Hollosi Information eXchange /HIX/
HIX HUNGARY 64
Copyright (C) HIX
1994-09-02
Új cikk beküldése (a cikk tartalma az író felelőssége)
Megrendelés Lemondás
		
A  varja a szovivonek cimzett leveleket, kerdeseket!
1 Re: Data on Hungarian History & Culture (mind)  36 sor     (cikkei)
2 Stopping Violence (mind)  12 sor     (cikkei)
3 Re: beer/god (mind)  54 sor     (cikkei)
4 How to die? (mind)  35 sor     (cikkei)
5 religion/Hungary/schools (mind)  67 sor     (cikkei)
6 Re: How to die? (mind)  15 sor     (cikkei)
7 Re: Opiate/Heart (mind)  22 sor     (cikkei)
8 Is this a joke? (mind)  23 sor     (cikkei)
9 Re: Army and Church (mind)  46 sor     (cikkei)
10 Re: Is this a joke? (mind)  48 sor     (cikkei)
11 Freud snippets on religion (mind)  53 sor     (cikkei)
12 Brilliant idea (mind)  3 sor     (cikkei)
13 PDX Lecture/Discussion (mind)  28 sor     (cikkei)
14 Voice of America report - 9/01/94 (mind)  76 sor     (cikkei)
15 Re: Is this a joke? (mind)  21 sor     (cikkei)
16 Re: Is this a joke? (mind)  43 sor     (cikkei)
17 Re: Atheism v. agnosticism (mind)  24 sor     (cikkei)

+ - Re: Data on Hungarian History & Culture (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

nice idea... sounds very sane as a request to communicate with hungarians sans
the eternal & boring squabblings we all doo so well... i vote to gather...
like swarming to a center for hunky information... let's get it on...

ah.. only two questions: 1) Where? and 2) Why THERE? ..or does this start the
whole thing over again...

ok. im an old DP still locked in isolation because the szabadsa'gharcosok who
made it here only lasted 3-6 mo. before they got shipped back unless they had
corporate skills (civil engineers... akadamicians... or
lawyers/judges/u:gye'szek/u:gyve'dek who could play janitor or elevator
operators in them turbuland 1960s)... yup ima little bitter Fred esp if you're
with Billy the G lookin for redemption for a lost Hungarianism heer on the
net..
tell me if im wrong...
tap to yoo all later...


 wrote:
: I have been reviewing the multifaceted characteristic of this area for
: about two months and have considered sending this letter to selected people
: but I think it would be more usefull to address it to everyone. I am in the
: process of collecting from various sources databases on Hungarian History,
: Language and Legends. The data collected is available on my BBS Budapest BBS
: (714)895-4885. I am in the early phases of converting a fraction of the data
: available in my library. Its overwhelming to think that I could do some of
: this by myself. Therefore I am making a request to the readers, what type
: of data is available through internet from existing electronic databases,
: and perhaps through personal databases which could be shared by all, or if
: it is too specialized sent to my EMAIL? We could greatly enrich this area
: if we shared what we are interested in. Written material not of just personal
: oppinions but data from renowned researchers. Occasionally I see such data
: here, but wish I could find more. Are there other sources? Where?

: Fred Hamori
: 
+ - Stopping Violence (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

The National Association of Social Workers in Washington, DC, USA, would
like to hear from children around the world about their ideas for stopping
violence.  Please send me your ideas for activities children can do to
stop violence.  Please tell me your first name, country, and your age.
Please send by September 12, 1994.

Lucy Sanchez, email: 
Office of Public Affairs
NASW
750 First St., NE
Washington, DC 20002-4241
FAX: 202-336-8312
+ - Re: beer/god (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

On Wed, 31 Aug 1994 16:08:48 +0100 Eva Durant said:
>>
>You may find this surprising, but we were very free to read Sartre,
>Camus, Beuvouir in secondary school, (Budapest) so long ago that I forgot
>how to spell'em, in the 60's.

--Well, what's to be surprised about?  Sartre was something of a Marxist,
wasn't he?  And Beuvouir (is that spelled right?) was associated with
him, wasn't she?  And Camus was pretty much a radical.

