Diaspora

Lilla Szelenyi was defeated in the primary for Superior Court Judge of Alameda County

Lilla Szelenyi was defeated in the primary for Superior Court Judge of Alameda County

Ms. Elena Condes and Mr. Mark Fickes defeated Lilla Szelenyi in the primary for Superior Court Judge of Alameda County on March 3, 2020. Ms.  Lilla Julia Szelenyi is a 56-year-old lawyer who works as a Workers Compensation Judge in Oakland, California.  She is the daughter of Professor Iván Szelényi, a Hungarian Sociologist whose works criticized the Communist Kádár regime. He was […]

by · June 20, 2020 · Diaspora
Far-right Trianon rally at the Romanian Embassy in Budapest.

Trianon commemoration has no place in North America

Many of us in North America are surprised (and dismayed) by the recent revival of Trianon symbolism in Budapest.  It is part of the Orbán Government’s attempt to re-establish Miklós Horthy’s far-right nationalism of the last century. Several events were planned in Budapest on June 4, the 100th anniversary of the Trianon Treaty. Due to the pandemic some have been […]

by · May 31, 2020 · Diaspora
Evelyn Farkas with Secretary Clinton at the Memorial Day Parade

Memorial Day message from Evelyn Farkas

I hope this message finds you safe and well on this Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a day of reflection and remembrance for those who have given their lives for our nation. Today, I think of those who fought to defend freedom across the generations, especially in World War II. On the frontlines across Europe and the Pacific, over 400,000 […]

by · May 25, 2020 · Diaspora
Don Shula

Don Shula, legendary Hungarian American NFL head coach dies at 90

Donald Francis Shula, a Hall of Fame NFL coach who led the Miami Dolphins to two Super Bowl titles, has died. He was 90. The team issued a statement that Shula passed away peacefully at his home.  “Don Shula was the patriarch of the Miami Dolphins for 50 years. He brought the winning edge to our franchise and put the Dolphins and […]

by · May 7, 2020 · Diaspora
Pastor Gábor Nitsch (left) with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó in 2018.

Coronavirus at the Bethlen Communities in Ligonier, Pennsylvania

First, we wish the best to the residents, caretakers and management of the Bethlen Communities in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, and we sincerely hope that the community will fare well with the virus epidemic. On their Facebook page the Communities posted a Happy Easter greeting this year, yet the holiday was not a happy occasion.  On April 6 the organization announced that […]

by · April 15, 2020 · Diaspora
Bratislava Airport

A letter from the Embassy of the Slovak Republic

We published a piece about Hungarian-language announcements in California that „Slovakia” was organizing a March 25 non-stop charter flight from Washington DC to Bratislava.  Stranded Hungarian citizens could also buy one-way tickets for 1,100–2,500 EUR depending on travel class and “Slovakia” would also consider charter flights from Florida and California. (Read here) The announcement also appeared on the website of the […]

by · March 30, 2020 · Diaspora
Stranded Hungarians may fly to Slovakia from the US

Stranded Hungarians may fly to Slovakia from the US

There are hundreds (possibly thousands) of stranded Hungarian citizens in the US, desperately trying to return to Budapest.  US airlines has suspended most transatlantic service and there is little hope that flights will be restored soon. In the last couple of days Hungarian-language ads have appeared saying that „Slovakia” is organizing a non-stop charter flight on Wednesday, March 25 from […]

by · March 25, 2020 · Diaspora
Social distancing Hungarian style - March 15, 2020 Los Angeles National Holiday celebration.

Coronavirus and irresponsible Hungarian National Holiday celebrations in New York and Los Angeles

On March 7th Hungary cancelled celebrations of the March 15 National Holiday due to the Covid-19 coronavirus.  Opposition parties, the Momentum Movement, Democratic Coalition, The Socialist Party, Párbeszéd and green party LMP – all agreed to cancel the events.  They did this “in the interest of protecting the health of attendees”.  Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony cancelled the event planned at […]

by · March 18, 2020 · Diaspora
Cleveland's Balaton Restaurant with the author in the mirror... (Photo: C. Adam)

Balaton — Definitely not a cookie-cutter restaurant in Cleveland

A Menorah stood on the ornate hutch, alongside Kalocsai embroideries, Hungarian country style jugs called Miska kancsó, hurricane lamps and a framed photograph of Balaton Restaurant’s late founder, Terezia Nevery — quite an eclectic mix, but a welcome change from the dime-a-dozen family restaurant chains around my hotel on the periphery of Cleveland. I spent an extended weekend on the […]

by · February 28, 2020 · Diaspora
Steven Bognar (left) and Julia Reichert with the Obamas

American-Hungarian filmmaker Steven Bognar wins Oscar for American Factory

American Factory is a highly praised American documentary directed by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert. It deservedly won an Academy Award this year in the documentary film category.  The film is about a Chinese company’s takeover of an old General Motors plant near Dayton, Ohio and the struggle of the American workers trying to adjust to the Chinese management. Steve […]

by · February 20, 2020 · Diaspora