Lipták Béla levele Christopher Dodd amerikai szenátorhoz, felkérve az 1956-os Megemlékező Bizottság társelnöki tisztségének elvállalására. Részlet a Magyar Lobbi 2004. április 2-i akció köréből.

March 26, 2004
Senator Christopher Dodd (D–CT)

Dear Senator Dodd, Dear Chris,

In 1956, on the streets of Budapest, the freedom-loving spirit of unarmed children mortally wounded Communism, while the free world idly stood by. On the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution, we will pay our respect to their memory and would like to remind the world of their historic role in unmasking Communist tyranny.

I would like to convey to you the invitation of the chairlady of our 1956 Commemoration Committee, Ms. Éva Szörényi, and I would like to ask that you accept the co-chairmanship of our committee. In order to emphasize that we are above party politics and to show that ours is an all-American effort, we will send the same invitation to Governor George Pataki also. I hope that both of you will accept it.

Ages ago, when you were running for your first public office, we held a fundraiser for you at our house. You complimented my wife on her freshly baked Hungarian bread, and you also told me that you have seen tears in your father’s eyes when he was watching the news from Hungary in 1956. It is to remind you of those days that I am sending you a copy of my diary: “A Testament of Revolution.”

Today, the state of Hungary is free, but the Hungarians who became foreigners without moving, because the borders have been redrawn around them, are not. Today, they make up Europe’s largest and most silent national minority. Their church properties, universities and their right for local self-government have still not been returned. When I invite you to accept the co-chairmanship of our committee, I also ask you to remember them and all national minorities of the world who are still yearning for their dignity and freedom.

Respectfully yours,
Béla G. Lipták, P.E.

Ugyanez a felkérés Tom Lantos képviselőhöz

2004. április 7.

“Dear Congressman Lantos, … I would like to support the invitation of the chairlady of our 1956 Commemoration Committee, Ms. Éva Szörényi, who asked you to accept the co-chairmanship of the committee. In order to emphasize that this effort is above party politics and to show that it is an all-American effort, the same invitation will also be sent to Representative Ernest Istook of Oklahoma.

Ages ago, when you were running for your first public office, we briefly met at a Hungarian fundraiser for you in New York. I recall that your wife wore an embroidered Transylvanian bodice. Because of this memory, I’d like to mention that the 3 million Hungarians who live as minorities today became foreigners without moving, because the borders have been redrawn around them. Today, they make up Europe’s largest and most silent national minority, experiencing discrimination and in some places (Vojvodina), even physical danger.

Romania does not seem to realize that her road into the EU leads through Transylvania. Most of the Hungarian church properties, universities and local self-governments have still not been returned.”

Béla Lipták

Forrás: Magyar Lobbi, 2004. április 2. és 2004. április 9.