Let Not The Light Of Freedom Be Extinguished! American Home over 100 years of serving American- Slovenians Vol. 105, No. 33 American Home Ameriška Domovina1 SLOVENIAN MORNING NEWSPAPER USPS 024100 ISSN Number 0164-68X AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, AUGUST 21, 2003 Phone:(216)431-0628 e-mail: ah@buckeyeweb.com 70c Slovenia: a tradition of well-attended stage performances In addition to two opera and ballet houses and two puppet theaters, there are eight other professional theater establishments in Slovenia. The best known theaters are The Slovene National Theater Ljubljana (Drama SNG) and The Slovene National Theater Maribor, as well as The Youth Theater and Puppet Theater in Ljubljana. More than 650,000 people attend theater performances in Slovenia each year. Most theaters have six premier performances of Slovenian and foreign works annually and nearly all have ‘small stages’ which on average add another 10 performances a year. Slovenian theater represents one of the most respected traditions of Slovenian culture. December 28, 1789 is known as the ‘birthday’ of Slovenian theater, when the dramatist, poet, historian and one of the most important Slovenian national figures Anton Tomaž Linhart before a chosen audience of representatives of Ljubljana society on the stage of the Stanovsko Theatre in Ljubljana prepared the first performance in the Slovenian language of his comedy Zupanova Micka. After 1848, theater was developed by members of the national-political Slovene Society. In 1867 a Dramatics Society was founded in Ljubljana, and at the end of the 19lh century a new theater was built (The Provincial Theater, in 1892). In 1907 the Slovene theater in Trieste was founded, and in 1919 the theater in Maribor. St. Vitus Slovenian School Students Savor Slovenia St. Vitus Slovenian School 2002 and 2003 graduates enjoyed a two ^eek visit to beautiful s*°venia this summer. Pictured above are the students at Brezje, in front of p statue of the Holy Father, ^°Pe John Paul II, which as dedicated in remem- brance of his visits to Slovenia. The students are (bottom row), left to right, Kevin Bloom, Alex Leonard, Frankie Zitko, Michael Baznik; (top row), Rachael Gaser, Rezi Skrabec, Monika Percic, Melissa Zupan, Monika Bratkovič, and Stefi Hebebrand. At St. Mary’s (Collinwood) parish picnic at Slovenska Pristava in Harpersfield, Ohio on Sunday, Aug. 17, The Frances and Jane S. Lausche Foundation pledged a grant of $215,000 over five years toward the construction of the parish community center and its atrium. A check in the amount of $100,000 was given to pastor, Rev. John M. Kumse, left, by the foundation’s president, James V. Debevec, right.__________(Photo by phil hrvatin) Somehow We Made It — The Hard Way According to today s scraps and then rode down black and blue and learned to regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50, 60, 70s or even the early 80s, probably shouldn’t have survived. Our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paint. We had no childproof lids or locks on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we wore no helmets. Not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking. As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts and no air bags. Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from the ■ garden hose and not from a bottle. Horrors. We ate cupcakes, bread and butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we were not overweight because we were always outside playing. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem. We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the street lights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. No cell phones. Unthinkable. We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, video tape movies, surround sound, personal cell phones, personal computers, or Internet chat rooms. We had friends. We went outside and found them. We played dodge ball, and sometimes, the ball would really hurt. We fell out of trees, got cut and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. They were accidents. No one was to blame but us. We had fights and punched each other and got get over it. We rode bikes or walked to a friend’s home and knocked on the door, or rang the bell and they came outside. Some students weren’t as smart as others, so they failed a grade and were held back to repeat the same grade. Horrors. Tests were not adjusted for any reason. The idea of parents bailing us out if we got in trouble in school or broke a law, was unheard of. They actually sided with the school or the law. Imagine that! This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, and inventors, ever. We had freedom, failure, success, and responsibility -and we learned how to deal with it. Thanks to Bob Debevec and Barbara Gorka for this significant insight. AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, AUGUST 21, 2003 AMERICAN HOME AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA 6117 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103-1692 Telephone: 216/431-0628 - Fax: 216/361-4088 AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA (USPS 024100) James V. Debevec - Publisher, English Editor Dr. Rudolph M. Susel - Slovenian Editor Ameriška Domovina Permanent Scroll of Distinguished Persons: Rt. Rev. Msgr. Louis B. Baznik, Michael and Irma Telich, Frank J. Lausche, Paul Kosir NAROČNINA: Združene države Amerike in Kanada: $35 letno za ZDA; $40 za Kanado (v ZD valuti) Slovenija in tujina, letalska pošta, $165 letno (v ZD valuti) SUBSCRIPTION RATES United States and Canada: U.S.A.: $35 per year; Canada: $40 in U.S. currency Slovenia and other foreign: $165 U.S. per year (air) AMERICAN HOME (ISSN 0164-680X) is published weekly for $35 per year by American Home Pub. Co., 6117 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103-1692. Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, Ohio. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AMERICAN HOME, 6117 St. Clair Cleveland, OH 44103-1692. No. 33 August 21, 2003 mFLEcnom by mjm St. Jude, my hero Eddie Matoh Displays Love of Baseball by RUDY FLIS If it’s August 20th, it’s anniversary time. Another near perfect year with the girl of my dreams. Therese and I married, settled down and were ready to raise a family. All our married friends were having babies and we weren’t; and we were anxious for our first, so I could tell my sick mother she was to be a grandma again. Didn’t happen. Ever hear of St. Jude? If a situation seems impossible, he is the saint you turn to, the “Saint of the Impossible,” and we did. About 26 months after our marriage, our first son, Mike, was bom. But we had to turn to St. Jude again, and 29 months later, our first daughter, Mary, was bom. Then the babies started arriving about every one-and-a-half to two years. We quit praying to St. Jude. We wanted St. Jude out of our lives, before we grew out of our home. We will always be grateful to St. Jude, for we are truly blessed with our sons and daughters. I knew that one time I would meet St. Jude when I get to heaven, to thank him personally. We turned to St. Jude, and he was there for us. We said goodbye to him so he could help others. I never expected him in our lives again. Guess what? St. Jude is a part of our lives again, in a unique way. About three-and-a-half years past, I had to enter the hospital for a heart, valve replacement, a cow valve. Poor cow. A few hours after the operation, I opened my eyes. I was alive. Thank you Lord. Those working around me assured me all was well. I don’t know exactly when, but the doctor told me there were some problems, and they had to put a mechanical valve in me, a “St. Jude Valve.” I then knew I would be okay. I felt like an old friend had returned, and he didn’t bring a baby this time, so he was most welcome. I thanked God and my doctors and nurses for all that had been accomplished for my sake. But I never got to thank Dr. Demetre Ni-coloff for my St. Jude valve. He helped develop the valve and he implanted the first St. Jude Heart Valve in 1977. Last night, as I knelt by my bed, I prayed for Dr. Demetre Nicoloff, that his journey to heaven be swift and joyous. The impossible St. Jude, the genius of Dr. Demetre Nicoloff, are my life, and - it is the good life. Dr. Nicoloff was bom in Lorain, Ohio and graduated from Ohio State University. He went to Minneapolis and trained under Christian Barnard, the first successful heart transplant surgeon. Eddie Matoh struggles to be 5 feet tall, but to people at the Continental Amateur Baseball Association High School World Series, he might as well be Yao Ming or Shaq. No fan stands taller or prouder than the Cleveland Heights resident for the annual week-long series that runs in late July in Euclid, Ohio each summer. And he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I’ve been coming for 14 years,” said Matoh, 75. “I adore the game of baseball. I had a brother, Frank, play minor league baseball in class D, C and B for the Yankees in the 1940’s. He broke his leg in British Columbia and ended up quitting. He went into softball and ended up in the Hall of Fame in Euclid. “I always sit behind the plate. I like to see what the pitcher has on the ball. That’s the attraction along with all the wonderful people I’ve met from different states. I’ve really learned a lot.” Matoh, like Howard Cosell, never played the game, but has always loved it. A 1948 graduate of Col-linwood High School, he moved to Cleveland Heights in 1964. He worked for 39 years and eight months as production control coordinator for Chase Brass & Copper in Euclid before retiring. Like an NCAA basketball junkie who lives for March Madness, or a horse-player eyeing the Triple Crown, Matoh can’t wait until the third week in July when the top high school baseball players