordained by the late Archbishop Joseph Grosz in Szombathely, he spent his entire life in priesthood. As a 1956 refugee, he arrived in Youngstown, Ohio, and stayed with the Franciscans. With the exception of serving a few years in Farrell, Pa., he served all his time in Ohio. He was a pastor in Youngstown without interruption for 15 years at Our Lady of Hungary Parish. This is where he came from to spend time with us. Fr. Baan's warm personality, his soft voice and his deep dedication placed him in the heart of everybody who met him. Now that Fr. Baan is leaving to go back to his native country, we wish him success and happiness, good health and strength to help his countrymen step out of the dark ages. We asked Fr. Baan about his impressions he had during his short visit to Hungary recently. This is what he wrote us: The first thing that impressed me as a tourist was ABUNDANCE. A short time ago the Hungarians were short on goods but now one could find anything, and buy anything. The question is: Could you afford it The foodstores carry everything, but only the basics, the staples are within easy reach. But the price on these are inching up in a fast pace. The whole situation is a result of the Communist inheritance. My next surprise was the cars and traffic. It is a status symbol to own a car, and most families do so, not because there is a need for it. The public transportation is good and affordable. Senior citizens travel free. The gas is expensive and of bad quality, adding to the high level of pollution. Cars are parked everywhere even taking over the sidewalks. The authorities don’t seem to care. The majestic Danube river, polluted as it may be, adorns Budapest, and as hopeful people say, it carries some of the pollution away. Fortunately there are the mountains of Buda to manufacture life supporting oxygen. Hungarians were always impressed and fascinated by anything that is from a foreign land. The tourists visiting in huge numbers bring their well needed money and also a flair of atmosphere that includes goods, foreign culture, expressions, strange ways of communications. The Communist slang left its mark on the Hungarian language and now this western influence is adding to it, especially among city people, it deteriorates our treasured language. Listening in the street to conversations one is confused to hear Hungarian mixed with some unknown language. Our beautiful Hungarian language is being corrupted not only in the streets but on die radio, TV and in the newspapers, also. The Hungarian language is one of the richest in the world. Most of die new words have equivalents in Hungarian, and our language is capable of expressing thoughts, complicated ones, on the highest level. I also have to mention the music. Somehow the Hungarian songs disappeared from broadcasting and entertainment. Day and night all you hear is Rock music by American groups from different cultural backgrounds. Are the young Hungarians aware of their own heritage, or worst yet, are they ashamed of it? I would like to mention freedom, one of the most appreciated human values. This was missed immensely during the past decades. But now with the ousted Communist regime, this freedom helps the people to put up with the economical difficulties. I really enjoyed experiencing this freedom. Freedom in my own homeland. As I could see, the presence of freedom explains why the people are willing to work as hard as they do. Though there is no fast cure and hope for quick recovery from the bad situation. The abundance of goods in a lame economy is an unfortunate reality and a sad consequence of the previous Communist dominance. But is it really over? Who could afford the high prices? I was told that there are new millionaires, most of them people who used to sit in the saddle. It might be that a strange philosophy got them to their millions. It’s the magic word: “Appeasement.” It is the official word for “we want peace, heal the wounds, do not cause new injuries, etc.” Many, hiding their guilt, gladly accepted this attitude as long as nobody questions the source of their wealth. They want everybody to forget and forgive, and don ’ t talk about the past. Don ’t disturb the peace. It seems like the working people, as always, do not have a say in these matters. The government has little control or influence over public opinion. The bulk of mass media is still in the hands of former party bosses - sitting behind the new owners from the West. How do they do it? Nobody knows, they are the “sacred cows.” My conclusion on this experience is: SOLID GROUND FOR PEACE IS JUSTICE. And j ustice has to be done for national and international peace, too. Everything else is doomed to failure. Fr. Baan Vitéz Z. TOTH ELECTRIC, INC. GENERAL CONTRACTOR Custom Homes • Additions • Remodeling All Phases of Electric • Licensed and Insured • Free Estimates Tel: (203) 255-3884 William Penn Association Founded 1886 Fraternal Life Insurance and Annuities • 856 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604 203/368-1851