              I was  already a firm dialectic materialist so I looked
>at it suspiciously/critically, like I do...

--This is just part of your personal charm, I think!
>
>I meant strictly human intelligence! (still not necessary the Hungarian
>list...sorry)

--I am supposed to laugh here, right?  Okay, I did!
>
>So - God as a comforter? I even dislike dummies for babies - adults
>should manage to face reality - sorry this sounds rough, but you  are
>not as old as I thought!

--I got up at five, answered my e-mail, and ran two miles.  I'm not
as old as *I* thought.  To be precise, I'm 62, but I feel better than
I did at 32.

 I don't mind the cosmic joke - I am pleased I am
>part of it even if temporalily.

--And I know enough British terminology to know what a dummy is.  No,
I didn't mean to convey the thought that God was a comfy object.  As
a rationalist, I am uncomfortable with the notion that the universe
is totally irrational and purposeless.  I am not trying to convert
you, but to explain myself.

>

>
--Thanks, a bunch!  I'll sign up.  I really do appreciate this.

>Yes, but I want to know what happens next!
>
--Sorry, I don't know.  I hope it is not anything like the traditional
myth of streets of gold, with Baptist choirs performing.  I like choral
music, but I don't like what Baptist choirs sing!

>Well, if one morning you discover that nothing hurts - you are
>dead! (Or dead drunk) Eva Durant

--Right!  Pain is our friend!  It tells us that we are still alive!

Charles
+ - How to die? (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

It is fascinating to read the exchanges between Eva Durant and Charles Atherton
both of whom I would happily read just anything.  This time the macabre subject
has found resonance in me, because for a number of years I speculated about the
practicality of the final curtain.  Death is not necessarily related to age but
people above 50 think on it more frequently than the young ones.  (I'm a bit
younger than Charles and probably somewhat older than Eva.)

So, what is the problem?
Well, it is the religion.  I must confess, that I'm a "militant" atheist and
my view is as strong as any practicising orthodox (capital or small o) can
have.  Nevertheless, I too, must face the usual problems of coping with or
trying to avoid the traditionally religious ceremonies at hatch, match and
dispatch.  (Strong atheism is often called religion but it is not yet an
"officially" accepted one, thus it is lacking of ceremonies.)

Birth can be handled somehow.  My children HAD to be registered in the church's
book just after birth, there were no ways to prevent that because the
authorities (police) demanded it.  There were no ceremony and the event took
five minutes per child.

(I had a bit of difficulties around their 13th birthdays, when schoolmates
received heavy presents for "confirmation".)

Marriage is easy.  A few words from the Mayor.  Most of the time was spent on
pursuing the bride to take the name of her future husband.  After strong
resistance the signatures were placed, different as can be, and we all could
get out.

Death is the hard nut.  How to leave the society without having the priests
hanging around?  What to do with the body?  Plenty of practical questions...
I've heard about a community (?) or association (?) of HUMANISTS, who could
advise one on these issues.
Can somebody put me on the right track?

Regards,    Gabor
+ - religion/Hungary/schools (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

Eva Durant writes:

----- Begin Included Message -----

This time I am right, I taught in Igal Altalanos iskola in 1984, and
70%+ of my class went to "hittan" after school, and in my children's
classes (Torokkoppany, also Somogy county) it was the same. Also more
in the late 80s, you couldn't move from cars/masses of people in
Church at Nemetvolgyi ut (near what used to be Lekai Ter) but ofcourse
this could be isolated fenomena, caught by someone none too happy with
the sight. For me religion still mostly means backwardness and hopeless-
ness. Sorry. Eva Durant

----- End Included Message -----

Well, could please someone explain to me how religion = backwardness!?
My studies of Human History indicate otherwise.

As far as hopelessness is concerned, no need to look for religion!
Lots of people/countries tried other things.  I think Hungary was a good
example of such a country during the time I was growing up over there
(until 1983).