in the nation come to Euclid. Eddie Matoh “The long ball hitting is what I love along with smart pitching,” Matoh said. “I’ve got autographs from A-Rod and Josh Hamilton. I’ll do this until I croak. This and bowling, but now that I have arthritis, I can’t lift the ball.” Matoh starts to get the World Series bug about a month before the event starts when he e-mails CABA newsletter editor John Mocny about the event. The two correspond and Mocny fills in the dates, teams and times of the tournament. “I want to see next year’s professionals today,” Matoh said. “I’ve got all the data for the 14 years I’ve been here. I’ll keep score if it’s two teams I like and notes on the players. I see as many games as I possibly can. I’ve been a big Miami fan and they’re not here this year.” Miami, managed by Dade County Corrections Officer Dave Westberry, has been in Euclid for most if not all of Match’s visits to the ball park, but the string ended this season. Westberry is currently running seven CABA tournaments *n Gainesville, Fla. “When I e-mailed John and he told me Miami wasn’t coming, it broke my heart, Matoh said. Match’s heart mends fast. As Euclid took on Mexico City in the last game on day two, Matoh was sitting on his seat cushion behind the backstop. And loving it. Thousands of fans have passed through the turnstiles since Euclid first landed the CABA High School World Series 18 years ago. Matoh has grabbed their hearts. “That man down there has been coming to games for as long as they’ve been here, said Ray Fisher, a long-time member of the Euclid baseball program and a 2002 Hall of Fame inductee. “He’s our top fan,” said tournament chairman Ed Carpenter. -Paul Svig®1 Euclid Sun Journ0' To be mature means to face, and not evade, every fresh crisis that comes along. ___________________ -Fritz Kunkel Keep a definite goal of achievement constantly in view. Realize that work well and worthily done makes life truly worth living. -Bob Mill5 100 WORDS MORE OR LESS by John Mercina “How We Treat People” (Received via e-mail, author unknown. Part II) □ Third Important Lesson (The obstacle in our path) “In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on the roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upoh approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. He finally succeeded After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition. U Fourth Important Lesson (Giving when it counts) “A little girl named Liz was suffering from a rare disease. Her only chance of recovery was to get a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, wb° had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed antibodies-The doctor explained the situation to her little brother and asked him if be would be willing to give his blood to his sister The little boy agreed...’if d will save her’. As the transfusion progressed, his face grew pale and he asked the doctor: ‘Will I start to die right away?’ The little boy misunderstood the doctor, thinking that he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her. “ Ufe in the Refugee Camps by ANTON ŽAKELJ translated and edited by JOHN ŽAKELJ Sunday, April 6, 1947 Easter We went to Mass at 6 a m. and 8 a.m. The singing was beautiful, and we were inspired by a sermon about Christ’s resurrection, and the hope that justice will someday prevail. For lunch we had a good soup from the camp kitchen and Cilka baked some potatoes and meat in our room. In the afternoon, our friends Tomaz and Dora arrived on a visit from Feld-hirchen. It was a nice warm afternoon. We walked to the church at Maria Buch. In the evening, we had a good din-ner of pork and macaroni. We are very happy with the way we were able to celebrate Easter today. We had good food, and enough of it - a stark contract to last year, when we were literally starving. Friday, April 11,1947 Our roommate Franc Demšar has been sentenced to 1 - 3 months in jail. The camp informed us that we will no longer receive food rations for him. I brought him a large package today: bread, apples, bacon, cigarettes, clothes, and so on. The jailer wouldn’t let me talk with him. I heard they may move him to Graz, which is about 40 miles away. For the rest of the day, I worked on a bobbin lace design to fill an order from Dr. Potokar. Saturday, April 12,1947 I sold 170 shillings worth of bobbin lace at the hospital today. My brother’s radio worked well for a week after I had it repaired, but today I took it in for repairs again. I think it’s breaking down because of the constant variation in our electrical voltage. The electrical transformer for the camp is overloaded and often shuts down. We have been asked not to use electric hot plates in the evening, but nobody pays any attention. The wire which runs through our room to Zupan’s room glows all night. When will it start a fire? Mire returned from his job at Zeltweg in a bad mood; he injured his arm while doing heavy manual labor. Sunday, April 13,1947 The camp kitchen made polenta and goulash for lunch. In the evening, we Anton Žakelj Says Thanks to Everyone &ear friends and readers of ^ memoirs: I am sorry that I was un-able to reply to the many good wishes and congratula-frons received for my 96th kkthdav on June 13. At that frnie I was experiencing |°me bleeding and weight °Ss- Through various tests, Joe doctors determined that I ”a it, and he said that one of our g camp leaders, Dr. Est, was £ involved in obtaining The flour. The police arrested both of them. Wednesday, April 16,1947 I went to Fohnsdorf and got orders for 420 shillings of bobbin lace. The Austrian police searched barracks 13 and 16 and arrested 6 people, including Rudolf Primožič, probably because they found some leather drive belts in his room. He had probably bought them so he could make something out of the leather, but apparently they had been stolen. A total of 16 people from our camp are in prison now. A particular policeman seems intent on making life difficult for us. (To Be Continued) Ed Jerse Runs for Congress . State Representative Edward S. Jerse of Euclid, the senior Democrat in the Ohio House of Representatives, has formed a campaign committee in a step toward a race for the United States Congress from the 14th District in 2004. Jerse, 45, is term-limited in the Ohio House and called a race for Congress “a logical next step.” He expects to make a formal announcement of candidacy, in the early Fall. The 14,h District encompasses Lake, Ashtabula and Geauga Counties and portions of Trumbull, Portage, Summit and eastern Cuyahoga Counties that is now represented by Republican Steve La Tourette. Married and the father of four, Jerse is the ranking Democrat on the House Finance and Appropriations Committee and has served in that capacity on the Ways and Means and Criminal Justice Committees. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and Harvard Law School, and serves on the Adjunct Faculty at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. At 16, Jerse served as a page in the United States House of Representatives through an appointment by former Congressman Charles A. Vanik, and he worked in Mr. Vanik’s Capitol Hill office while attending Georgetown. A conservative Democrat, Jerse says he will appeal to independents and Republicans and stress the need to restore balance in Washington. “For seven years. I’ve watched exclusionary, one-party rule in Columbus and it’s been terrible for this State,” he said. “The same thing is happening in Washington, and unless we restore some balance we will continue to have weak, short-sighted policies on the economy, education, social security, and prescription drugs.” ŠKA DOMOVINA, AUGUST 21, 2003 AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, AUGUST 21, 2003 Mlakar Walks Down Memory Lane by RAY MLAKAR Hip, hip, hooray. Ray is back and in spite of what you may have read in last week’s American Home about running for Governor of California, I feel it is sufficient that we have “One Terminator” running. Well, time to check my joke catalog. It seems two country ministers were fishing buddies. One day they took a visiting preacher with them. After awhile, one of the ministers said he needed to make a phone call. He stepped out of the boat and walked across the water to shore. The visiting preacher could not believe his eyes. He had never seen such a show of faith. Shortly after, the minister returned, and the second minister said he had to call his office. He got out, walked across the water, made his call, then walked back to the boat. The Preacher was quite amazed at their faith and decided to prove his faith. He stepped over the side of the boat and sank. The two fishing buddies looked at each other and one said, “I guess we should have told him where the stumps were.” Okay, one more before I head for California for my campaigning. A rather frugal man was becoming increasingly hard of hearing. He decided that a hearing aid was too expensive, so he wrapped a piece of ordinary wire around his ear. “Do you hear better now with that wire wrapped around your ear?” asked a curious friend. “Not a bit,” the man replied, “but everybody talks louder.” Well, time to get back to my job, at U.S. Post Office, Air Mail Field, Hopkins Airport, for that is one thing I do not want to do is hold up the mail. Can’t say things improved as the weeks went by putting in 10 and 12 hour days. It goes without saying that when I got home, my butt was dragging. It seems that a day did not go by that the boss would not remind me that I would have to go downtown for the Scheme test. He gotta be kidding. I have not had time to study and told him in no way would I pass for with putting in 12 hour shifts, I just couldn’t find the time to study. He was a fairly good chap and says, “Mlakar, I hate to see you give up and I am going to send a note down to the Main Post