Magyar News, 2003. szeptember-2004. augusztus (14. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2004-02-01 / 6. szám
The 2003 Hungarian Congress by Dick Németnand Bob Krányik “Az a szép! Az a szép! Akinek a szeme kék! Akinek a szeme fekete!” Thus the orchestra warmed up the elegantly dressed audience at the Hagyomános Magyar Bál és Díszvacsora, centerpiece of the three day 2003 HUNGARIAN CONGRESS in Cleveland over Thanksgiving weekend. Pretty young ladies of Hungarian background were introduced along with their escorts. Hungarian old favorites soon had the crowd dancing. Dick asked if he should wear his medals. Since it was a black tie affair, I suggested that he should, because Hungarians like medals. It turned out to be a good move. The room was replete with elaborate pins and medals, many sporting red, white and green ribbons. We met one elderly gentleman who was regaling us with stories about his service as a captain in the Hungarian Army. He was impressed with Dick's wings and assorted hanging medals. A very courtly affair, indeed! Another interesting dimension was the wearing on the part of several men in attendance of unusual black suits with black ties embroidered at the ends. One of the guests explained to us that this style and custom began as silent resistance to Russian occupation. Since the Russians wore red, the Hungarians proceeded to wear black and to stare the Russians down! Now the style seems to have survived as formal dress I But what really impressed us was the dinner conversation. The subjects ranged from flying to moon robotics to music to quantum mechanics and string theory to artificial intelligence driven by computers. This was clearly a group of Hungarian high achievers, people who were making significant contributions to the world through their businesses, their professions, and their association with higher education. We should have gotten some college credit for the conversation! One of our dinner companions was Ildikó Peiler, who served as Műsorvezető or as we call it, MC, for the beautiful Friday evening program “Irodalom és Művészet", which included singing and poetry. It was an evening of high Hungarian culture and an omen of good things to come! The folk cultures were also represented. Dr. Martha Pereszlényi, of John Carroll University, whom Dick and I met previously at the Columbia University Conference. She presented “The Secrets of Great Hungarian Cooks.” Imre Bogárdy displayed a wide variety of water colors - both Hungarian and American scenes. Other folk art included egg decoration by András and Magdolna Temesváry of Ohio, and Anikó Farkas from New York who spoke on Hungarian Embroidery, 1956 - Silent Resistance. This was the style we were introduced to at the Ball. In addition to a wide variety of programs in Hungarian (the elegant and sophisticated version of the mother-tongue which pervaded the hotel sorely challenged Dick and me who learned our Dick Németh tells the panel about the old Hungarian Community in Bridgeport Hungarian at an early age from parents and grandparents, there was a special set of programs in English. Dr. John Ridland, Professor of English at the University of California, Santa Barbara, presented his English translation version of the epic On the left a copy of the English translation of Petőfi 's János Vitéz. On the right a display of the available Hungarian books. On the bottom left a collection of Imre Bogárdyás art pieces. To the right Dr. John Nádas, Chair of the Congress with Dr. Bob Krányik Mfe. Page 4