I had the opportunity to attend a state high school (Apaczai Csere Janos
gim. -- one of the premier state sponsored prep schools in the country)
for my first two years and a catholic high school (Piarista gim. at Kecskemet
-- at a time when this type of school was looked upon very unfavorably by most)
for my junior/senior year.

Suffice it to say that the last two years of my high school career were
decidedly more enriching, rewarding and p-r-o-g-r-e-s-s-i-v-e than the
first two. ( And I do not consider myself a Catholic! )
I got a stronger education, I was not treated like a statistic,  I received
an all encompassing/inclusive review of *ALL* major philosophies, a compelling
overview of history, and a great foundation in natural/technical sciences.
The only backwardness and hopelesseness I saw were during my state high school
days, and at such high levels that it made me cringe.
Talk is cheap!  Actions speak louder than words!
We're all humans, regardless.  If someone chooses to be "backwards" (how do
you define backwards -- anyways?), they can do it while being the staunchest
of atheists, I'm afraid.

It seems to me that the idea of religion being escapist and backwards
is mostly held by people who cannot accept the proposition that
there might be some things we, as humans, may never understand and/or find out.
To them this idea stands in the way of progress.  It is, however, only
valid for someone who subscribes to an atheistic philosophy.
To many non-atheists it meant/means the opposite.  Check out your history
books to see how many believers have made major contributions to -- what I
assume you think is -- progress.

We all subscribe to one philosophy or another.  The criteria by which we
evaluate which is better than the other (if at all) is not a topic for
discussion in this group.  I, for one, think that kids going to "hittan"
will only benefit the country as well as help along the progress it needs
to make.  Provided that we are talking about hittan classes such as the ones
I attended: not a brainwashing involving sectarian dogmas, but the presentation
of an alternative world-view, one that made (and still does) complete sense to
 me.


Well, just my $.02 worth.
(The other side of the story ;-)))

Cheers,
--
SWFG (Tamas)
+ - Re: How to die? (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

> hanging around?  What to do with the body?  Plenty of practical questions...
> I've heard about a community (?) or association (?) of HUMANISTS, who could
> advise one on these issues.
> Can somebody put me on the right track?
>
> Regards,    Gabor
In this respect I think England is OK, you can get away from church
through the Registery Office for births and marriages, death is more diffi-
cult(!), but apparently, it depends on the whims of the local council,
you can even go under your favourit gooseberry bush! I personally don't
really care, I suppose ashes take up less room but all that waste of
energy... Let others worry about it! I am not against the
nice traditions, such as Easter/Christmas, Id, Hanuka, New Year -
they all started off as pagan feasts anyhow and we should have days
off every time! Eva Durant
+ - Re: Opiate/Heart (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

George Frajkor writes:
>    the quote is "religion is the opiate of the masses" and it was in
> the context that religion is used by the establishment to take
> people's minds off real problems and get them thinking of the
> unsolveable and unknowable other world.

>     To which my own reply (not yet quite so well known) is:

> Marxism is the arsenic of the masses.

>      (those who know pharmacology will know why.  for those who don't,
> arsenic in tiny doses is said to improve the feeling of well-being,
> brighten the eyes, and strengthen the physique.  It then quietlty
> accumulates in the body until the dose is large enough to permanently
> remove all your worries and cares from this world)


I have just got back from a trip to among other places Vancouver B.C.,
where on a wall there was a painted slogan: "Marxism is the opiate of the
intellectuals". There is some common sense out in them there hills.

Regards,Jeliko.
+ - Is this a joke? (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

***

HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ASKS CZECHS, SLOVAKS FOR APOLOGY.
Speaking at a press conference in Prague on 31 August, Hungarian
Foreign Minister Laszlo Kovacs said the Hungarian people would
appreciate it if the two successor states of former Czechoslovakia
"asked for forgiveness in connection with injustices against
Hungary after World War II," when Hungarians were declared by
Czechoslovakia to be "a nation that bears collective guilt for war
crimes." Kovacs said "psychological and legal" steps could redress
this "injustice." He added that some legal measures had already
been taken but that "Hungary is still waiting for an apology."
Jiri Pehe, RFE/RL, Inc.