Office asking that they give you a four week postponement.” “Thanks,” | said, “but I doubt if in that time I will be ready.” “Try, huh?” In the meantime it seems that I was always getting yelled at saying, “Where are the bags for flight 266? The airport attendants are driving over in their little scooter to pick up those bags to be put on flight 266.” What the hell did I know about flight numbers, they meant nothing to me. I was becoming one nervous wreck and finally one night when I was about to leave for the day, I asked the boss if he could give me a hand. “I’ll try,” he said, “what is the problem?” I said when those ding-a-lings yell off those flight numbers asking me if I have the mail bags tagged and by the ramp for pickup, those flight numbers mean absolutely nothing to me. I said since I start rriy shift at 08:00 AM and work until 07:00 PM recite the flight numbers to me, naming the airlines and what bags of mail for what cities should be tied up and ready for pickup at the ramp. He was patient with me and said, “I am glad you are taking an interest.” “Interest, hell,” I said. “I am just sick and tired of them yelling where is the mail for Flight 244 or 296. So I spend an extra hour writing out a schedule of the time, flight numbers, airlines, and what mail of the various cities were to be ready, bagged for pickup at the ramp.” “Hope that helps,” the boss said. You bet it will help, for I promise you that today was the last day they are going to yell at me. On my way home I stopped by Kozely’s Hardware store and told Helen Kozely I need some cardboard boxes and she said to help yourself, they are out back ready to be burned. I went out back and found a nice box approximately 18 inches high and took it home. I cut it in a manner that it could be bi-folded like an accordion. Ma said, “Aren’t you going to eat?” Not yet, got some typing I gotta do first and went upstairs and dragged out the old Remington. Just in case my readers forgot, a Remington is an old type manual typewriter that operated not by electricity, but by 10 fingers. I proceeded to type from the list I had written before I left my shift at the airport. Typed with the first flight that would be taking off as I started my shift and proceeded to the last that ended just before 7 p.m. at that time I was through. I pasted the sheets to the accordion cardboard folder box and felt now Ray was ready. Never did get a chance to get back downstairs for late supper and went right to bed. It seems it was only hours before the alarm clock said it was time to get up and start all over again, but this time it would be a New Day. I got to the airport with my folded accordion cardboard box and stood it above the rack where I was sorting mail. Ray was ready. Long before the “Screwball” yelled, flight 286, Ray had it ready, bagged, tagged and at the ramp ready for the flight boys from the airport to pick it up. The regulars at the airport on that shift were amazed at my idea for now I never heard any screwball yelling flight numbers to me, for Ray and the bagged mail were ready. I heard more than one old timer say, “Why didn’t we think of that, making a chart and putting it above the sorting bin?” I had some answers to that, but I can’t use any foul language in composing this column. The only good thing that I can remember at the airport was when a flight was canceled due to bad weather, engine trouble or whatever and it seemed that the flight ramp boys would drop by the airmail field post office and drop off slew’s of “In Flight Meals” for us to eat since the flight was canceled. Goes without saying that I prayed for canceled flights, bad weather, engine trouble whenever I felt I did not have enough to eat. Low and behold the day of reckoning came for the boss said, “Tomorrow Ray, you don’t report for work here, but go down to the Main Post Office to take your scheme test; you can do it. You gotta be kidding I said, no way will I waste their time or mine just to find out I failed completely. But Stimburys Accounting Accounting & Income Tax Services 496 E. 200th St.. Euclid, OH 44119- •v (216) 404-0990 Fax (216) 404-0992 taxtime @en. com http://stlmburysaccounttng.com Enrptied to Practice Before toe Internal Revenue Service Servibn&ndMduals Corporations & Small Businesses. I did take off and went downtown but not to the Main Post Office, but instead I went to the Navy Finance Center at East eighth street which was across the street from the old Holliden Hotel. Later, I learned that a lot of the military both male and female Navy personnel were housed at the hotel as their place of lodging which was convenient for them for they just had to walk across 18th street and into the Navy Finance Center. At that time, that Navy Finance Center operated the entire payroll, all disbursements for all Navy Personnel. I was lucky and they had a job for me at FAA (Family Allowance Activity), working as a file clerk but taking a cut in pay. I went back to the post office the next day. I told the boss I did not take the test and instead went to the Navy Finance Center and got a job there, “kay,” he said, “I am disappointed. You were one hell of a worker and I hate to see you go.” I said you know, boss, I would have been willing to spend the next 20 years here at the air mail field providing you would never ask me to take a scheme test again. “Wish I could do that, Ray, but I can’t.” Fortunately, Saturday was my last day at the airmail field and as luck would have it, it was bad weather and one flight after the other was canceled and we had meals coming in from the airlines right and left that evening. “Ray,” the boss said, “I guess with all the free meals, the airlines may have gotten word that this would be your last day here.” I smiled and said, “Yeah,” I hate to say good bye.” He said Ray I would like to ask you for a favor. Pray tell, what is it? I asked. “When you leave tonight can you please leave your accordion flight schedule listing box stay above your bin, as a memento and yet serve a new guy coming in so we won’t have to yell at him?” “You got it,” I said. With that I said my good bye sadly for I felt I really had the job down pat at the air mail field for over the past months. I not only learned how to sort mail on a train, I got to know what “Specials” meant and above all I knew what they meant when they said Flight 286. With that, it is time to close and right now even Jim Debevec has me confused for I don’t know if I should pack for California and start campaigning for Governor or head east for East 18th Street for the Navy Finance Center. I am afraid that you will have to wait until next week to find out my future if there is one. In the meantime, May the good Lord Bless and Watch over all of you and keep you all in the best of health. Stimburys Accounting Accounting & Income Tax Services 496 E. 200th St.. Euclid, OH 44119- .(216)404-0990 Fax (216) 404-0992 taxtime @en. com http://stimburysaccounttng. com Enrolled to Freebee Before toe Internal Revenue Service Setvicin&ndMduals Corporations & Small Businesses. Jbk. O/itui. Q/ittacji 6114 Lausche Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44103 Are you ready to enjoy your retirement? Well then, St. Vitus Village may be the place for you. The village is a pleasant, relaxing environment with a large, beautifully landscaped courtyard. The village apartments are complete with appliances, including a washer and dryer. The facility has surveillance cameras, secured parking, fire protection, 24 hour emergency monitoring, cable TV and much much more. Feel free to contact Rudy Sterk at (216) 361-0300 with any question on how you or a family member can become a resident in our very special community. First Order of Checks FREE □pen a GIB Free Checking Account and Receive Your First Order of Checks Free Oder valid with coupon only Must present coupon when opening this account e unires 12.31 03 0111 you Checking pay $0 $0 $0 Unlimited Transaction?, Monthly Service Fee Cancelled Checks Returned GLE3 Debit Card Monthly Statement Charge STAR ATM Use in Ohio ■lit a ATM • ■ No Hidden Fees. No Minimum Efalence. No Fine Print. GIB GREAT LAKES BANK ' .Wu tin Main Office: 7001 Center- St reet rvylentor OH 44000 4da.ay4 oooo rate $ SfAR Here to There: Traveling Abroad Safely 5 bySTEPHANIE HAMILL Sir Francis Bacon once said, “Travel in the younger sort, is a part of education; in fte elder, a part of experi-ence.” Many Americans ^ee since more than 20 million traveled abroad in 2001, according to the fed-eral government’s office of Travel and Tourism Indus's. Staying safe while Raveling is a frequent con-Cern. Some simple guidelines can ensure safety abroad, Says Radford University’s international Education Center director, Joe Flory. ‘Safety is my top con-j^rn,” says Flory, who has een traveling abroad for the Past 30 years and has visited iapan, China and Europe. try to work with stu-dents who are studying abroad, with the faculty di-rectors leading the programs with parents to make ®Ure they have adequate in-.Ormation regarding safety 'ssues.” Flory takes steps to ensure f^dent and director safety JJduding distributing a “Pre-eParture Handbook” that covers everything from how to pack to managing money abroad, issuing emergency cards that are the size of a business card that include phone numbers for the Center, himself and American embassies abroad, and supplying cell phones or calling cards for directors. One such director is Stevan Jackson, an ethnomusicologist who has taken numerous trips to Ireland and Scotland with students and without. He says there are several things he tells his student groups before traveling and recounts a story of one student of his falling into a diabetic coma because he hadn’t taken his medicine. The student was fine after a few days in the hospital, but it underscored the importance of communication and the responsibility of taking care of yourself abroad. Before considering your destination, Flory recommends checking the State Department’s web page for travel advisories. Given the green light, Flory and Jack-son recommend the following tips for staying safe out- side U.S. borders: 1. - Come prepared to have everything you need to take care of yourself as if you were still at home. To properly pack, prepare a detailed checklist of everything you know you need on a daily basis, such as any medications. It is important for the traveler to be able to take care of himself/herself to be able to enjoy the journey. 