10/21/2004
- Former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visits Cleveland to
help commemorate the 1956 Hungarian Revolution... The United
Hungarian Societies in Cleveland has invited former Prime Minister Viktor
Orbán for two days of meetings with AHF and other Hungarian-American community
leaders and multi-denominational clergy culminating in a commemoration
of the 48th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution in which thousands
died and hundreds of thousands were forced to flee.
“The
anniversary of the 1956 Revolution is important to Hungarians around the
world – here in America and at home in Hungary.” says former
Prime Minister Orbán. “It’s an especially significant
date to Freedom Fighters, many of whom now live outside Hungary, some
right here in Cleveland. I’m honored to be invited to share this
occasion with them and all Hungarian-Americans.”
WHY CLEVELAND? The 1956 Revolution was Hungary’s
own “shot heard ‘round the world” and marked the beginning
of the end for Soviet domination in Central and Eastern Europe. Cleveland
was boasted the third largest Hungarian population after Miskolc in Hungary.
The Cleveland community played a major role in both garnering support
for the Democratic forces and in assisting the over 200,000 refugees that
fled Soviet tanks
More than 200,000 ethnic Hungarians live in the Ohio region. Cleveland
once boasted the third largest Hungarian population in the world, after
Budapest and Miskolc in Hungary.
“It’s especially appropriate for Mr. Orbán to attend an event
like this outside Hungary.” Says Sandor Nagy, President of the Center
For Hungarian-American Relations. “Many Hungarians, and now second-,
even third-generation Hungarian-Americans appreciate this kind of gesture.”.
A POPULAR FIGURE: Viktor Orbán remains a popular figure
in the Hungarian American community. In 1988, Viktor Orbán helped found
the Federation of Young Democrats or FIDESZ, one of Hungary’s first
anti-communist, opposition parties. On June 16, 1989, Orbán gave
a speech at Hero's Square on the occasion of the reburial of Imre Nagy,
the revolutionary Prime Minister executed by the Soviets, which brought
him wide political acclaim. He demanded free elections and the withdrawl
of Soviet troops from Hungary. In 1998, at the age of 35, Orbán was elected
Prime Minister - Europe’s youngest in history.
The Hungarian American community in Cleveland and across the U.S., many
of whom were “Freedom Fighters” themselves in 1956, appreciated
Orbán’s anti-communist activities and support for the millions of
Hungarians cut off from Hungary when borders were unjustly re-drawn after
WWI at Trianon.
Bryan Dawson-Szilagyi, Vice President of the American Hungarian Federation
adds, “Hungarians are a fiercely independent and freedom loving
people. We offered our service and our lives to America’s independence;
we fought again to help save the Union; and rose up against the mighty
Soviet Empire in 1956 against impossible odds. Hungarian Freedom Fighters
and the entire Hungarian American community greatly appreciate Viktor
Orbán, one of the most important leaders in Hungary’s final victory
against communism.”
AHF is coordinating with the United Hungarian Societies (UHS) and the
Center for Hungarian-American Congressional Relations (CHACR).
About CHACR: The Center for Hungarian-American Congressional
Relations (CHACR) serves as a bridge between elected representatives and
their Hungarian-American constituents. The Center is an independent, nonpartisan
lobby organization that initiates, influences, and monitors legislative
activities for the benefit of Hungarian-Americans. Through the establishment
of a national network of members and volunteers to reciprocate the friendship
and efforts of our allies in Congress, CHACR aspires to foster and coordinate
the participation of Hungarian-Americans in governmental, political, and
civic affairs. CHACR is determined to eliminate intolerance, prejudice,
and discrimination against Hungarian minorities anywhere in the World.
Founded in 2002, CHACR has pledged to defend Hungarian individual and
communal rights and to prevent the deterioration of Hungarian communities
in countries where they represent an ethnic minority. Located on Capital
Hill in Washington, DC, CHACR cultivates a spirit of mutual interest and
sociability among Hungarian-Americans while looking forward to harmonizing
efforts with other civic and community organizations for similar functions
and activities. For more information visit
www.chacr.org.
About UHS: The United Hungarian Societies (UHS) was
formed in 1902 with the mission to erect the statue of Louis Kossuth in
Cleveland as an expression of the high esteem Hungarians in America held
Kossuth. It was the original group that recognized the need for a national
umbrella organization and formed the American Hungarian Federataion. Today,
the 30,000-member UHS is a regional umbrella organization for everything
from Hungarian war veterans to Hungarian Scouts.
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10/23 - 10/24/2004, Cleveland: Special
Event Coverage:
About
30 Hungarian-American leaders met with Viktor Orbán and advisors
in a closed dinner session at the home of Honorary Consul Laszlo Bojtos.