                        ***


This doesn't strike me as too subtle or diplomatic.  I thought the
new government was supposed to be different?

Can someone expand on this?

--Greg
+ - Re: Army and Church (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

Andras Kornai writes (most deleted)

> diplomatic discussions with Slovakia and Romania. GET THE CHURCH OUT OF
MY
> HAIR. Yes, this includes the rabbis. No Church, neither catholic nor
> protestant nor anything else has any business in government-run segments,
be
> they civilian or military.  If the private sector wants to give them
money,
> well it's their money, and they can spend it on the Church of Buddha
Resting
> in the Lotus for all I care. But taxpayers have a perfect right to insist
in
> having a say in who gets a salary and a rank in the Army, and if they
don't
> want the troops to be blessed it's their business. So contrary to E1va I
> think MSZP is quite sensitive to the matter, and does what I take to be
the
> politically "fortunate" thing.

> Andra1s Kornai

So we won't have anymore "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition"? a la
the WW II event in the US army. Just for those who are not aware of it the
US armed forces have chaplains with military ranks and pay. Their major
role in most cases is something like a social worker's. I wonder how the
"taxpayers" feel about the issue here? I think this maybe a type of equal
opportunity issue. The enemy has clergy praying to God to kill me so I have
to have the antidote on my side also. Something like lawyers in a celestial
level. The only reason I need one because somebody else has one. On the
basis of the new ruling I feel the Hungarian military would have no chance
against the US for example.

If my recollection is correct, Hitler's forces also had chaplains although
probably few rabbies were included. But then Stalin had the political
comissars who represented the communist religion, however when the going
was bad, sometime around 1941, even Stalin called in the Patriarch and
opened some churches to pray for victory of the Russian God's children
against the German God's children.

All considered, as a taxpayer, I rather have chaplains than political
commissars in the armed forces. But my true faith is in my plane's mechanic
and I pray for him everytime I take off and if he works better having a
chaplain, please let him have at least two.

Regards,Jeliko.
+ - Re: Is this a joke? (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

To Greg, who asks about the RFE report on Foreign Minister Kovacs's
comments in Prague, I can add a few remarks based on the coverage in
today's Czech press (unfortunately I wasn't at the news conference, so I
can't say anything about Mr. Pehe's memory based on my own experience,
but:

In a moderately long article (at a guess, 5 column inches), _Lidove noviny_
begins like this:

     It would have a very good effect on the mental situation of the
Magyars living in the Slovak republic, if they were asked for pardon for
the wrongs done following the Second World War.  At that time they were
proclaimed to be a nation bearing collective guilt for war crimes....

[stuff deleted]...The Hungarian minister added that "the righting of these
wrongs, which were commited by the former Czechoslovakia," could be done
through juridical means, but also in ways that are not dependent on the law.
"The legal possibilities are concrete, and are resolved or are being resolved
at the present time."
     He called another possibility for pardon psychological rather than legal.
According to him the Hungarian premier held talks along these lines with
Slovak politicians on his recent visit to Bratislava.
     "We did not discuss the Benes decrees with foreign minister Zieleniec,"
said the Hungarian minister.

[then there's a predictable list of the people he talked with, and a comment
that in spite of ideological differences (the Hungarian government, BTW, is
described as "socially-liberal") the Czech Republic and Hungary could cooperate
well, though there's much to accomplish, especially in trade--for example
Hungarian agricultural producers complain of adminstrative difficulties in
accessing the Czech markets.  Klaus promised to "look into it as soon as
possible"].

[end of summarized article]

Well, where Pehe's RFE report says "Hungary" (i.e. the state), the LN
report talks about "Magyars living in Slovakia" i.e. arguably the group that
was characterized by the "Benes Decrees" as bearing collective guilt...

A subtle but not insignificant difference?

Perhaps the "administrative difficulties" alluded to account for the
(apparent) disappearence of Pik salami from the Prague market:  could the
salami cognoscenti tell me how Herz stacks up vis-a-vis Pik?