2. - Be aware of your surroundings. Do research, use your common sense and don’t wander through unfamiliar areas alone. Always stay alert to what is going on around you. If you do your homework beforehand and get to know the area, then vou’ll know where not to go. Also, you can read a local paper to get a feel for where some of the more potentially dangerous areas are. In general, try to avoid being engulfed by a crowd. This is the preferred environment for pickpockets. 3. - Buddy up with a fellow traveler, or better yet, two. Lone travelers are frequent targets. Especially at Record Crowd Again for 185 St. Festival ^yjONY PETKOVŠEK The amazing throngs at e largest neighborhood >ton East 185th Street for ^ days from July 30 until j. 8- 3 really makes the Fes-** a truly special occasion thuch talked-about event lch saw even more diver-J than ever in the types of attendance. 'he Perry School area H .^ed the true and origi-it$ world” motif rwith tjj many polka bands enter-0tl ln8 hundreds of dancers a lhe huge outdoor dance r- And these weren’t just any P°lka dancers as was w'th the great inter-e 'n Polka and waltz dance CarTtS Won ky Stan and ailc ^enov'c and Toe Blat-Spe ^ad Rose Braidich re-Cvely. The irony was won as a couple, $100 Tu ^ttificates, courtesy of L, *ain Dealer, to the Hard °CkCafe. repJhe Polka Hall of Fame rocord sales at its Vik1 S ^*ue keer stand vqk s to a group of about 50 He teers w^0 couldn’t, at HfS ^Ur'n§ the five nights, Hre ast enough. And yes, Htii 'Vas Free “suds” at the q nS 3nd closing events. Hj^Pan, Slovenian, HiJan’ kalian were just Hlw. °F the entertainment H jf5 "'ho were enjoyed by I'ig banV *n attendance in the eer garden area on the school lot. Along with that, old time big band music could also be heard on a regular basis, plus even barbershop harmonizing. Despite heavy rain showers in other areas of Greater Cleveland, there really was no rain in sight during the first four days, and the downpour on Sunday morning didn’t even ruin the scheduled polka mass and the big parade. By mid-aftemoon the sun was again shining. The fact that people by the hundreds came with their umbrellas on Sunday proves the popularity of this unique event. In the street at two other bandstands you could rock and roll to the usual festival favorite bands along with some alternative groups, too. Thousands of younger faces jammed the street until the wee hours complimenting the already established earlier crowds on the school grounds. A surprise came for three of us being enshrined in the new North Collinwood Hall of Fame in the persons of Councilman Mike Polenšek, Carl Bork of Real Hardware, and myself for our years of dedication to the biggest neighborhood gathering. And on a more personal note, I thank the parade winners of Cebar’s Tavern for their thoughtful display of special t-shirts with a theme - “The Reason for the Season” that saluted myself. It was a totally unexpected gesture for which I am grateful to the Cvelbar family and especially Cebar’s managers - Tom and Frank. You really pulled a fast one on this volunteer member of the Festival committee these many years, more than I could ever imagine. There were some key individuals who really helped to make the five day event a smooth success. In addition to the great response, there were many corporate sponsors and underwriters who were involved thanks to the contact made by Ray Somich of Spirit Media. And the behind-the-scenes Northeast Shores folks who headed the management team included Pat McNamara and Vera Kozlowski plus the man in charge of the many concessions, Nick Foradis (Nick’s Gyros). It appears that many local community organizations will be the beneficiaries of the net proceeds from the silver anniversary festival backed by the Northeast Shores Development Corporation of North Collinwood. It is hoped this will ensure a better more vital community throughout the year in the northeast sector of the city of Cleveland. night, make sure you go out with at least one other person from your group. Regardless of how many of you travel together, stick to well-lit streets. 4. - Don’t call attention to yourself Dress conservatively. The more you blend in with the locals, the less of a target you will be. This includes wearing flashy jewelry, using expensive cameras or technological equipment and acting particularly boisterous. Flory recommends to RU students observing local students’ behavior and trying to mimic it. 5. - Respect the culture. There is a certain amount of protocol traveling abroad, and the more you know about the customs and culture of a country, the better. Remember, you are a guest in their country. 6. - Communication is a necessity. Let people at home as well as those in your traveling party know where you are and how to get in touch with you. If you and a few others in a bigger party are going to split off and tour a different nart of town or go even further into the country, be sure to give detailed information to the program director about where you are going. If you are with a group that has a schedule, make sure somebody at home has that schedule and try to stick as closely to it as possible. 7. —Be aware of different traffic / pedestrian rules. Remember, in other countries pedestrians may not have the right of way and that drivers in many countries drive on the left side of the road. If you are driving, be sure to have familiarized yourself with the local traffic laws and follow them. Don’t forget to wear your seat-belt. 8. - Use only official transportation methods. Before you travel abroad, research the different transportation available to you as well as the costs. If you are taking a taxi, be sure it is an official taxi. If there is not a meter, settle on the fare before you get it. 9. —Protect your money and passport. Always keep them with you in a front pocket, money belt or a closely held purse. By preparing an expected budget ahead of time, you should know how much money to bring with you. 10. - Watch what you eat and use common sense personal hygiene. Your diet can greatly affect how you feel on a trip. If you don’t eat well and drink enough water you may feel run down and not enjoy the experience as much. In some countries it may also be prudent to avoid certain local fare and water and stick to bottled water and energy bars to avoid getting sick. With common health concerns abroad, it is prudent to practice good hygiene such as washing your hands frequently and avoiding close personal contact. Experience is the hardest kind of teacher. It gives you the test first and the lesson afterward. Correction from Mark Ryavec I have just gotten back from a very hot Italy and France to find orders for the atlas at $50, both the English and Slovenian versions, so apparently I must have made an error in what I submitted to the A.D. The 1/3 off price - $50 - is only for the Slovenian language version of the atlas. I just looked at the article that ran on July 31st in the A.D. and it does not make this distinction. Please run a correction noting that it is only the Slovenian language version of the National Atlas of Slovenia that is being offered at $50. The English version is still $75. —M Ryavec Books of Slovenia lowf Vettumdi Polk, America's Longest Running Daily Show Since 1961 Jfe 2 Hours Daily 3-5 pm / Saturdays 12-2 pm - WVlB From Kollander World Travel, 971 East 185th St. • Cleveland and Harbortowne Point, Fairport Harbor Simulcast in Lake County on Ch. 28, AT&T Broatfcand Cable V' " (216) 481 -8669 or (216) 952-8669 "At the pulse of an ever busy polka and Slovenian Community" Offering complete Community News daily and phone in Polka Opinion every Monday Featuring: ALICE KUHAR (Recipes and Traditions) DUKE MARSIC (Strictly Slovenian News) PATTY SLUGA (Women's Interviews) ED OSTRY (Guest co-host) AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, AUGUST 21, 2003 i Tsnnnv ‘vMT'*oT*T'^rif 5 The Old Country - Europe 1937 £ (Continued from last week) by JOE GLINŠEK On another trip, we met all the relatives on my mother’s side of the family, and stayed with the Mums who also had a gang of kids. Grandpa’s sister Manca, whose proper name was Ann, was married to Karl Mum. Their home was in Trepča Vas near Žužemberk on the river Krka that flowed past Novo Mesto. This be-i came the base from which ' we visited other friends and relatives during the next few weeks. Novo Mesto was much smaller than Ljubljana, but it was the urban center of that region. Oxen were used for plowing and hauling, and life at the Mums was totally rural. They were less educated than my father’s side of the family, probably because their grueling work consumed each day, but they were every bit as gracious and hospitable. Before seeing the real work of farming, we were treated to an example of some annual fun. We traveled in a horse-drawn wagon to their version of a county fair which happened to coincide with our arrival. A well-crafted and beautifully maintained four-wheeled wagon was their most prized possession. Mounted on its side was a hand-carved plaque listing their name and address. The much less impressive horse was jokingly called Alija, said to be the Slovenian name for a mythical god of speed. He was past his prime, sway-backed, and certainly not speedy, so despite it being my first experience on a horse, 1 felt quite safe on his broad back. He was like a member of the family and pulled the wagon when pressed. But he had only one speed - very slow. We jammed aboard the wagon with most of the family and headed for Novo Mesto and the semenj, sort of a county fair. It seemed a very long ride, although the town was only 10 miles distant. With Alija pulling his best, it took us well over two hours. At one point, the women and girls stopped the wagon and scattered out into the tall weeds. Gracefully squatting, they lifted their skirts to relieve themselves just as casually as if they were picking daisies. Apparently the ladies, though modestly clothed in long dresses, didn’t bother with ‘undies.’ Their actions were very innocent, natural, and earthy. They requested the stop by asking to go "na '■ stran," a polite term for going to the toilet. It also translates literally as “on the side,” and off to the side they went. Meanwhile, the men and boys ‘went’ behind the nearest tree or bush. At the semenj a festive air prevailed as people from all the surrounding villages came together at the fair. We weren’t carrying any live animals, but there were some wrapped packages to be sold or traded. The fair was not just an ordinary market, but an annual festival. It combined the business of buying or trading farm animals with fun, food, drink, and music, much the same as our own county fairs. Of course, there were no amusement rides, major entertainers or row upon row of vendors, but it was the big social event of the year. Some folks bought various farm animals to sell. Our cousins might have done the same, but our wagon was already bursting with people. The many cattle, oxen and horses that were lined up for sale or trade, were led there by people living closer to the scene or were tied and trailed behind their wagons. Business was transacted as in days of old, when bartering was the principal form of commerce: I saw very little^ money changing hands. We had left early in the morning and were home at dusk. It had been a long tiring day of milling around in a hot dusty field, but it was a happy event. The next day it was farm work as usual, for both men and oxen. These were animals I’d never seen, and the size of the ‘pies’ they dropped was a big surprise. In 1937, oxen were the farm tractors in these parts, which is an indication of where these farmers stood on the scale of progress. Their method of harvesting grain was also reminiscent of centuries past. Some type of grain was being gathered in the fields by women cutting the dry stalks with sickles. On a breezy day later in our stay, these same women laid out a large heavy cloth in front of the bam, preparing to separate the chaff from the grain. Right to Life Spaghetti Dinner St. Mary’s Collinwood Holy Name Society will hold their annual spaghetti dinner on Saturday, Sept. 6 in the school cafeteria from 6 to 8 p.m. Donation is $7.00 for adults and $3.00 for children under 12 years of age. Proceeds of the dinner are to support the Holy Name Society’s Right to Life Program. Baskets of dry clusters were spread on the cloth and they began beating them with flails. These were made from a pair of whittled sturdy branches, pegged together to make a pivoting joint. Swinging the flail and slamming it down on the clusters of grain was heavy work, and I remember seeing these tools and methods in a diorama of ancient Egypt. Four women rotated around the cloth, striking it from all angles. Others then gripped the comers of the cloth and tossed the pile into the air for the breeze to carry off the chaff which was gathered and bundled as fodder or hay. After many repetitions of this archaic technique of flailing and winnowing, the job was finished on their knees, handpicking debris from the grain. Having all these living necessities to take care of, there was no need of a workout video to stay in shape. By any standards, these people were living hard lives of arduous labor. Years later, we were looking through photos of our trip and I was guessing at the ages of the older people in the 1937 pictures. I was wrong by an average of 15 years: they were that much younger than they looked. (To Be Continued) A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it. —William Styron Mladi Dolenjci at Pristava Popular Slovenian Ansambel Mladi Dolenjci plays music at Slovenska Pristava on Saturday, Aug. 30. Music for the picnic begins at 6 p.m. Plenty of good food available including fresh Slovenian sausage and čevapčiči. Mladi Dolenjci is a unique ansambel where musicians sing softly and appealing. Do not miss this “veselica.” Enjoy music, dance and have a great time. —Milan For Rent E. 200 & Neff Large one bedroom apt. New appliances and carpet. No pets. $450 a month. 440-951-3087 IVORY ČITY PIANO SERVICE Albert J. Koporc, Jr. 27359 Tungsten Rd. Euclid, OH 44132 216-731-9780 Coming Events Saturday, Aug. 30 Slovenian Ansambel Mladi Dolenjcu plays music at Slovenska Pristava, starting at 6 p.m. Plenty of food available. Sunday, Sept. 7 Collinwood Slovenian Home Musicfest honoring Eddie Roddick. Sat., Sun., Sept. 13,14 Annual Bishop Baraga Days in Indianapolis. Saturday, Sept. 13 Over 100 Folklore Dancers Kres performance at Slovenian National Home, Cleveland, 7 p.m. Music by Veseli Godci. Tickets $10. Call (216) 486-0713. Saturday, Sept. 13 Wine and Cheese Festival at Slovenian National Home, 3563 E. 80 dolini so začeli obi-b0 zS°dnje vrste hmelja, ki ga Še 2aradi visokih temperatur in su- nianj kQt Ianh ko so ga natrgali 2300. V Sloveniji je 1650 hektarih 60 odsto-žte aurore *n 15 odstotkov savinjskega goldinga, po katerem je veliko povpraševanje, saj rg]^23 s°rto z nizkimi pridelki. Poročila pravijo (tudi s fotografijami), da so nekatere aiih h ^VroPi in tucii v Sloveniji skoro rekordno nizki, Sora je na primer najnižja v zad-Csetih letih. Vročinski val po večjem delu evropske celine bolj ali manj še traja. sPod v>adi iz Iz Clevelanda in okolice Vrtna veselica na Pristavi— V soboto, 30. avgusta, vas vabi na Slovensko pristavo odbor te ustanove in sicer na vrtno veselico. Od 6. ure zvečer naprej bo za ples in zabavo igral ansambel “Mladi Dolenjci” iz Slovenije. Kuharice bodo poskrbele za dobro hrano, tudi za žejne bo na voljo široka izbira pijač za vsak okus. To bo sicer začetek Delavskega dne narodnega praznika. Vsi člani in prijatelji SP vabljeni! Upokojenci SP— Klub upokojencev Slovenske pristave ima sejo v sredo, 27. avgusta, popoldne ob 1.30 na SP. Vsi člani in članice vabljene. 50. obletnica— V soboto, 27. septembra, bo v Slovenskem narodnem domu na St. Clairju praznovala 50. obletnico ustanovitve radijska oddaja “Pesmi in melodije iz naše lepe Slovenije”. Za podrobnosti in informacije: 440-256-2691. Novi grobovi Rudy Kristavčnik Dne 15. avgusta je v Heather Hill Health centru umrl 73 let stari Rudy Kristavčnik iz Chesterlanda, prej živeč v Clevelandu, rojen 4. aprila 1930 v Drešinji vasi, Slovenija, mož Ivanke, oče Elizabeth, Rudolpha J. in že pok. Mary, brat Stanko-ta, Jožeta, Zofke Kolenc ter že pok. Danice, Pavle in Toneta, zaposlen pri General Electric Co. 27 let, do svoje upokojitve leta 1994, član Štajerskega kluba in pevskega zbora Korotan. Pogreb je bil 20. avgusta v oskrbi Cosicevega zavoda na Chardon Rd. s sv. mašo v cerkvi sv. Vida in pokopom na Vernih duš pokopališču. Tillie Vranekovic Dne 13. avgusta je umrla 89 let stara Tillie Vranekovic, vdova po Franku, mati Donne Rackar 2-krat stara mati, 3-krat prastara mati, sestra Sophie Korencic (že pok.). Pogreb je bil privaten, družinski, v oskrbi Brickmanovega zavoda. Frank J. Zigman Umrl je 44 let stari Frank J. Zigman, sin Franka in že pok. Antoinette Zigman, brat Mary, Susan Gelbach, Rose Rush, Sylvi-je Marotta, Debbie Pachin- (DALJE na str. 15) Folklorna skupina Kres— Folklorna skupina Kres vabi v soboto, 13. septembra, na svoj celovečerni nastop narodnih in umetnih plesov v Slovenski narodni dom na St. Clair Ave. Začetek bo ob 7h zvečer. Za ples in zabavo bodo igrali Veseli godci. Vstopnice za odrasle so po $10. Napro-šeni ste, da pokličete ali Moniko Povirk (216-486-0713) ali Sonio Domanko (440-944-9780) za rezervacije in več informacij. Večerja s špageti— DNU pri Mariji Vnebov-zeti pripravlja v soboto, 6. septembra, v šolski dvorani večerjo s špageti. Servirana bo med 6. in 8. zvečer, dar bo $7 za odrasle in le $3 za otroke pod 12. letom. Ves dohodek bo namenjen programu za pravico do življenja. Novo šolsko leto— Že včeraj, 20. avgusta, je začela farna šola pri Mariji Vnebovzeti novo šolsko leto. Kakor veste, farna šola pri sv. Vidu je s preteklim šolskim letom prenehala. KOLEDAR AUGUST 31. - Društvo SRB vodi romanje k Žalostni Materi božji v Frank, Ohio. Sv. mašo daruje č.g. dr. Pavle Krajnik ob 12. uri opoldne, druge pobožnosti ob 2.30. SEPTEMBER 13. - Folklorna skupina Kres ima celovečerno prireditev v SND na St. Clairju. 21. - Oltarno društvo sv. Vida ima vsakoletno kosilo v avditoriju pri sv. Vidu. 27. - Slovenska radijska družina priredi banket v proslavo 50. obletnice obstoja oddaje “Pesmi in melodije iz naše lepe Slovenije”, v Slovenskem narodnem domu na St. Clair Ave. Pričetek ob 6. uri zv., za ples igra orkester Staneta Mejača. 28. - SKD Triglav, Milwaukee, priredi Vinsko trgatev, na Parku. 