The Eighth Tribe, 1979 (6. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1979-04-01 / 4. szám
Page 10 THE EIGHTH TRIBE April, 1979 ALBERT WASS: THE PRICETAG OF FREEDOM To the memory of Colonel Michael Kováts Two hundred years ago thousands of good men gave their lives for the freedom of this country. We may say, in the materialistic language of today’s progeny, that the forefathers “bought” liberty at the price of extreme hardship, misery, sacrifice and blood. In the spiritual language of those who made the sacrifices, and in the spiritual language of those of us who would be willing, without hesitation, to do the same: they planted their mortal lives into the soil of this country in order to harvest immortality in the freedom of generations yet to come. Just as in the case of every manifestation of man’s striving for the better, the higher, the more sublime, it is but a question of interpretation whether we evaluate a heroic act from a materialistic viewpoint, or from a higher spiritual plateau, frowned upon today in many circles as an outdated concept, called patriotism. Nevertheless, the liberty of a nation, won by the heroic sacrifices of brave patriots, equally benefits each and every member of future generations, regardless of their views. But only to one certain point, of course. To the point where descendants and successors of those patriots decide that the burden of freedom is too heavy and too uncomfortable to them, and choose to give it up by succumbing to abstract ideologies, promising less worry and more leisure in exchange for man’s right to self-determination and self-government. Whenever this occurs, in any part of our globe, the life-consuming struggle starts all over again, for slavery in any form is repulsive to man’s God-derived nature. It should be therefore, and indeed it is, the duty and obligation of societies enjoying the benefits of inherited freedom, for which their forebearers paid the price, to guard their inheritance. Even more: to help those unfortunates who failed in their struggles to become free, in spite of all the blood they shed for it so freely. Two hundred years ago, in this beautiful land of ours, brave men of different backgrounds fought side by side for the glorious idea of liberty and justice for all. We are indeed proud that among the English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Dutch, French, German and other nationalities, there was also a Hungarian, who carved his name into the foundation-stone of this country: Colonel Michael Kováts de Fabricy, founder of the U.S. Cavalry. He gave his life for liberty in the battle of Charleston, May 11, 1779, and now, two hundred years later, we Hungarians have the honor to stand on the very battlefield where his blood became part of the American soil, and the American heritage, forever. But it is not only an honor. It is much more than that. It is an obligation. An obligation we must recognize and accept. In order to perpetuate good on Earth, every good deed, every heroic deed, every deed of pure design, must be returned in kind by those who have the privilege to enjoy the rewards of previous deeds well done. This is the only possibility to secure the permance of good already achieved as well as the spreading of it into other places, until freedom, justice and peace permeates the lives of all men, everywhere. That certain well known parable of the talents is not just an old Bible-story to be used in Sunday Schools in an abstract manner. It is one of the most important secrets of human existence, taught by the Great Teacher. Talents, unused, deteriorate, while talents put to work in accordance with their purpose, bring the world forward. Lives unselfishly given for the attainment of freedom, demand unselfish lives in the maintenance of freedom, and the further dissemination thereof. It makes no difference whether those who carved out this country were of English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Dutch, French, German, Polish or Hungarian descent. They were brave men dedicated to a vision and a purpose, and the least we can do to honor their memories is to preserve that vision, and not let the purpose be drowned in apathy. In most parts of our world, freedom is still an unattainable dream of the oppressed. Especially sad, and even shameful is the fact, that two of those nations which gave tlieir able sons to die for American liberty are still under ruthless dictatorships today: Poland and Hungary. The very part of Hungary, from where Colonel Michael Kováts originated, suffers double oppression: that of a soul-killing communist system, and of an extremely chauvinistic Rumanian occupation, determined to annihilate the native Hungarian population. We are sad to say, that a carefully outlined plan of cultural and political genocide is being carried out today, step by step, in an extremely brutal manner, with the knowledge of the United States government. Yes, instead of firmly intervening in behalf of the three million Hungarians in Transylvania, the native land of Colonel Kováts, our own government gives aid and financial support to mass-murdered Ceausescu, the “Idi Amin” of Eastern Europe.