Yours from the land of pork and great beer,

Hugh Agnew )
+ - Freud snippets on religion (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

Tamas Kovacs writes:

> Well, could please someone explain to me how religion = backwardness!?

I can let Sigmund Freud try:

In Civilization and its Discontents (Das Unbehagen in der Kultur,
trans. Strachey) Freud writes:

                        ***
..what the common man understands by his religion--with the system of
doctrines and promises which on the one hand explains to him the riddles
of this world with enviable completeness, and, on the other, assures
him that a careful Providence will watch over his life and will
compensate him in a future
existence for any frustrations he suffers here.  The common man cannot
imagine this Providence otherwise than in the figure of an enormously
exalted father.  Only such a being can understand the needs of the children
of men and be softened by their prayers and placated by the signs of their
remorse.  The whole thing is so patently infantile, so foreign to reality,
that to anyone with a friendly attitude to humanity it is painful to think
that the great majority of mortals will never be able to rise above this
view of life. [...]

Let us return to the common man and to his religion--the only religion which
                                                     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
ought to bear that name.  [...]
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Religion restricts this play of choice and adaptation, since it
imposes equally on everyone its own path to the aquisition of happiness and
protection from suffering.  Its technique consists in depressing the value of
life and distorting the picture of the real world in a delusional manner--
which presupposes an intimidation of the intelligence.  At this price, by
forcibly fixing them in a state of psychical infantilism, and by drawing
them into a mass-delusion, religion succeeds in sparing many people an
individual neurosis.  But hardly anything more.  There are, as we have said,
many paths which *may* lead to such happiness as is attainable by men, but
there is none which does so for certain.  Even religion cannot keep its
promise.  If the believer finally sees himself obliged to speak of God's
'inscrutable decrees', he is admitting that all that is left to him as a
last possible consolation and source of pleasure in his suffering is an
unconditional submission.  And if he is prepared for that, he could probably
have spared himself the *de'tour* he has made.

                        ***

The emphasis under "the only religion" is mine. To be fair, the second [...]
represents pages and pages of deleted matter; Freud did end the chapter with
the last paragraph I quote.


--Greg
+ - Brilliant idea (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

May I suggest that Greg write a new paragraph about the ins-and-outs of
signing up for HUNGARY and send the letter off to Mr. Simon at the Prime
Minister's Office? Eva Balogh
+ - PDX Lecture/Discussion (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

The following message is an invitation to those who will be in the Portland,
Oregon area for the Labor Day weekend. Sandor Gal the prolific Hungarian/Slovak
writer will hold an lecture/open discussion.

A Oregoni Magyar Barati Kozosseg idei meghivottja Gal Sandor szlovakiai
magyar iro, akinek eddig tobb, mint husz kotete jelent meg. Gal Sandor az
Anyanyelvi Konferencia es a Magyar Nyelv es Kultura Nemzetkozi Tarsasaga
tarselnoke, Kassan a Keleti Naplo c. havilap foszerkesztoje. Magas muveszi
es gondolati szinvonalu versei elbeszelesei, szociografiai es publicisztikai
irasai az emberiseg es egyszermind a magyar kisebbseg letkerdeseit, gondjait
es remenyeit szolaltatja meg. Legujabb kotetei: "Kettenyilt napkorong" (1992),
"Europa vadonaban" (1991), "Iteletido" (1990), versek; "Ahol elunk" (1989),
szociografiai ripotok.

               Az eloadas vasarnap, szeptember 4-en van.
                       este 7 orai kezdettel, a
                    Portland State University-n, a
                 Neuberger epulet 393-as helyisegeben

Megszabott beleptidij nincs, koltsegeink fedezesere adomanyt kerunk. Mindenkit
szerettel varunk!
                                                            Elteto Lajos

So if you're not vacationing on this May Day in September and you don't have
to get to bed early so that you can participate in the Labor Day parade ;-),
please stop by.

