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With regard to the "dog do" problem in Budapest, yes, I agree that it?s very unsightly, unsanitary and certainly disgustingly maddening - if you happen to step into it because you?re walking about without the "dog do" radar portion of your brain engaged.
Do the right thing
With regard to the "dog do" problem in Budapest, yes, I agree that it?s very unsightly, unsanitary and certainly disgustingly maddening - if you happen to step into it because you?re walking about without the "dog do" radar portion of your brain engaged. And, I agree that not cleaning up after a dog deserves at least the same level of punishment as that doled out by the ticket checkers on public transportation, but, I think that a system of rewards would be more beneficial than harshly enforcing punishment for offenders.
On occasion, I have witnessed dog owners who have done the right thing - produced a plastic bag, bent down, gathered up their beloved companion?s dropping and deposited it (securely wrapped) in a nearby trash container. This is one of those very personal, "care giver" things that we have to sometimes do for those we love, including our pets. It?s, of course, distasteful at first; but we do become accustomed to it.
If I were associated with a pet food firm, I would think that a very public campaign to reward "good dog owners" and solve this problem for Budapest would seem to be a very smart marketing idea. I?d pass out coupons for dog food, dog shampoo, or other pet products on the street to those pet owners who are witnessed "doing the right thing". I?d hand out tombola (raffle) tickets for attractive and expensive prizes to those same people. I?d send out personnel in teams to demonstrate to dog owners, just how to "clean up" after their dogs - all the while selling our products. The public relations would be great! Informed people would certainly buy more of the products of socially and environmentally conscious pet food company!
Personally, I believe that dogs are great! They really do give to us so much more than we give back to them. Dogs really love us and we love them. I think that older people, most especially, should have them as companions. Dog owners, rather than being punished, should be educated how to give their dogs better care and encouraged to be responsible.
Christopher Daniels
Received via email
Have you changed?
After my initial outrage upon reading Mr Szendi Csaba Victor?s letter to the editor (Issue 18, May 2-8), I realized that it is wonderful that narrow-minded people like him have an opportunity to expose their own and in this case also the weaknesses of the policies of his beloved Fidesz party.
I refuse to fall into the trap of the Fidesz methodology of forcing their opponents to refute point by point the factually and morally corrupt political attacks through which Fidesz, so far successfully, has controlled the topics to be debated.
Dear Mr Szendi Csaba Victor have you heard of Ireland? Kosovo? These are places where descendants of past generations routinely kill each other, without even knowing who got hurt by their neighbors and in which century.
I am of the generation that is old enough to have lived through and remember the outrages of the Rákosi era, as well as the 1956 Revolution. After college and a business career in the United States, I was lucky enough to receive an opportunity to contribute to life in my country of birth, Hungary.
What life and education have taught me, and obviously not taught Mr Szendi Csaba Victor, is what sets human beings apart from other animals. It is the ability to reason and more importantly, to change!
I was the most ardent anti-Communist you could imagine, having witnessed the destruction of my family?s and Hungary?s social and cultural fabric.
The survival of all of us, even Mr Szendi Csaba Victor, is dependent upon our being inclusive and continually broadening our knowledge and horizons. Education is action. The more we know, the less we have to fear, for it is ignorance that is the root of all conflict.
It seems to me that many former Communists have also changed. Have you Mr Szendi Csaba Victor even tried?
Allow me to list a few historical facts:
l Government control of the media through the ORTT, as well as the hijacking of the so-called public media.
l New broadcast frequencies issued only to those trusted comrades of the government in power.
l The use of limitless funds to publicize government-initiated programs and to support comrades with the identical points of view, while at the same time stifling opposing ideas and business opportunities.
l Killing virtually all projects tied to previous administrations.
l Creating huge public works projects without the use of internationally-recognized competitive bidding processes.
l Taking over foreign-owned contracts and justifying it by passing new laws that are retroactive.
l Continuing to employ in the highest power circles persons who were convicted of unlawful acts.
l Rejecting transparency in favor of nepotism.
l An arrogant lack of accountability.
l Limiting the function of the Parliament in favor of the Executive branch with its tightly-knit ideologically cloned cadres.
l The open fanning of nationalistic as well as unabashed anti-semitic fires, including the Minister of Justice?s reaction to a right-wing political leader?s racist statements made in connection with an incident involving a football club, where her comment was "... I do not understand football!"
And we could go on.
