William Penn Life, 2013 (48. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2013-01-01 / 1. szám
Tibor's Take I want to ensure that Tibor's Take is not remembered as the last will and testament of the Magyars of Middle America. Instead, I want my column to be drowned out and surpassed by the future deeds of my family and of members of our Hungarian communities everywhere. I want this year to be only the first step in ushering in a new age of understanding and culture. I want the spirit of our community to be like a star ascendant. It can be so, and I encourage you all to make a resolution to make this year step one in a long journey of reawakening and revival. / Éljen a Magyar! Tibor II Tibor Check Jr. is a member of Branch 28 Youngstown, Ohio, and a student at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He serves as a host of the “Souvenirs of Hungary’’ weekly radio show broadcast on WKTL-90.7 FM in Struthers, Ohio. Let's hear your take Let me know how you enjoy my thoughts and views on growing up Hungarian Style. If you have any questions or comments about me or my column, please email me at: silverkingl937@yahoo.com, or drop me a letter in care of the William Penn Association, 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. Did you know they're Hungarian? Recently, while doing research on the internet, I came across an article about the “Magnificent Eleven,” the famous series of I I photographs taken on Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion. There were many more photos taken of the American side of the assault, but a series of mistakes and mishaps pared the original number of 106 photographs down to the I I. Those remaining pictures set the bar of artistic quality for future war photojournalists to follow. As I scrolled through the gruesome portrayal of human suffering and death, I learned that the person responsible for those photos was a Hungarian. Endre Friedman was born on Oct. 22, 1913, in Budapest. His parents were tailors, but he wanted to be a writer. At age 18 he left Hungary because he saw very little opportunity to better himself. While traveling throughout Europe, he acquired training in photography. As a young man he became affiliated with many artisans and students that were from the Marxist side of the political ledger. Work for photographers was hard to come by. He realized that his name may be a hindrance to his professional advancement. About that same time he saw that the land of opportunity, America, was the place to immigrate to. He changed his name to Robert Capa. “Cápa,” Friedman’s nickname in school, means “shark” in Hungarian. He changed his first name to Robert to make his newly adopted name sound even more American and similar to that of the famous Hollywood producer/director, Frank Capra (It’s a Wonderful Life). Capa worked as a wartime photojournalist in five different skirmishes during the first half of the 20th Century. An adventurer at heart, Capa spanned the globe risking life and limb for the perfect photographic opportunity. He was a close friend of writer John Steinbeck. In 1947, the two traveled to Russia, where they collaborated on a book portraying the destruction in the cities of Kiev and Stalingrad as a result of World War II. Capa spent some time in Hollywood. There he became romantically involved with actress Ingrid Bergman. She wanted to marry him, but his vagabond lifestyle prevented him from making such a lifestyle choice. His photographic works were seen in such publications as Life and Colliers magazines. He is responsible for starting Magnum Photos, a co-op for independent photographers. Capa died in 1954 when he was blown up by a landmine while working for Life as a war photographer in French Indo-China. Capa redefined war photography as an art form. He believed a combat photo should be close up and depict the essence of danger. And, he left us with a rather interesting quote: “It’s not enough to have talent, you also have to be Hungarian!” You can see Capa’s "Magnificent Eleven” online at www.skylighter.org/photos/robertcapa.html. Photo of doors 2013: © George Tsartsianidis/Dreamstime.Com William Penn Life 0 January 2013 0 7
