Bias against Hungarian-Americans isn't likely to draw the attention of civil liberties activists and racial opportunists that usually salivate at even a hint of discrimination.
However the New York State Division of Human Rights is still investigating a discrimination suit brought against Trocaire College in Buffalo by a Hungarian-American professor. The division has found probable cause that the school discriminated against Dr. Csaba Marosan because of his national origin, age, gender, and sexual orientation. The investigation is also reviewing if Trocaire College retaliated against Marosan for filing the complaint. Among their discoveries, investigators found evidence that the college wanted to fire Marosan because of his accent. Meanwhile the college denies any discrimination.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
"Birthright" strengthens ties between Jews and Israel
I had never heard of Birthright until recently. The first time I even heard the name was at my office. It happened that two of my colleagues both were fast approaching age 26, and there was a sense of urgency to sign up for the organization's trip to Israel before they were too old.
Taglit-Birthright Israel is a charity that sponsors heritage trips to Israel. It offers a free 10 day trip. The clincher is that to quality, individuals must be aged 18-26 and have at least one Jewish grandparent. Participants visit historical, religious and cultural heritage sites around Israel, including the Western Wall, the Negev, and the Dead Sea.
Meanwhile, everlasting bonds are formed between Jews and Israel, which certainly must be one Birthright's goals. A Brandeis University study shows that programs such as Birthright help maintain a strong sense of connection between American Jews and Israel. Note that Birthright isn't limited to American Jews. Trips are open to those from 64 countries in the Jewish Diaspora.
Taglit-Birthright Israel is a charity that sponsors heritage trips to Israel. It offers a free 10 day trip. The clincher is that to quality, individuals must be aged 18-26 and have at least one Jewish grandparent. Participants visit historical, religious and cultural heritage sites around Israel, including the Western Wall, the Negev, and the Dead Sea.
Meanwhile, everlasting bonds are formed between Jews and Israel, which certainly must be one Birthright's goals. A Brandeis University study shows that programs such as Birthright help maintain a strong sense of connection between American Jews and Israel. Note that Birthright isn't limited to American Jews. Trips are open to those from 64 countries in the Jewish Diaspora.
New York's Little Syria
A lot of attention has turned to the proposed Islamic Cultural Center planned for New York's lower Manhattan, surely due to its proximity to Ground Zero. At best, many of the arguments against the center are short sighted, overlooking the neighborhood's history. At worst, many of the naysayers are pandering to xenophobia and Anti-Arab sentiment. What many don't realize is during the first half of the last century, this same section of lower Manhattan was home to “Little Syria”. This ethnic enclave was the destination of Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian immigrants, centered on Washington Street just steps from City Hall.
At that time, the Muslim population was no greater than 5%, as most of the Arab immigrants were Christians. No mosques served the community, but rather 3 churches served the mostly Christian immigrant population. This included St. George Chapel of the Melkite Rite, inactive, but still standing 103 Washington Street.
The Little Syria neighborhood has since been razed to make way for urban renewal projects, most notably the World Trade Center and the entrance to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.
At that time, the Muslim population was no greater than 5%, as most of the Arab immigrants were Christians. No mosques served the community, but rather 3 churches served the mostly Christian immigrant population. This included St. George Chapel of the Melkite Rite, inactive, but still standing 103 Washington Street.
The Little Syria neighborhood has since been razed to make way for urban renewal projects, most notably the World Trade Center and the entrance to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Soccer: Where sports and national pride intersect in Chicago
Soccer has never been as big a sport in the United States as let's say football, basketball or baseball. What keeps it alive here is the steady flow of immigrants, who import their passion for what the rest of the world refers to as "football". Only Americans refer to the sport under a different name, soccer.
Chicago's National Soccer League is a sports haven for new immigrants. The NSL is a competitive men's soccer league formed in the Chicago metropolitan area in 1919, making it one of the oldest soccer leagues in America.The league's teams serve as an outlet for both athletics and national pride. That's evident in the club names like FC Macedonia and Assyrian Blue.