So, Mr Szendi Csaba Victor thank you for your apology for all the above transgressions of your beloved party, whose actions and procedures are frighteningly similar to those of the Kádár and Rákosi eras.
GDV
Media Expert
Budapest
We stayed
I have some thoughts on the letter "Disgruntled".
I am also disgruntled, as many people in Hungary have been for decades, for centuries. But in spite of all these troubles, we stayed and we are still here.
Thank you for caring about all our predicaments from the States. It is rather easy to be Magyar over there in America. Quite different than from here.
I think your description of us Hungarians living in Hungary ("deplorable gullible populace") rather impertinent.
You ask "Wherefore?" Yes, wherefore came my father when the Czechs got Pozsony, where Hungarian kings were crowned. He left there a big fortune, that his child, me, should become a Hungarian.
We had a rather hard life in our native country. My husband was a colonel who "naively" fought against the Soviet Union at Uriv at the Don Bend and died for this nation. Wherefore?
After the Soviet occupation I was a most discriminated against person. For decades I had to do hard, manual labor. I wasn?t prepared for it. Wherefore?
My paternal family lived in Austria. My maternal family lives in America. They are clever, hardworking people. They are also proud of their Hungarian roots, but that is that.
They wanted me to join them. It would have been an easier life, but there wouldn?t be any Hungarians at all if everybody had gone away.
I also fought valiantly until this very day. I owed it to my father and to my husband. Wherefore?
About corruption, sorry, we had it, even in the last four years.
Most people in our country hate extreme right-wing parties and extreme left-wing parties. Only a minority belong to those.
Both big parties will do their best for Hungary. There is the ruling party and the other one will be a strong opposition.
Mr Dudas?s letter gives me an opportunity to ask a question. In what way do American Hungarians help the country?
There is a big need in cultural areas and even more so in the health service. Our doctors and nurses go to Sweden and Denmark because their salary there will be about 10 times higher and because of better working conditions.
It is a pity and not good publicity for our country.
American Hungarians should like their native country and be vigilant. What will happen in the coming four years?
MP
Budapest
New scam
It is worth alerting people to this scam. It has happened to me twice.
Target... an older man or woman (distinguished) who is carrying a camera or briefcase or purse. A car stops (usually mid block) and the driver asks for some change (for a parking meter, a phone call, or what have you).
In the process they see how much money you have and look over your goodies.
His intent (guy working alone) is to grab a wallet and/or camera and get away in the car with the motor running.
It can happen anywhere. For me first near the Helia Hotel (carrying a briefcase) and a month later near the basilica (carrying a camera).
If you look at it it is a clever plan! But it is dangerous to the tourist!
I have lived here many years and have seen a lot of scams and set ups. This is one of the best thought out, especially attractive to tourists who might feel like helping someone in need.
Alan Landers
Received via email
Filled the gap
PS I enjoy almost everything about your paper. Lucy Mallows is a treasure/talent.
Regarding the story about the US citizen still waiting three years for the US Embassy to process his pension (Issue 19, May 9-15), the US Embassy in Budapest is famous for the disgusting way it treats people.
When my wife went there she found that no privacy was given to people who are interviewed, so that the whole waiting room can hear all of the tawdry details of a visa applicant?s story as the embassy staffer treats the applicant with total contempt
I have absolutely no desire to visit the US and will continue to spend my tourism dollars in more deserving countries.
My advice to Hungarians is to come to Canada rather than the US. You will be treated more humanely, the cost of living is cheaper here and you will feel safer on the streets.
Larry Bukta
Ontario
Canada
I have only recently discovered The Budapest Sun online. I am very impressed!
Thank you for providing a venue where I can read about current events in my homeland in English.
I am a Hungarian born person who grew up in Canada, with very limited Hungarian language skills.
Throughout most of my lifetime I have not had contact with my relatives.
While life has been very good in Canada, I have always felt a sense of being disconnected.
Recently I have been looking for a way to reconnect with my roots.
Finding The Budapest Sun has helped fill the gap for me. Just knowing something about the events going on in Hungary makes me feel more connected to my people.
László Soltész
Canada
Thanks to all
I would like to thank the citizens of Hungary for their hospitality during our week-long stay in Hungary. We visited your country as part of the annual South Africa events during April.
Your publication was very useful for us to understand the news and events in Hungary.
We extend our best regards.
Prof Christo Potgieter
Computer Technology
Technikon Pretoria
South Africa
16.05.2002
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