Steve Kovacs
+ - Voice of America report - 9/01/94 (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

DATE=9/1/94
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-164455
TITLE=CZECH PHONES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=BARRY WOOD
DATELINE=PRAGUE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  PHONE SERVICE IN POST-COMMUNIST EUROPE IS BAD, AND PRICES
FOR LONG DISTANCE CALLS ARE HIGHER THAN IN BRITAIN OR NORTH
AMERICA.  V-O-A'S BARRY WOOD REPORTS FROM PRAGUE ON HOW THE CZECH
PHONE MONOPOLY IS TRYING TO IMPROVE SERVICE IN THAT COUNTRY, BUT
STILL REMAIN LOCALLY-CONTROLLED.

              /// ACT OF TELEPHONE BUSY SIGNAL ///

TEXT:  THE ALL-TOO-COMMON SOUND OF A BUSY SIGNAL IN EASTERN
EUROPE.  THE WORLD BANK SAYS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SHOULD BE THIS
REGION'S TOP INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITY.

IN ALMOST EVERY COUNTRY OF WHAT WAS THE EASTERN BLOC, PHONE
SERVICE IS ANTIQUATED, UNRELIABLE, SLOW AND OFTEN EXPENSIVE.
THIS IS A REGION WHERE THERE ARE ONLY 15 PHONE LINES PER 100
INHABITANTS.  BY COMPARISON, THERE ARE OVER 50 LINES PER 100
PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND SCANDINAVIA.  IN THE CZECH
REPUBLIC, ONLY 20 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE HAVE PHONES.  THERE ARE
ONE HALF MILLION APPLICATIONS FOR NEW SERVICE.  THE WAITING TIME
TO GET ONE IS THREE YEARS.

THE CZECH GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN UNSURE OVER WHAT TO DO.  THE STATE
PHONE MONOPOLY, S-P-T, IS MAKING MONEY, THIS WEEK REPORTING SIX
MONTH PROFITS OF 125 MILLION DOLLARS.  THE FIRM'S CHAIRMAN
OPPOSES ITS SALE TO FOREIGNERS, SAYING THAT WOULD BE A CASE OF
THE CZECH REPUBLIC EXPORTING PROFITS.

A COMPROMISE IS IN THE WORKS.  S-P-T WILL RETAIN ITS MONOPOLY FOR
SIX MORE YEARS, WHILE 27 PERCENT OF THE ENTERPRISE IS SOLD TO THE
HIGHEST FOREIGN BIDDER.  FRANCE TELECOM AND AMERICA'S A-T-T ARE
POTENTIAL BUYERS.  THE STATE, MEANWHILE, WILL RETAIN ITS
CONTROLLING 51 PERCENT SHARE FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS DURING WHICH
S-P-T WILL MOVE RAPIDLY WITH MODERNIZATION.  IT HOPES TO DOUBLE
THE NUMBER OF PHONES BY THE YEAR 2000.

HUNGARY IS THE POST-COMMUNIST COUNTRY FURTHEST AHEAD IN
MODERNIZING ITS PHONE SYSTEM.  MATAV, THE HUNGARIAN PHONE
MONOPOLY, HAS BEEN PRIVATIZED WITH FOREIGN PARTICIPATION.  PHONE
LINES ARE BEING INCREASED BY 16 PERCENT EACH YEAR.  WAITING
PERIODS FOR SERVICE SHOULD BE ELIMINATED WITHIN THREE YEARS.  THE
THREE BALTIC STATES, WITH PERHAPS THE REGION'S WORST SERVICE,
HAVE SOUGHT TO CATCH UP BY MOVING AGGRESSIVELY INTO CELLULAR
PHONES, LINKED TO NEIGHBORING SWEDEN AND FINLAND.

