William Penn Life, 2015 (50. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2015-08-01 / 8. szám
Tibor's Take http://americanaejournal.hu This site originates from the University of Szeged, an institution which runs a department of studies dedicated to American life, history and culture. Americana - E-Journal of American Studies in Hungary is the department’s electronic magazine featuring a dozen or so stories written and researched by alumni, students and educators. The articles discuss specific aspects of American life, Hungarians who came to America and found success, American-Hungarian events or topics of interest to both Americans and Hungarians. Each volume offers an interesting perspective on just how Hungarians view America. All previous journals are archived and can be easily downloaded for viewing. Hungarians in the form of better communications. William Penn Life has grown in size, color and quality, with a renewed commitment to preserving our precious American- Hungarian culture. Skype, email and texting has enabled my relatives in Csőt, Hungary, and I to communicate instantly. I can obtain news about Hungary in English from several reliable sources. I can retrieve live camera and video shots of many areas of Hungary. Recently, I viewed on my computer a soccer match from Puskás Stadium in Budapest, a regatta on Lake Balaton and a church service in Máriapócs. What will the next four years bring to the American- Hungarians and the membership of William Penn? October 2015 will be a pivotal time, as WPA's General Convention will take place. I hope the ship we call "WPA" will continue to be navigated on the right course in terms of our unique ethnicity. In the last four years, I have visited Europe, specifically Hungary, several times and have come to the realization that the culture of Hungary will survive and adapt despite external influences. Hundreds of years ago, Hungarians fought and died as they proved to be the wall that prevented the Ottoman Empire from overtaking most of Europe. As a people, we survived and eventually flourished, even though almost half of the Magyar population was eliminated. Our numbers were so depleted that thousands of German, Austrian and Czech immigrants were invited to repopulate those areas ravaged by generations of war. It was not long until those uniquely different immigrant groups assimilated and became true Magyars. As the impending generations propagated, Germanic surnames remained as the only sign that many Hungarians came from other lands. I can attest to this from a personal basis. My last name is Check. The original spelling before it was altered at Ellis Island was Cseh. Translated, it means "from the Czech area of Europe." Six generations before mine, my ancestors did in fact come to help fill the void left by over a century of hostile occupation. My great-great-grandmother had a last name of "Fritz," and her grandfather came to Csőt from southern Germany. I see no difference between Magyars with so-called pure bloodlines and those whose ancestors migrated to Hungary more than 200 years ago. I have yet to hear a Hungarian mention that my last name sounds and spells Germanic, thus I am a lesser Hungarian. Pál Schmitt, a former president of Hungary, could trace his early childhood memories as a young boy living in Csőt. Never did anyone question whether his Germanic-sounding last name made him less of a true Magyar. Four years ago, I offered the readers of William Penn Life my thoughts concerning the future of the Hungarian community here in America. It was an attempt to visualize what direction our delegates and the national leadership of William Penn Association could/would be encountering. This August 2015 installment of Tibor's Take offers to you, the membership of WPA, my perception of what has transpired since the convention of 2011. The next national gathering will be taking place in early October, so next month, I will offer my insights as to what we, as American-Hungarians of William Penn Association, will be facing as an ethnic group. Coming next month: Four Years, Part II. Éljen a Magyar! Tibor II Translation notes: (I) grandmother, (2) biscuits; (3) cold dough pastry: (4) stork dance; (5) happy birthday. Tibor Check, Jr., is a member of Branch 28. Let's hear your take 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. William Penn Life 0 August 2015 0 7