Participants had the chance to exchange ideas on how to better coordinate
and strengthen the Hungarian-American community.
Ohio State Representative Peter Ujvagi (D) and AHF Vice-President Bryan
Dawson-Szilagyi both called for a new way of doing business based on cooperation
and better coordination of efforts. "Effective coordination is the
only way to exercise the community's collective power to influence media
and government leaders," emphasized Dawson-Szilagyi. He
added that we must "turn the way we did business in the past upside
down. We must realize that media is the key to getting our message heard.
We must communicate in a way that the world will understand - that includes
using English. We must also realize that to survive, it is imperative
to reach out to the next generation. Most importantly, it is time we learn
to set aside differences and work together for the common good."
Monika Elling, Global Marketing Director for the highly successful Hungarian
international wine distributor, Monarchia,
agreed and added that the Hungarian government must do more to encourage
Hungarian firms to expand their markets internationally and in the United
States. Viktor Orban alluded to this in his keynote address the following
day when he remarked that the US offers a competitive advantage for Hungarian
firms given the large population of Hungarian Americans and Hungarian-American-owned
businesses.
It
was standing room only as almost a thousand filled the meeting hall of
St. Emeric's (Imre) Catholic Church in Cleveland to commemorate the 1956
Hungarian Revolution in a patriotic flair that showed so clearly the profound
love these immigrants have for not only their motherland Hungary, but
for their adopted home in the United States. The popular center-right
political figure, Viktor Orbán, arrived to a standing ovation.
1956 "was a very vivid part of our lives, and one we'll never forget,"
said Jack Korossy, who was 14 when he saw Soviet tanks rumble into Budapest.
As president of United Hungarian Societies in Cleveland, Korossy helped
to organize this weekend's commemorations.
The
Hungarian Girlscouts, or "Cserkeszek," re-enacted the Hungarian
radio broadcasts calling for Western help that never came which resulted
in the re-invasion of Hungary by some 200,000 Soviet troops thus crushing
the hopes of a free Hungary. Soon after came a delightful dance presentation
by local young Hungarians highlighting traditional Hungarian folk dress,
song, and music.
Viktor
Orbán opened his speech saying "Two Hungarians are talking
to each other, and they both apologize. One is sorry because he is leaving
Hungary, the other, because he is staying." He said that such dialogue
expresses the passion of the Hungarians in the 20th century. According
to Orbán, the traditions of commemorating the 1956 uprising are
richer in the United States than in Hungary because Hungarians in communist-
ruled Hungary were taught to forget the past.Whenever a Hungarian is harassed
anywhere in the world, the whole nation must stand up for him. Orbán
brought up the example of the divided village of Szelmenc,
where the Slovakian-Ukrainian border cuts across the village.
Thanks to the efforts of the Hungarian-American community in asking Congress
to help unite the the village that has been divided by an iron curtain
since 1944, Ukraine and Slovakia promised to open a border crossing in
Szelmenc. At this point, Orbán switched to English in his speech
to thank the members of the Hungarian American Caucus, and its co-chairs,
Rep. Ernest Istook and Tom Lantos.
The
surprise of the day came when Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) personally
greeted the audience and delivered a stirring speech in which he thanked
Hungary and her people for their "strong belief in dignity and human
rights" and their historic fight against tyranny that was the first
"rip in the iron curtain." He
added, "Thank you Hungary, thank you Hungarian People. God Bless
Hungary and God Bless Viktor Orbán." Kucinich presented Sandor
Nagy, President of the Center for Hungarian American Congressional Relations
(CHACR) with a Congressional
Proclamation that is entered into the Congressional Record honoring the
aniversary of the 1956 Revolution and Orban's visit.
Adding
to the list of dignitaries was Theresa Coaxum, assistant to Congresswoman
Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), a member of the Hungarian American Congressional
Caucus (see CHACR for
more). Ms. Coaxum commented that it was "wonderful" to see young
people learning about their history and heritage. She also thanked Hungary
for helping to bring an end to communist dictatorship in Central and Eastern
Europe. Both the Kerry and Bush campaigns sent congratulatory statements
to the Hungarian American comunity.
Following
his speech, Orbán presented St. Emeric's church with a flag commemorating
Hungary's 1000 years of nationhood. One side bore the Hungarian Coat of
Arms with the Holy Crown of St, St. Stephen and the words "Magyar
Millenium." The flag's reverse side was blank. Orbán
commented that while one side commemorated Hungary's last 1000 years,
the blank side was waiting for the next generations to make their own
mark. Before returning to Hungary that evening, Viktor Orbán met
with the young members of the Hungarian Scouts Association and their leaders.
- Bryan Dawson-Szilagyi, AHF.
Thanks for contribution from the CHACR News Service.
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