But the flow of immigrants to fuel a team's roster often slows depending on what's happening in the mother land. As Croatia's economy has improved, the tide of new Croatian players stepping off the plane and heading to the fields has ebbed. That means the roster of the Croatian based RWB Adria now includes Lithuanian and Venezuelan players.
Chicago's National Soccer League is a sports haven for new immigrants. The NSL is a competitive men's soccer league formed in the Chicago metropolitan area in 1919, making it one of the oldest soccer leagues in America.The league's teams serve as an outlet for both athletics and national pride. That's evident in the club names like FC Macedonia and Assyrian Blue.
But the flow of immigrants to fuel a team's roster often slows depending on what's happening in the mother land. As Croatia's economy has improved, the tide of new Croatian players stepping off the plane and heading to the fields has ebbed. That means the roster of the Croatian based RWB Adria now includes Lithuanian and Venezuelan players.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
The Russians are coming
Neighborhood demographics change: it's part of the evolution of neighborhoods. A community that fails to attract newcomers is a community that is stagnant.
The latest chapter in the drama of ethnic change is Staten Island. The New York borough is now experiencing growing pains as Russian-Americans flock to the area.
Russian immigrants have long settled in Brooklyn, particularly neighborhoods like Brighton Beach and Sheepshead Bay. As their children come of age, many are now branching further out, especially to Staten Island.
The move does not come without resentment from long time Staten Island natives. The tension recently peaked over a community center proposed for a neglected property in South Beach. The center was perceived as something for the Russians, instead of a project that would benefit the whole community as a whole. Locals were not shy about expressing their displeasure at a recent civic meeting.
As is often the case, natives seem quick to forget that they too were once the newcomers. Surely there was a previous generation of Staten Island "natives" who didn't care for the influx of Italian-American and Irish-Americans who now see themselves as Staten Island's long time residents.
The latest chapter in the drama of ethnic change is Staten Island. The New York borough is now experiencing growing pains as Russian-Americans flock to the area.
Russian immigrants have long settled in Brooklyn, particularly neighborhoods like Brighton Beach and Sheepshead Bay. As their children come of age, many are now branching further out, especially to Staten Island.
The move does not come without resentment from long time Staten Island natives. The tension recently peaked over a community center proposed for a neglected property in South Beach. The center was perceived as something for the Russians, instead of a project that would benefit the whole community as a whole. Locals were not shy about expressing their displeasure at a recent civic meeting.
As is often the case, natives seem quick to forget that they too were once the newcomers. Surely there was a previous generation of Staten Island "natives" who didn't care for the influx of Italian-American and Irish-Americans who now see themselves as Staten Island's long time residents.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Welcoming a mosque
The city of Utica in Upstate New York has seen better days. Like many Rust Belt cities, Utica has seen its' share of businesses leave, followed by residents and its young people packing their bags to find their fortunes elsewhere.
However Bosnian immigrants are breathing new life into this down and out rust belt city. The Bosnians began arriving here during the 1990's, fleeing the war that tore apart their home country.
A key milestone marking the Bosnian's ascendency in Utica was the opening of the Utica Mosque. The mosque opened in 2008 in the United Methodist Church building. The significance does not go unnoticed that Utica's new mosque opened without controversy, whereas communities elsewhere in the United States struggle with proposed mosques, even in New York City. It's very well possible that the reaction to the mosque might not have been the same if Utica's Muslim population was dominated by Arabs, versus European Bosnians.
However Bosnian immigrants are breathing new life into this down and out rust belt city. The Bosnians began arriving here during the 1990's, fleeing the war that tore apart their home country.
A key milestone marking the Bosnian's ascendency in Utica was the opening of the Utica Mosque. The mosque opened in 2008 in the United Methodist Church building. The significance does not go unnoticed that Utica's new mosque opened without controversy, whereas communities elsewhere in the United States struggle with proposed mosques, even in New York City. It's very well possible that the reaction to the mosque might not have been the same if Utica's Muslim population was dominated by Arabs, versus European Bosnians.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The New England Holocaust Memorial
The New England Holocaust Memorial is located in Carmen Park, on Boston's Freedom Trail. It is one of the more interactive Holocaust tributes in the US, and its' design is rich in symbolism.
