Cleveland Cultural Gardens – Hungarian Americans celebrate multiculturalism

On June 24 the Hungarian section of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens celebrated its 80th anniversary. Cleveland has one of the largest Hungarian American communities in the United States.

Hungarians and Romanians celebrate together at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.

I visited the garden a couple of years ago and highly recommend it to those who are interested in nature or Cleveland’s history. The Gardens were created at a time when the US was threatened by “Americanism,” our own brand of nationalism. They were created to recognize and appreciate the customs and traditions of people of many nations. The constant infusion of new immigrants has enriched us as a people and has made Cleveland a great city.

The Gardens are located in Rockefeller Park, a tranquil 250-acre setting donated to Cleveland by John D. Rockefeller in 1896 in celebration of Cleveland’s first centennial. Landscape architects designed the ravine with four stone bridges to carry transportation routes across the Park. Twenty-five nations are represented in the Gardens. The American Legion Peace Gardens (Garden of the Nations and Garden of the States) represent the central theme “Peace through mutual understanding.” There is a marble crypt containing soil from twenty-eight nations, mixed together to symbolize harmony and unity among all people.

In the musical program 14-year-old Brian Harper played Bartók’s Allegro Barbaro.

Carolyn Balogh, Hungarian Cultural Garden president welcomed the crowd on June 24 and there were speeches after the US and Hungarian National Anthems. Some older Clevelanders were present who remembered (and had also attended!) the original dedication of the Hungarian section in 1938.

Ms. Carolyn Balogh, Hungarian Cultural Garden president.

In May 2015 Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared that the era of multiculturalism is over. In an interview with daily Napi Gazdaság he claimed: “Multiculturalism means the coexistence of Islam, Asian religions and Christianity. We will do everything to spare Hungary from that.” It seems that the Hungarian American community of Cleveland strongly disagrees with him.

I was dismayed that the organizers invited Ms. Zita Bencsik, Consul General of Hungary in Chicago who briefly greeted the audience. Ms. Bencsik’s invitation was inappropriate and her presence was an insult to Clevelanders. Her government openly promotes xenophobia and intolerance, the very same values Clevelanders and the vast majority of Hungarian Americans in North-America soundly reject.

It was inappropriate to invite Ms. Zita Bencsik, Consul General of Hungary in Chicago.

A Proclamation was also issued by the City to the Hungarian Cultural Garden signed by Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson. The Mayor invited all Clevelanders to celebrate this “momentous occasion” and the contributions of Hungarian Americans to his City. I was happy to see that Consul General Bencsik was not mentioned in the Proclamation.

György Lázár

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