Articles by: György Lázár

Mr. Ervin Nagy in the Hungarian film, Kincsem

Animator of The Simpsons attacks Hungarian actor – reported by Origo

Gábor Csupó is a 67-year old Hungarian-born fellow Californian.  As an animator he made his fame and fortune after coming to the US about 40 years ago in the creation of The Simpsons. Ervin Nagy is a 43-year old Hungarian film and stage actor. He had a memorable performance in the Hungarian cult-film Kincsem. Origo is a popular Hungarian news […]

by · February 6, 2020 · Culture
Steve Fonyo

Fonyo Beach, a 56-er story

The failed 1956 Revolution was a traumatic event in Hungary’s history.  Today the “Hungarian Diaspora” tends to paint a rosy picture about the fate of the 56-er immigrant families, those who were allowed to settle in Canada and the US after 1956.  They are often portrayed as “heroes” and “freedom fighters” and many of the 56-ers became very successful indeed.  […]

by · February 3, 2020 · Diaspora
Hungary mourns victims of the Holocaust and countersues Jewish survivors in the US

Hungary mourns victims of the Holocaust and countersues Jewish survivors in the US

Hungary’s young and photogenic Justice Minister Judit Varga recently visited Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp and declared her “zero tolerance for antisemitism.”   Hungary has “taken several steps to prevent our country’s Jews from being exposed to any kind of antisemitism that has become more and more widespread in the world.” What Varga did not mention is her government’s institutionalized efforts to rewrite […]

by · January 29, 2020 · Politics
Martin Luther King Jr. bust in 1978 next to the Church.

The sad story of Martin Luther King’s bust in Debrecen, Hungary

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a US federal holiday marking the birthday of MLK. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, this year on January 20th.  King’s actual birthday is January 15th. In order to understand Hungary’s deep-rooted and institutionalized racism here is the story of MLK’s bust in my birth-town Debrecen. The American civil […]

by · January 21, 2020 · Culture
Szőllős Noa

Israeli success of Hungarian-born skier

Israel is not exactly an Alpine country with hundreds of ski slopes or thousands of world class skiers.  Hungary has had some good competitive skiers in the past but has never produced a world class skier.  It seems that all this has changed now; Hungary has a new ski star – in Israeli colors. Here is the story. A couple […]

by · January 17, 2020 · Culture
Bishop Lizik (far left) at the Diaspora Council Conference in Budapest 2019.

Hungarian Reformed Church in America calls for the purchase of Zacarpathia from Ukraine

On November 14, 2019 leaders of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, among them Bishop Zoltán Lizik, attended the Diaspora Council Conference in Budapest where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivered the keynote.  Attendees of the meeting expressed their loyalty to the Orbán Government, they were ready to defend “Hungary’s reputation” and signed a declaration to fight anti-Orbán politicians abroad. One […]

by · January 8, 2020 · Diaspora
New Year's party

Happy New Year with Rigó Jansci!

À Côté is a small restaurant in Oakland, California in the charming Rockridge district. There are individual and communal tables, a sunny patio, delicious Mediterranean cuisine, friendly and knowledgeable staff and a great selection of wines. The restaurant is a “neighborhood gem.”  Even The New York Times reviewed them. This week À Côté celebrated the New Year’s Eve with a […]

by · January 1, 2020 · Culture
Alexey Miller, Gazprom Chairman (left) and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán - close ties.

Trump sanctions Orbán’s TurkStream gas pipeline dream

Zsolt Németh, Fidesz chairman of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs claims that there is a “spectacular breakthrough” in US-Hungary relations.  The State Department does not back his statements, in fact, relations seem to have hit another low.   For the first time in fifty years Hungarian companies might be sanctioned by the US law.  One candidate is Eximbank (Hungarian Export-Import […]

by · December 28, 2019 · East
Photo: Pastor András Debreczeni with family – his Arizona based congregation wants independence from Budapest.

Attack on Pastor Debreczeni in Phoenix, AZ is orchestrated from Budapest

On September 1, 2019 Zsolt Demeter, Presbiter of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America  published a three-page letter attacking Pastor András Debreczeni of the First Hungarian Reformed Church in Phoenix, AZ.  Demeter called Debreczeni a liar and cheater who illegally taped conversations and demanded  his removal.  Demeter has threatened with lawsuits and made it clear that he had the backing […]

by · December 23, 2019 · Diaspora
Sunset Grill on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles with a Hungarian twist

Sunset Grill on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles with a Hungarian twist

I’m old enough to remember Don Henley’s popular song, The Sunset Grill about his favorite hamburger joint on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.   The song is about a small restaurant where Henley could mix with everyday people; apparently that is not always easy for California celebrities. The song was part of his 1985 album entitled Building the perfect Beast. In […]

by · December 19, 2019 · Diaspora