Six glass towers rise from the memorial. Six million numbers are etched in the glass, representing the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust.
Each tower represents one of the major Nazi extermination camps: Auschwitz-Birkenau, Belzec, Chelmno, Majdanek, Sobibor, and Treblinka.
Visitors pass through the towers on a black granite path. A steel grate covers a six foot deep chamber at the base of each tower. Smoke rises from charred embers at the bottom of these pits, evoking thoughts of the gas chambers used in the camps.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
A look at New Haven's Wooster Square
Many cities across America have their own "Little Italy" districts. These neighborhoods have experienced profound demographic changes as Italian-Americans migrated from the central city to the suburbs. While some are now mere memories in history, others remain alive as tourist districts, featuring Italian restaurants, bakeries and cafes. In New Haven that neighborhood is Wooster Square.
Italians first began moving to the area in the late 1800's, many hailing from Italy's Amalfi coast. The neighborhood was almost sacrificed to misguided urban renewal efforts in the 1950's and 60's by planners who saw more value in a highway versus a cohesive, walkable neighborhood. However city preservationists stepped in, and Wooster Square was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Demographics have changed somewhat since then. Yet the Italian flavor remains, and the
neighborhood is one of the more stable residential areas in a somewhat
downtrodden city.
Wooster Square is a popular destination for Italian food. On a chilly winter morning's visit, there was a substantial crown waiting to enter the storefront of Frank Pepe's Pizzeria. I doubt you'll find that kind of devotion or enthusiasm to grab a slice at your run of the mill pizza national chains like Papa Johns and Pizza Hut. That's what makes places like Wooster Square so special, something that malls and corporate franchises just can't duplicate.
Wooster Street Arch
Italians first began moving to the area in the late 1800's, many hailing from Italy's Amalfi coast. The neighborhood was almost sacrificed to misguided urban renewal efforts in the 1950's and 60's by planners who saw more value in a highway versus a cohesive, walkable neighborhood. However city preservationists stepped in, and Wooster Square was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Demographics have changed somewhat since then. Yet the Italian flavor remains, and the
neighborhood is one of the more stable residential areas in a somewhat
downtrodden city. Wooster Square is a popular destination for Italian food. On a chilly winter morning's visit, there was a substantial crown waiting to enter the storefront of Frank Pepe's Pizzeria. I doubt you'll find that kind of devotion or enthusiasm to grab a slice at your run of the mill pizza national chains like Papa Johns and Pizza Hut. That's what makes places like Wooster Square so special, something that malls and corporate franchises just can't duplicate.
Frank Pepe's Pizzeria
Statue of Christopher Columbus in Wooster Square Park
Brooklyn meets Poland
New York City, specifically Brooklyn, is a popular destination for Polish immigrants today. The importance of one Brooklyn neighborhood, Greenpoint, is evident in this scene from Krakow. A clothing store in the city's old town bears neighborhood's name.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Commendatore Menino
Thomas M. Menino is Boston's longest serving mayor, and the city's first Italian-American mayor. Now, Menino adds one more honor: the title of "Commendatore Menino" after being knighted by the Italian government. He joins a list that includes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and race car driver Mario Andretti.
A commendatore is a member of an Italian honorary order of chivalry who ranks next above an officer and next below a grand officer. The honor is awarded by decree of the President of Italy, and Menino's title was approved by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.
A commendatore is a member of an Italian honorary order of chivalry who ranks next above an officer and next below a grand officer. The honor is awarded by decree of the President of Italy, and Menino's title was approved by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.
Menino,
the city’s first Italian-American and longest-serving mayor, was
awarded the title by Boston’s outgoing Italian consul general Liberio
Stellino. The honor was approved by Italian President Giorgio
Napolitano. - See more at:
http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_politics/2010/08/very_special_knight_mayor_tom_menino#sthash.42dN3hvl.dpuf
Menino,
the city’s first Italian-American and longest-serving mayor, was
awarded the title by Boston’s outgoing Italian consul general Liberio
Stellino. The honor was approved by Italian President Giorgio
Napolitano. - See more at:
http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_politics/2010/08/very_special_knight_mayor_tom_menino#sthash.42dN3hvl.dpuf
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