Focus

Rabbi Reuven Bulka

Remembering the Holocaust–We can’t be silent bystanders when faced with injustice

One cannot be a passive bystander when faced with injustice or oppression–this was the overarching message of a Holocaust commemoration and candle-lighting, organized at the Ottawa City Hall on February 1st, 2016. This year’s commemoration, which was spearheaded by Vera Gara, a Holocaust survivor of Hungarian origins, included a wide range of speakers, notably religious leaders from different faith communities, […]

by · February 2, 2016 · Focus
Yad Vashem

A crook amongst the righteous

I last wrote about Zoltán Harangi four years ago in Hungary’s Élet és Irodalom weekly magazine, as well as in a publication entitled Beszélő, arguing that Mr. Harangi’s despicable activities during the Second World War deserve special attention, even within the context of the many inhumane acts committed during the conflict. As a member of the Swedish Red Cross in Budapest, […]

by · January 20, 2016 · Focus
Pastor Pamela Kurtz

Rev. Pamela Kurtz: We cannot be silent in the face of fascism

I am a Christian and a United Methodist pastor. With the recent terror attacks, many leaders of the nation I love, some of whom identify as Christian, are espousing action that is antithetical to the principles of our nation and the Christian faith with which they identify. I cannot let them be the voice of all Christians. They are not. […]

by · January 8, 2016 · Focus
Ákos Kovács during his Echo TV interview.

Ákos Kovács – A Hungarian pop icon’s jaw-dropping sexism

Ákos Kovács is one of contemporary Hungary’s most established singers and songwriters, with over two decades of experience and fame under his belt, not to mention a prestigious Kossuth Award from the Government of Hungary. Ákos – as he is simply known in public – is also well-known for his conservative political and social views and there is nothing necessarily wrong with […]

by · December 17, 2015 · Focus
Gina Csanyi-Robah

Distorted remarks and lies: Hungarian Government press release distorts remarks from meeting between Hungarian Deputy State Secretary Latorcai and Gina Csanyi-Robah, co-founder of the Canada Romani Alliance

During the last week of November, I received a phone call asking for me to attend a meeting at the office of the Honourary Consul General of Hungary in Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Csaba Latorcai, Deputy State Secretary for Priority Affairs from the Prime Minister’s Office in Hungary, requested a sit down meeting with me to discuss Hungarian Roma in Canada. […]

by · December 11, 2015 · Focus
Humankind stares into the abyss / The art of weirdness (2012)

Hungary and the Jews: A Case Study on Affinity Fraud

“Don’t listen to what I say, but watch what I do!” — Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary An essay by András B. Göllner in honour of Elie Wiesel and Randolph L. Braham What is Affinity Fraud ? Affinity fraud is the oldest scam in the book. Eve used it to con Adam into tearing off the forbidden fruit from […]

by · November 25, 2015 · Focus
Sándor Kopácsi in 1989, at Imre Nagy's reburial. Photo: László Varga.

Dr. Sándor Kopácsi–An unorthodox hero, who wouldn’t fit the mould

The Second World War ended in Hungary in April 1945. The old regime was gone, to be replaced by a new one based on idealism, lies, hypocrisy and lust for total control and cruelty. The new regime, called Communism, had a new ideal for its citizens. The new man would be of the working class background, intelligent, dedicated, courageous and […]

by · November 12, 2015 · Focus
The Tesco store at Budapest's Arena Plaza shopping mall.

The Hungarian Tesco rebellion

Tesco’s dominant presence in Hungary is perhaps both a curse and a blessing, when seen from the perspective of social justice. On the one hand, those on the left who are vocal advocates for shopping locally, supporting local small business, buying eco-friendly and fair trade merchandise are often situated in the upper middle class and can actually afford shopping on […]

by · November 3, 2015 · Focus
Helen Olsen. Photo: Chris Caldwell / The Spectrum.

One-time Hungarian refugee builds on life of experience

The Spectrum, a Utah-based news site, has granted the HFP permission to republish an insightful and moving story about a Hungarian who fled her homeland in 1956 and settled in the United States. Her story, recorded by Kevin Jenkins, is very candid and is especially relevant in light of the refugee drama still unfolding in Europe. * As millions of […]

by · October 26, 2015 · Focus
Mrs. Lajos Nagy (Emma néni): 1944-2015.

The death of Hungary’s “Aunt Emma”

This week, a 71 year old double amputee called Mrs. Lajos Nagy, but much more commonly referred to as Emma néni (Aunt Emma), passed away, after surviving an endless cycle of evictions and homelessness. According to a community group called the Hungarian Social Forum (Magyar Szociális Fórum – MSZF), she was evicted from the homeless shelter where she was staying, […]

by · October 11, 2015 · Focus
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