28. - Društvi KSKJ št. 226 in 172 priredita dobrodelno kosilo v dobrobit Škofovih zavodov v Šentvidu, od 11. do 1.30 pop. v avditoriju sv. Vida. OKTOBER 18. - Moški pevski zbor Fantje na vasi ima koncert v SND na St. Clairju. Nadškof dr. Franc Rode na Brezjah ... Življenja ne dojemamo kot dar Brezje, 15. avgusta - Za praznik Marijinega vnebovzetja na Brezjah, kjer je slovesno somaševanje ob obletnici posvetitve slovenskega naroda Mariji vodili ljubljanski nadškof in metropolit dr. France Rode, se je zbralo 3500 ljudi. “Kljub vsem nasprotovanjem, kljub vsem napadom, kljub temu, da bi vernost nekateri radi črtali iz našega naroda, ta vernost obstaja,” je dejal dr. Franc Rode. V uvodu svojega nagovora je o slovenskih razmerah rekel: “Nevarno upadanje rojstev, ki ogroža obstoj naroda; izredno visoko število samomorov, ki nas uvršča v svetovni vrh; neodgovorni odnos do spočetega življenja, ki se pogosto konča s splavom; skrb zbujajoče širjenje mamil in drugih oblik zasvojenosti - vse to kaže, da nimamo zdravega odnosa do življenja, da ga ne dojemamo kot dar in radost, kot izhodišče čudovitih možnosti. K temu pripomorejo tudi družbeni dejavniki, ki jih ni mogoče prezreti. Koliko mladih si ne more ustvariti družine, ker o lastnem domu lahko samo sanjajo, najemnine pa zdaleč presegajo njihove možnosti. Koliko je brezposelnih, ki jim je misel na jutrišnji dan skrb in mora. Koliko fantov sameva na svojih domačijah, ker se dekleta ne marajo poročiti na kmete. S tem pa se počasi praznijo cele vasi. Medtem pa levica - pod pritiskom zagretih ideologov - uvaja vse bolj permisivno zakonodajo, ki pospešuje javno nemoralo in razvrednoti družino, ki edina zagotavlja prihodnost naroda. V izvoru tega dvoumnega odnosa do življenja je neodgovorno, nezrelo in sebično pojmovanje spolnosti, ki ga propagirajo revije in filmi in se nezadržno širi med mladino. Da ta spolna anarhija navdaja človeka z občutkom praznine in ga vodi do prezira samega sebe, ni treba posebej dokazovati.” Po besedah dr. Franca Rodeta je v krizi tudi slovensko šolstvo. Kritike sicer prihajajo od raznih strani. “Nisem pristojen, da sodim o strokovni in pedagoški plati našega izobraževalnega sistema, kot nadškof in metropolit pa imam pravico in dolžnost, da izrazim svoje pomisleke glede mesta, ki ga imata oziroma nimata v tem smislu etika in religija. Znano je, da je komunistični režim pred petdesetimi leti vrgel verouk iz šol. V nasprotju s svojimi sosedami ga demokratična Slovenija v devetdesetih letih ni ponovno uvedla, niti ni predvidela kakšne druge oblike moralne vzgoje za mladino. Menim, da je tako stanje škodljivo za narod, predvsem za mlade, ki so prve žrtve takega sistema. Posledice so očitne: vse več ranjenih med mladimi, brez zavesti o svoji vrednosti in brez samospoštovanja, vse bolj razširjeno otroško in mladoletniško nasilje, vse manj odgovornosti do sebe in skupnosti. Namesto privzgojenih in notranje sprejetih vrednot, kar naj ne bi sodilo v šolski sistem, smo zdaj pred zunanjim nasiljem, pred katerim se branimo z varnostniki. Kako bodo živeli ti mladi? S kakšnimi napotki jh šola pospremi v življenje? Hvala Bogu, mnogi učitelji se zavedajo dostojanstva svojega poklica in ga vršijo v vsej odgovornosti. Ne pustijo se begati raznim teorijam in opravljajo svoje delo pošteno in iz ljubeznijo. Oni so, bolj kot sedanji šolski sistem, jamstvo za boljšo prihodnost.” ED MEJAČ Vodja Radijske Družine Pesmi *^7 j-■n Melodije WCSB 89.3 FM Nedelja 9-10 am Sreda 6-7 pm iz Naše Lepe Slovenije 2405 Somrack Drive Radijska Družina Cleveland Willoughby Hills, OH 440<>4 440-953-1709 TEL/FAX - web: www.wcsb.org Ljubljanski nadškof in metropolit je tudi opozoril, da v socialni državi, za kakršno še v ustavi opredeljuje Slovenija, ne bi smelo biti prehudih razlik med višjim slojem in množico navadnih državljanov: “Pri nas pa je peščica bogatih vse bolj bogata, vedno večja množica revnih pa vse bolj revna. Čeprav imajo bogati vse vzvode oblasti v svojih rokah in preko medijev obvladujejo javno mnenje, je vendarle pričakovati čas, ko bodo ljudje spoznali, da sebičnim bogatašem, čeprav v levičarskih frakih, ne gre slepo zaupati,” je še menil dr. Franc Rode. Vlasta Felc Delo fax, 16. avg. 2003 Romali smo v Lemont CLEVELAND, O. - Na drugo soboto v avgustu smo se podali na pot proti Lemontu v Illinois. Bilo nas je 41 potnikov. Večina so bile članice Oltarnega društva pri Mariji Vnebovzeti in od sv. Vida, nekaj pa še romarjev, ki se radi odzovejo temu vabilu. Imeli smo lepo pot. Vreme se je spreminjalo od oblačno do sončno. Po poti smo zmolili vse tri dele rožnega venca, malo klepetali, dvakrat se ustavili za kratek sprehod in malo okrepčila. Ob pričakovanem času smo dospeli na cilj. Lepo so nas sprejeli patri frančiškani, razdelili spored našega bivanja med njimi. Odšli smo pozdraviti Jezusa v tabernaklju in se zahvalili Mariji Pomagaj, da nas je navdušila za to romanje. Odložili smo naša bremena in se združili pri Križu za premišljevanje Križevega pota. Po večerji smo še malo posedeli pred Domom, nato se udeležili sv. maše. Bil je lep večer, jasno nebo, a utrujeni smo se kar hitro vsi umirili. Sončno jutro nas je pozdravilo, da se je spa- tjanez Šušteršič Dne 7. avgusta je v mestu Grimsby, Ontario, Kanada umrl Janez Šušteršič. Pokojni je bil rojen 2. februarja 1925 v Ljubljani. Bil je dobri mož Jožici, roj. Žonta, za 54 let, dobri oče Rožici, Johnu, Heidi in Miku, stari oče Brocku, Clarku, Jessici, Spencerju in Šamanthi. Zapušča tudi nečaka Petra Žonta v Kanadi, nečaka in nečakinje v Sloveniji, v Ameriki pa svakinjo Milico Žonta, v Argentini pa Štefko Smole in Albinco Loboda. Naj počiva v miru! Milica Ovnič nec kar hitro umaknil. Napotile smo se k jutranji sv. maši, nato pa na zajtrk. Od tu smo odšle v Rožnovensko dolino, kjer smo prepevale sedem veselih Marijinih dogodkov. Med tem je svetovidska članica kronala Fatimsko Marijo. Zahvalile smo se Mariji za vso skrb, ki jo ima z nami in jo prosile, naj nas še naprej varuje in vodi. Od tu smo med molitvijo rožnega venca odšle na pokopališče, kjer počivajo Frančiškovi sinovi in med njimi naš vladika dr. Gregorij Rožman. Rožni venec smo končale pri Lurški votlini, kjer smo zopet prisostvovale sv. maši. Bila je velika udeležba, ker ta dan je bil piknik Slovenskega kulturnega centra. Na ražnju so pekli ovce, prašičke in kokoši, kar smo tudi mi romarji bili deležni pri kosilu. Po kosilu smo še malo poiskali znance na pikniku, nato se podali v cerkev k litanijam Matere božje. Veselo smo prepevali razne odpeve in nazadnje prejeli blagoslov z Najsvetejšim ter se poslovili od Marije in patrov frančiškanov. Iskrena hvala za vso skrb in sodelovanje vsem vam v Lemontu. Nazaj grede smo se u-stavili še v sosednjem mestu, ki ima Karmeli-čanski samostan s kapelo, v kateri je vsa oltarna stena v lesu postavljeno življenje Male Terezije. Nekaj zelo lepega, do potankosti izrezljano. Nato smo nadaljevali pot proti domu. Zmolili smo še svetli del rožnega venca, malo zapeli in že smo bili doma. Hvala vsem za vso dobro voljo, Kristi Nemec za vso skrb za to romanje, in dobremu Bogu, da smo se srečno vrniji. Lavriševa Anton Žakelj o svoji bolezni in okrevanju CLEVELAND, O. - Dragi prijatelji in bralci mojih spominov, tako v slovenskem kakor angleškem delu tega lista! Ko sem začel prejemati izredno število čestitk in voščil za moj 96. rojstni dan, nisem mogel takoj odgovarjati, ker se mi je mudilo na operacijo. Zaradi pogostega krvavenja sem zelo shujšal. Z raznimi aparati so ugotovili, da je debelem črevesju rana, ki se da pozdraviti samo z operacijo - težko operacijo. Paj naj bo! sem rekel. Po nekaj dneh popolnega izpraznjevanja, so me za 19. junija poklicali v Metro bolnišnico in takoj sem bil operiran. Težko? Prav nič! Ne med operacijo in ne p° njej nisem čutil nikake bolečine! Spomnil sem se, kako mi je brat Vladimir, zdravnik, napovedal pred desetletij, da imajo sedaj zdravniki glavno dolžnost, lajšati in preprečiti bolečine. V mojem primeru je to bilo doseženo 100-odstotno. Za nekaj dni sem pri' šel domov, potem Pa spet nazaj na okrepitev-Ta čas sem bil v bolni' šnici popolnoma svoboden. Spal sem kolikor sem hotel in se sprehajal kadar sem hotel. Hrane, odlične in obilne, Pa preveč. Ob tej priložnosti se prisrčno zahvaljujem praV vsem prijateljem in bralcem spominov, in upafli> da bomo še nadaljevali z objavljanjem teh spominov iz prve svetovne vojne in Velike depresije z 20ih in 30ih letih ter ° drugi svetovni vojni 111 revolucijo iz 40ih let, kakor smo jih doživljali-bom sam nadaljeval, d°' kler mi bo sin John u^e gnil pomagati in urednik Jim dovolil. Moj “boss” v bolnišrdc* je bil Portoričan Ant00’ ki mi je bil vedno °a razpolago in ne za Šik no. Vse mi je princa61 kar je mislil, da p0^6 * ie šam, me skopal, oe J bilo vroče itn. Hvali Toni! Lep pozdrav vsem! Anton ŽakeU Z AMERIŠKO DOMOVI^ STE VEDNO NA TEKOM NOVI GLAS / INTERVJU - Toni in Aljoša Ravnik Ohranjanje slovenskega duha v ZDA -1. del - V našem intervjuju objavljamo pogovor z dvema ameriškima Slovencema, našima goriški-ma rojakoma, bratoma Tonijem in Aljošo Ravnikom, ki sta pred nekaj tedni preživela več dni v Gorici, mestu, kjer sta skupaj z ožjimi družinskimi člani živela v vojnem in povojnem času in tu tudi obiskovala slovenske šole. V začetku 50 let je družina Ravnik iz Gorice odšla v ZDA in se nastanila v Kaliforniji. Sicer pa o vsem tem sama zelo izčrpno pišeta oz. odgovarjata. o ♦ ♦ o TONI RAVNIK Ko ste odšli leta 1951 v Ameriko, si bil dijak slovenskega klasičnega liceja v Gorici. Kako je Potem potekal tvoj študij? Po odhodu s klasične-liceja v Gorici sem dospel kot osemnajstleten fant v Kalifornijo. Takoj sem spoznal, da je treba delati za preživljanje. Ker sem edini v družini nekoliko obvladal angleščino, sem se moral takoj zaposliti. Delo sem dobil v restavraciji v Oaklandu, »kjer sem čistil mize in Pomival krožnike od poldan naprej. Vsako jutro sem tri Ure obiskoval šolo, da sem se izpopolnil v an-Skščini in tudi bolje spoznal ameriško zgodovino, zakone in ustanove. Ta študij mi je bil ze-koristen, ko sem po enem letu in pol vstopil Kalifornijsko univerzo (University of California, ^erkeley). Tu sem naj-Prej dobil diplomo v zoo-logiJi. nato pa na medi-ckiski fakulteti (Universi-^ of California, San ^ancisco) napravil dok-torat v medicini. f*0 enem letu prakse “intern” sem bil za ^Ve leti vpoklican v voja-k° službo. Tu sem se sPecializiral za zdravnika Pilotov (“flight surgeon”) Pfi Aerospace centru v eksasu. Od tam me je Dot [ zanesla za eno leto Korejo, kjer sem se °bro seznanil z zanimi-°stmi Daljnega vzhoda, P°sebno na Koreji in na ^Ponskem. SePo vojaški službi sem k leta specializiral kRernist in se posebno koncentriral na srčne ^eme. Nato sem zabit ^riVatno prakso kot ^.