The president visits the Hungarian Museum in Cleveland, USA
Hungarians living in the diaspora must fight to preserve their identity and make sacrifices, for which Hungary is grateful, Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok emphasized on Monday in Cleveland, where he was visiting during his trip to the United States.
During his visit to the Hungarian Museum in Cleveland, the head of state also expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Hungarian people for the work done by members of the local community to preserve traditions and identity. Referring to the active community life and joint celebration of the local Hungarian organization on Sunday, Tamás Sulyok said, “It is a wonderful feeling that several generations have created this.”
Fact
The Hungarian Museum in Cleveland was founded in 1985 by a small, dedicated group of Hungarians and is still run exclusively by volunteers. The permanent and temporary exhibitions showcase Hungarian folk art, traditional costumes, ceramics, paintings, and historical documents. It currently has a library with more than 8,000 volumes, an ethnographic and fine arts collection, and archival materials. It regularly hosts lectures by local experts as well as visitors and artists from Hungary, the president said on his Facebook page.
He explained that for people living in Hungary, their Hungarian identity is a matter of course, while those living in the diaspora have to fight for their Hungarian identity and make sacrifices. These sacrifices – which can be financial or in the form of free time – must be made within the community, he added.
In connection with the change in bilateral relations, the head of state pointed out that “Hungarian-American relations are experiencing a happy phase” that everyone in Hungary and the United States should take advantage of. He added that everything must be done to ensure that relations between the two countries remain at this level for as long as possible, as the quality of bilateral relations is also important for Hungarians living in the diaspora.
Andrew Lazar, curator of the Hungarian Museum in Cleveland, described the visit as an honor. He was delighted that the Hungarian head of state had taken the time to visit and see what the institution had to offer the public. This offer is not only aimed at Hungarians, but also at Americans, who can learn about Hungarian culture, history, and art here.
As part of his program in Cleveland, also known as “Hungarian Debrecen,” President Sulyok also visited two Hungarian monuments on Monday. As he wrote in his Facebook post, a statue of József Mindszenty was erected by Hungarians in Cleveland in 1977 to commemorate his pastoral visit in 1974. At the statue’s inauguration, the public square in front of it was also named after the cardinal “who had stood up to the communist regime with unshakeable faith” (Cardinal Mindszenty Plaza), which is still commemorated today by a plaque in the square.
The statue “The Unknown Freedom Fighter,” erected on the 50th anniversary of the 1956 revolution, also stands at the same location.
On Monday, Sulyok also visited Cleveland State University (CSU), founded in 1964. According to the president, Cleveland’s ties to Hungary are also reflected at the university.
The beginnings of Hungarian language studies in Cleveland’s higher education system date back to the 1920s, and in 1969, organized Hungarian language instruction began at CSU’s Department of Modern Languages.
Sulyok met with the university’s president, Dr. Laura J. Bloomberg, as well as with Hungarian professors from various disciplines.
Cleveland and the surrounding area in the state of Ohio is home to one of the largest historical Hungarian communities in the United States, with a population of around 100,000.
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Hungarian–American Relations Have Never Been Stronger, Says President Tamás Sulyok
The head of state emphasized diaspora unity, shared ideals of freedom, and deepening bilateral relations during an official U.S. trip. Continue reading
Via MTI; Featured image: Facebook/Dr. Sulyok Tamás
The post Expat Community Plays a Key Role in Strong Hungarian-American Relations appeared first on Hungary Today.
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