BUT TO MOST CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES TRYING TO SEND A FAX OR
COMMUNICATE JUST ACROSS TOWN, PHONE SERVICE REMAINS SUB-STANDARD.
AND COMPLAINTS GROW ALONG WITH THE DEMAND FOR NEW LINES. (SIGNED)

NEB/BDW/SKH/MMK

01-Sep-94 12:42 PM EDT (1642 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America




> ---------------------------------------------------------
Use of the NEB Wire

The contents of the NEB wire are not copyrighted.  However, if you publish or
rebroadcast any of these reports, please be certain to use the latest version
that was available at the time of publication or rebroadcast. VOA news
materials that are published or rebroadcast should be used in their entirety.
Please credit the Voice of America as the source in any subsequent
dissemination.
+ - Re: Is this a joke? (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

Prof. Agnew, gallivanting in Prague (a city where Hungarian salami is
in short supply), is asking a $64,000 question:

> Perhaps the "administrative difficulties" alluded to account for the
> (apparent) disappearence of Pik salami from the Prague market:  could
> the salami cognoscenti tell me how Herz stacks up vis-a-vis Pik?

This question is answered in a classic Hungarian poem written by Karinthy,
contained in his collection of literary parodies (Igy irtok ti):

 A Herz-fele szalamiban
 sokkal surubb a so',
 mint mas hasonlo termenyekben,
 hidd el, o' nyajas olvaso'!

Since this little poem is part of a piece poking fun at botched literary
translations, I will not attempt to come up with an English version.

-----
Gabor Fencsik

+ - Re: Is this a joke? (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

Greg Grose wrote:

        [quoted report on Hungarian government requesting the rescinding
        of the Benes Doctrine deleted]

>This doesn't strike me as too subtle or diplomatic.  I thought the
>new government was supposed to be different?

Supposed by whom ;-) ?

>Can someone expand on this?

Just in a nutshell: in Czchoslovakia, the post-war Benes government declared
Germans and Hungarians collectively guilty for the war.

This itself is a travesty of justice, but in practice it meant that there
was no need to investigate, and prove, guilt in a proper process of law:
any German or Hungarian could be punished for the collective guilt.  The
practical manifestation was taking people for forced labour and booting
them over the German and Hungarian borders with only the shirt over their
backs. Those who were left lived in terror, and were exposed to petty to
serious harassment.  Gustav Husak, the Stalinist dictator taking over after
the crushing of the Prague Spring, is credited with saying that there is no
Hungarian problem, only a problem with finding enough boxcars.  He should
know: he was running the ethnic cleansing after the war.  When I went around
in Slovakia in 1976, I encountered cases when Hungarians did not dare to
speak Hungarian in front of Slovaks.

So, if we look further than "yes, but who started the war in the first
place ?", there is some blemish on the winner side.  So far, the Czecho-
slovak, Czech and Slovak governments have categorically refused to
repudiate the Benes Doctrine.

I suppose, the new Hungarian government is just trying to prove its good
Hungarian credentials, in a rather unsubtle way.  It is purely for
Hungarian consumption (within and without the borders of Hungary) and
it has no chance of succeeding (especially with the nationalists' Meciar
ahead in the polls before the upcoming Slovak elections), but can prove
counterproductive.

I would say, hardly a joke, all around.

George Antony
+ - Re: Atheism v. agnosticism (mind) VÁLASZ  Feladó: (cikkei)

> >
> > Eva Balogh
> the sight. For me religion still mostly means backwardness and hopeless-
> ness. Sorry. Eva Durant
>
Despite of the above quoted I don't think that the larger part of
humanity are backward and hopeless.

There was a memorable quotation in my coursebook after the Maxwell's
eqoution: >>...these are (the quotations) so clear and well arrenged
that one go into so enthuse ower them by their esthetic beauty, which
may express by a Boltzmann used quotation from the Faust:
        "War es ein Gott, der diese Zeichen schrieb."   <<
Karoly, Simonyi: Elmeleti villamossagtan. Bp. 1967.
otodik kiadas. 29.old.

Sorry for my bad english, please send me a better translation.
>>Ezek az egyenletek, amelyek az osszes elektromagneses jelenseget leirjak,
es amellet megis annyira tisztak es attekinthetoek, az emberben nagy
esztetikai szepseguknel fogva olyan elragadtatast keltenek, amelyet a
legpregnansabban a Boltzmann alltal alkalmazott Faust-idezet fejez ki:
......<<
Udvozlettel:
             S. Bela.

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