\erhist v Oaklandu, kjer Vedno delam v uradu s petimi internisti. Obenem sem še vedno povezan z medicinsko fakulteto Kalifornijske univerze v San Franciscu kot “klinični profesor” in redno poučujem mlade medicin-ce “fizično diagnozo”. Ustvaril si si družino in z njo živiš v Oaklandu nedaleč od San Francisca. Tam , živijo tudi Tvoja, ,,dva brata z družinama ter Vaša mama Štefka in sestra Mirjam. Oče. dr. Anton Ravnik iz Kanala ob Soči, je umrl že leta 1988. Leta 1971 sem se v “slovenski” cerkvi Rojstva Gospodovega v San Franciscu poročil z Barbaro Herbert. Ona je več let delala kot bolničarka na kirurškem oddelku katoliške bolnišnice v Oaklandu. Zadnja leta je zelo bolehala zaradi problemov s hrbtenico in je bila tudi večkrat operirana. Septembra 2002 je umrla zaradi infekcije in drugih komplikacij, ki so bile. posledice njih operacij. Zapustila mi je tri hčerke in enega sina. Najstarejša, Nataša, se največ ukvarja s slikarsko umetnostjo; druga, Katie, je diplomirala na Kalifor- Listen to SLOVENIAN ^ HOUR On 50,00p.Watt WCPN Cleveland Public Radio S 440-944-2538 Tpny Ovsenik nijski univerzi v Davisu v komunikologiji in namerava še naprej študirati pri produkciji filmov. Najmlajša, Stefanie, bo ta jesen začela tretji letnik na Kalifornijski univerzi v Berkeleyju. Ne vem še, za kaj se bo odločila. Moj sin, Tony, sedaj poučuje kot nadomestni profesor na eni katoliški gimnaziji v Oaklandu. Obenem je na isti šoli trener za plavanje in water polo. Mi že trideset let živimo v Piedmontu, malem mestecu v okolici Oak-landa. O naši širši družini je že nekaj omenil Aljoša. Mi vsi živimo kar y bližini, tako da prihajamo pogosto skupaj, posebno ob nedeljah. Najraje zahajamo k mami v El Cerrito, kjer nam ona s pomočjo Mirjam pripravi okusno domače kosilo. Kljub 92 letom je še precej aktivna in še vedno poje v pevskem zboru “slovenske” cerkve v San Franciscu. Med bivanjem v Evropi sta z bratom obiskala sorodnike od Heidelberga do Istre in Lombardije in seveda stare prijatelje, predvsem, v Gorici in preko .meje. Kakšne vtise imate? Res' si/ ne piorem predstavljati lepšega obiska, kot je bil ta naju. Največ so k temu pripomogli prisrčni sprejemi prijateljev, sošolcev in sorodnikov, vse od Heidelberga do Ljubljane in od Istre do Gardskega Jezera. Kljub temu, da smo lahko občudovali slikovite kraje, kot MUnchen, Dunaj in Benetke, sva odnesla naj lepše spomine iz Slovenije in posebno iz naših krajev na Primorskem. Zelo naju je očarala lepota okolice Drež-nice, posebno ker smo imeli izbranega vodiča, sošolca Danila Čadeža. Z njim smo tudi občudovali naše kraje z zvonika Sv. Gore, kar je obudilo mnogo spominov na mlada leta. Zelo zanimiv je bil tudi obisk v Škocjanski jami ,in v bližnji Lipici. Imela sva res mnogo posebnih doživetij in bi Osebe na fotografiji v Novem glasu z dne 31. julija niso identificirane, vendar smo obveščeni, da je na levi Toni Ravnik, na desni Aljoša Ravnik. zelo težko vse navedel. Najbolj pomemben in ganljiv večer je bil seveda v Tolminu, ko je v muzeju bila predstavljena knjiga tvoje mame. Ljubke Šorli, Tolminske pesmi. Tvoja sestra Lojzka, moja sošolka, je imela ob tej priložnosti zelo čustven govor. Z Aljošem sva bila zelo počaščena, ko naju je javno predstavila. Tvoja mama je seveda zrasla v Tolminu skupaj z našo mamo in stg vsa leta ostali dobri prijateljici^ ,Isti večer nama je ga. Karla Kofol osebno raz-kazala obnovljeni Tominški muzej, ki je zelo zanimiv in zelo spopolnjen, odkar sem bil tu na obisku in mi je takrat teta Marija Rutar razkazala svoj etnografski oddelek, ki ga je še skrbno gojila. Drugi nepozabni večer je bil v Štanjelu ob slavnostnem koncertu ob 50-letnici Primorskega akademskega pevskega zbora Vinko Vodopivec, ki ga je ustanovil Anton Nanut, moj prijatelj in sosed iz Kanala ob Soči. Po pestrem sporedu večinoma primorskih pesmi, ki jih je sedanji zbor odlično izvedel, so vsi sedanji in prisotni nekdanji “Vodopivci” pod vodstvom Nanuta mogočno zapeli Žabe. To je bil Joseph L. FORTUNA Moderni pogrebni zavod. Ambulanca na razpolago podnevi in ponoči. CENE NIZKE PO VAŠI ŽELJI! res čudovit zaključek prekrasnega večera. Ganljiv je bil seveda tudi večer, ko sem s . sošolci praznoval 50-letnico mature. Žal mature sam nisem dočakal, ker sem, z družino odpotoval v Kalifornijo ob začetku, svojega tretjega liceja. Sošolci so me vseeno sprejeli v svojo sredo in so celo name čakali, da smo lahko ta dogodek skupaj praznovali. Preden zaključim, moram omeniti še nekaj drugih doživetij. Najprej veselici v Štandrežu, kamor so nas povabili Komjančeva dekleta; Tu se je res videlo, da je slovenski duh še živahen v tej okolici. Potem ko smo uživali petje pevskega zb or k : Mirka Špacapana, smo' tudi imeli priložnost se. z njim pogovarjati. Zelo smo bili pozneje veseli njegove izvolitve za deželnega svetovalca. Prijetno smo se počutili tudi pri slovenskih mašah pri sv. Ivanu na Travniku, kjer se je Aljoša priključil pevskim zborom. Po mašah smo imeli priložnost se srečati s starimi prijatelji in tudi spoznati nove. Zelo lep večer smo tudi preživeli v Devinu, kjer nas je Antek Terčon z ženo povabila na odlično ribjo večerjo v restavraciji Alia Dama Bianca. On je bil učenec naše mame, ko je ona poučevala v Nabrežini. Imeli smo se zelo lepo V prijetni družbi in zelo slikovitem okolju. Pred kratkim si v Gorici skupno z mnogimi sošolci in prijatelji praznoval petdesetletnico mature oz. skupnega šolanja. Kakšne vtise si odnesel s tega srečanja? (Halje na str. 12) Kako se pripraviti na NEVA ŽELEZNIK Tudi v Sloveniji živi čedalje več starejših ljudi. Takšnih, ki so starejši od 65 let, je že okoli 15 odstotkov prebivalstva. Čez deset, dvajset let, ko bo postala stara današnja srednja generacija, bo v Sloveniji živelo že nekaj nad štiristo tisoč ljudi ali 20 odstotkov prebivalcev, ki bodo starejši od 65 let. O tem, kako in kdaj se pripravljati na starost, smo se pogovarjali z doktorico Vesno Radonjič Miholič, klinično psihologinjo Inštituta RSlovenije za rehabilitacijo invalidov iz Ljubljane. O ♦ O Ali ni res, da je človek toliko star (ali mlad), kolikor se počuti? To vsekakor drži. Vemo tudi, da se ne počutimo vsak dan enako stari. Na nekaterih področjih smo tudi veliko mlajši kot na drugih. Dejstvo je tudi, da lahko vsak sam upočasni staranje in zmanjša slabe strani tega procesa. Bolj ko smo duševno dejavni, bolj ko znamo najti prave prijatelje in razviti čvrste medsebojne odnose, več ljudi nas bo v starosti obdajalo, kar pomeni, da ne bomo osamljeni, da bo naše življenje zelo bogato. Ali okolje pomembno vpliva na to, kako vrednotimo in kakšna stališča razvijemo do starosti? Seveda, vendar je staranje proces, ki je pri vsakem posamezniku nekoliko drugačen. Lahko bi rekli, da so razlike, kako se ljudje starajo, veliko večje od mladostništva. Vsakega človek oblikujejo različne življenjske izkušnje. Na starost postaja vsakdo čedalje bolj individualen, ker ga je življenje že oblikovalo in zaznamovalo. Zato so razlike med starostniki večje kot med mladostniki, ki so mnogokrat še nepopi-sani listi in tudi zato bolj pod vplivom okolja. Starejši ko smo, bolj smo različno oblikovani. Ko se staramo, si nabiramo tudi svoje posebne izkušnje in poteze, značilnosti. Prijetneje in manj ogrožajoče se je starati v okolju, kjer to obdobje cenijo, spoštujejo, kakor tam, kjer se ga bojijo, zavračajo. Zahodni svet, kamor se prišteva tudi Slovenija, pa časti predvsem mladost ... Kaj pa posameznikov pogled na starost? Tudi ta je zelo pomemben. Kdor živi v skladu s svojimi potrebami in sposobnostmi, se ceni in spoštuje, goji konjičke in je dejaven, živi povezan s prijatelji ter v ljubezni do sebe, bo najbrž srečen tudi v starosti. Prava sreča človeka pomlaja. Tako je. Sreča pa ni danost, ampak je veščina življenja. Nezadovoljstvo s samim sabo onesrečuje: tistega, ki sitnari, in vse, ki ga morajo prenašati. Resnične sreče se ne da meriti z denarjem. Navadno so srečni tisti ljudje, ki so uglašeni sami s sabo (in zato tudi z drugimi) in ki znajo uživati v malenkostih. Predsodek, da so stari ljudje šibki, invalidni, brezspolni, nemočni, pasivni, osamljeni, spodbija množica živahnih starih ljudi. Skoraj 90 odstotkov ljudi, starih od 65 do 74 let, v raziskavi ni potožilo nad zdravstvenimi težavami, in kar 40 odsto- V BLAG SPOMIN PRVA OBLETNICA ROZI BLATNIK Zapustila nas je 20. avgusta 2002 Sonce na trato sije, kjer počivaš draga Ti; duša pa naj raj uživa tam v srečni večnost. Žalujoči: Sinovi Viktor in žena Marija Frank in žena Christine Dennis in žena Mary Hčer Mary Pervan in mož Joe vnuki in pravnuki starost? tkov 85-letnikov se počuti zelo dobro. Res pa je, da kratkotrajen spomin z leti o-peša, toda spominske sposobnosti lahko z urjenjem izboljšamo. Prav zato so srednja leta zelo pomembna. Kdor se že takrat zanemari, postane predebel, temu začne hitro zmanjkovati sapa že pri vsakodnevnih naporih. Zato tudi proč s cigaretami, preobilno hrano in preveč alkohola. Ali obstaja razlika med staranjem in starostjo? Staramo se leta in leta. V Višji starosti začnejo ljudje bolj skrbeti za svoje telo ter tenkočutno zaznavajo spremembe v njem. Takrat sta telesno zdravje in skrb zanj pogosta predmeta pogovorov. Biti star ne pomeni biti tudi bolan. Sicer pa je staranje proces, ki se odvija leta dolgo in se dotakne slehernega od nas tako biološko kot tudi psihično in socialno. Telo se z leti pač neustavljivo spreminja. Starostniki, so tudi izjeme, se gibljejo bolj togo, zmanjšajo se, slabše vidijo, lasje posivijo, koža je bolj ohlapna itn. Prav tako se spremeni duševna sposobnost starejših ljudi, kar se odraža kot manjša miselna okretnost, spomin je lahko slabši, čustvena občutljivost je večja ... Na socialnem področju se proces staranja kaže v tem, da se ljudje manj spoznavajo z novimi ljudmi, da teže menjajo delo ipd. Posebno pomembno je posameznikovo stališče do staranja. Tisti, ki jih staranja ni strah, ki nimajo predsodkov v zvezi z njim, ga pri sebi mnogo laže, z manj predsodki in skoraj popolnoma neobremenjeno sprejemajo ... Tudi v starosti naj bi imeli pošten in trezen odnos do sebe. mar ne? Seveda, tudi v tem obdobju bi morali težave jemati kot izziv za svojo duševno rast in ne kot nepravično kazen, zaradi katere se počutimo prizadeti in nemočni. So kakšni stereotipi o starejših med nami še posebno močno zasidrani? Mnogi s starostjo povezujejo bolehnost ter manjšo prožnost mišljenja, težje prilagajanje in nesprejemanje novitet. Za starejše ljudi tudi zmotno mislimo, da so zmeraj osamljeni. Nekateri so res, a večina jih vendarle živi zelo pestro družabno življenje. Raziskave med starostniki kažejo, da še zdaleč niso toliko bolni in nezadovoljni z življenjem, kot jim to pripisujemo. Vse več je takih, ki samostojno skrbijo zase, so dejavni v svojem okolju in pogosto tudi ustvarjalni. Pri slikarjih, pisateljih, glasbenikih in drugih u-metnikih pomeni starost tudi več izkušenj in znanja. Doživljanje starosti je predvsem posledica posameznikovega mišljenja, kajne? Tako je. V življenju se mora vsakdo čim prej naučiti zavedati samega sebe in v vsakem trenutku bi se morali truditi živeti polno življenje. To pomeni, da naj bi se zavedali svojega telesa (sproščeno, napeto, zaznavanje mnenj itn.), svojega počutja (kaj je udobno, neudobno), svojih hotenj (kaj bi rad dosegel in kako), da bi se zavedal svoje povezanosti z drugimi (v družini, šoli, • službi) ... Skratka, gre za to, da smo v svojem življenju dejavni, da se ne prepuščamo drugim, da svoje življenje oblikujemo in se ga predvsem veselimo. Večina starostnikov si želi do smrti živeti doma. Res je. Večina tudi ni nebogljena in ne bi jim bilo treba v dom, če bi imeli nekajurno pomoč na dan. Ta pomoč bi bi-(tialje na str. 13) Ohranjanje... (nadaljevanje s str. 11) Kot sem že omenil, sem bil zelo vesel, da sem se lahko po 50 letih sestal s sošolci. Imeli smo odlično' pojedino v, restavraciji Rosenbar v Gorici. Za to se moram zahvaliti Vidi Bitežnik in Nadi Komjanč,' ki sta dobro organizirali to zgodovinsko srečanje. Mnogih prijateljev nisem videl, že odkar šem zapustil licej - torej snidenje je bilo pretresljivo. Hitro smo se uživeli v čase, ki smo jih skupaj preživeli v ulici Croce. Obujali smo spomine na posebne dogodke, na sošolce, ki se nam niso mogli pridružiti, in na profesorje, ki so nam zapustili najbolj žive spomine. Res prijetno je bilo zame spet biti v tem krogu in upam, da se bomo lahko bolj pogosto srečavali v bodoče. Hvaležen sem bil tudi Marjanu Bregantu, ki je prišel iz Turina samo za to priložnost. Sošolka Mirjam Komjanc ni mogla biti prisotna, pa nam je napisala čustveno pismo, ki ga je Lojzka prebrala. Ko sva pozneje z Aljošem obiskala sorodnike blizu Gardskega Jezera, sva jo videla v Veroni. Ona nama je lepo razkazala . zgodovinske zanimivosti tega slikovitega mesta. Vsekakor je bil ta moj zgodovinski, obisk zelo prijeten, poln dogodivščin in veselih srečanj. Upam, da mi bo uspelo to ponoviti v bližnji bodočnosti. Najlepša hvala tebi za vso pozornost in možnost tega intervjuja. (Prihodnjič izide drugi del, na katerem bo Aljoša Ravnik precej govoril o aktivnostih rojakov v San Franciscu in okolici. Ur. AD) SEZNANJAJTE NAŠE BRALCE O AKTIVNOSTIH VAŠIH DRUŠTEV! Between Chardon Rd. & E. 222 St. In Euclid, Ohio 21900 Euclid Ave. (216) 481-5277 BRICKMAN & SONS FUNERAL HOME Umrl je Vinko Levstik Gorica (Delo, 13. avg., rubrika “Na kratko”) - V 78. letu starosti je v goriški bolnišnici v Italaliji za posledicami hudega padca umrl Vinko Levstik, ki je bil lani na ljubljanskem višjem sodišču oproščen krivde vojnega hudodelstva, katerega naj bi bil storil kot domobranec med drugo svetovno vojno na Dolenjskem. Višje sodišče v Ljubljani je lani v zadevi zoper obtoženega Levstika ugodilo pritožbi obrambe in spremenilo obsodbo ljubljanskega okrožnjega sodišča, ki je 15. junija 2001 Levstika spoznalo za krivega vojnega hudodelstva in mu izreklo kazen 12 let zapora. Višje sodišče je ugodilo pritožbi Levstikovih zagovornikov Danijela Starmana in Jožeta Hribernika in obsodilno prvostopenjsko sodbo zaradi kršitev materialnega zakona spremenilo v oprostilno sodbo. STA Umrl je Vinko Levstik Delo dr. Z. Žigona je plod večletnih raziskav Knjiga o Slovencih v Afriki in na Arabskem polotoku Dr. Zvone Žigon, svetovalec na Uradu Republike Slovenije za Slovence v zamejstvu in po svetu, se je z vprašanji slovenske prisotnosti in istovetnosti v tujih državah ukvarja že od študentskih let o . O Poročilo, ki sledi, je bil objavljen 13. avgusta v mariborskem Večeru, izpod peresa Vanesse Čoki, posredoval ga je Stane Šušteršič iz Washingtona. V tem prvem poročilu pa niso podane natančne o-koliščine o g. Levstikovi smrti. Ur. AD. O O Z oprostilno sodbo je lani ljubljansko višje sodišče zaključilo “zadevo Levstik”, več kot dvajset let dolgo praktično edino preganjanje kakšnega akterja druge svetovne vojne v Sloveniji. Staranje... (nadaljevanje s str. 12) 1& lahko majhna, vendar ki morala biti vedno dostopna. Torej bo verjetno treba bolj razmišljati o servisih, ki bi morali bili poceni in tako dostop-111 kot vrtci otrokom in 2{tto od države subvenci-°nlzirani in nadzorovani. Je smrt po vašem vedno tabu tema. ki J° odrivamo od sebe? Normalno je, da zdrav Človek razmišlja o smrti ^o. kot da se to dogaja le drugim. In vendar je smrt nekaj neizogibnega. Soočanje z resničnostjo Shirtl pa se nam pripeti, nam umre kdo od kllžnjih, ali če sami hu-do zbolimo. Takrat o Shirti tudi razmišljamo, človeka bi bilo laže, bi imel smrt za ne-®^°zeči konec življenja. 1 tem Je pomembno, a vemo, da nas na živ-■lenJe veliko bolj prikle-bsjo še neuresničene že-e kot že doseženo. - ' Rodna gruda št. 7 - julif 2003 ♦ “Nočem umreti kot vojni zločinec! Po svoji vesti in pred Bogom sem nedolžen, zato prosim senat tega sodišča, naj mi ne izreče krivične sodbe in da me spozna za nedolžnega.” To se je slišalo na ljubljanskem okrožnem sodišču predlansko poletje, preden je bil Vinko Levstik zaradi domnevnega vojnega hudodelstva zoper vojne ujetnike in civiliste v letih 1944 in 1945 obsojen na dvanajst let zapora. Sodbo je lani višje sodišče v Ljubljani po pritožbi odvetnikov razveljavilo in Levstika zaradi pomanjkanja dokazov oprostilo. “Zadeva Levstik”, edini proces proti nekdanjemu domobrancu v vseh povojnih letih v Sloveniji in praktično edino preganjanje kakšnega akterja 2. svetovne vojne (za povojne poboje ni še nihče odgovarjal!), je bila po skoraj 22 letih pri koncu. Zgodilo se je, kot je prognoziral pokojni dr. Jože Pučnik: “nepremišljen spodrsljaj” je bil odpravljen. V noči s tega (11. avg, op. ur. AD) ponedeljka na torek je 78-letni Vinko Levstik umrl. V Gorici v Italiji, tik za slovensko zahodno mejo, je živel zadnji dve desetletji. Pokopan bo, kot je želel, doma, v Sloveniji. Proces proti 1925. nad Sodražico rojenemu Levstiku se je začel leta 1981. V režiji Službe državne varnosti. Dobro desetletje pozneje so tožilci odstopili od pregona, a sledila je zasebna tožba. Vse do oprostilnega epilo-ga. Najvišje je bil na oz-novskem in potem udbovskem seznamu “vojnih zločincev”, SDV je o Levstiku, uspešnem hotelirju v Rimu in nazadnje v Gorici, do 1989. napolnila najmanj 2500 strani. Očitno prečiščeni dosje so mu v Arhivu RS izročili šele po zaključku sodnega preganjanja, ni ga mogel uporabiti v dokazovanju očitno dovoljšnje skonstruiranosti procesa. Kontroverzno pot od oefovca antikomunista, zapornika v Gonarsu, partizana do domobranca je opravil. Leta 1945 so ga Angleži “vrnili”, pobegnil je, sledila je italijanska emigracija pa tudi nekaj sodelovanja z zahodnimi obveščevalnimi službami. Sredi šestdesetih že je pisal o narodni spravi, nedvoumne in dokončne ni dočakal. Leta 1989 sta ga v Gorico prišla intervjuvat Igor Bavčar in Janez Janša, slovensko alternativo je že prej zalagal z emigrantskim tiskom in knjigami. Pozneje je govoril, da so se tedaj zanj začeli peklenski slovenski časi. Avgusta 1982 je prvič po drugi vojni prišel v Slovenijo, mesec pozneje je bil prvič na sodišču... (konec posredovanega teksta) Zunanji dolg že prek deset milijard dolarjev Ljubljana - Slovenske devizne rezerve so konec maja znašale 9,05 milijarde dolarjev in so bile za 1,6 milijarde dolarjev nižje od skupnega zunanjega dolga države, ki je znašal 10,21 milijarde dolarjev. Devizne rezerve so se maja v primerjavi z aprilom zvišale za skoraj 530 milijonov dolarjev, v primerjavi s koncem lanskega leta pa za 898 milijonov dolarjev. Skupni zunanji dolg Slovenije se je v letošnjih prvih petih mesecih povečal za 1,41 milijarde dolarjev, je razvidno iz zadnje številke Biltena Banke Slovenije. Od skupnih majskih deviznih rezerv odpade večina (7,68 milijarde dolarjev) na devizne rezerve centralne banke, preostalih 1,37 milijarde dolarjev pa na rezerve poslovnih bank. Napisal je dve knjigi z naslovoma Otroci dveh domovin in Iz spomina v prihodnost, ki obravnavata ohranjenost slovenske etnične identitete med potomci slovenskih izseljencev v Južni Ameriki oz. vpliv političnosti na stopnjo ohranjenosti slovenstva pri politični emigraciji v Argentini. Sedaj pa je napisal svoje tretje delo o Slovencih v Afriki in v državah Arabskega polotoka. Gre za dežele, ki jih Slovenci na splošno slabo poznajo, o rojakih, ki imajo tam svoj novi dom, pa se komaj kaj ve. Avtor je gradivo za svoje novo delo zbiral in preučeval več let, tudi z raziskavami in v pogovorih z rojaki, ki žive v Egiptu, Južnoafriški republiki, Keniji, Izraelu, Jordaniji, Libiji, Alžiriji in še v kakšni drugi državi. Ugodno presenečata predvsem dve ugotovitvi pisca knjige, ki jo je v svoji zbirki Migracije izdala Založba Znanstvenoraziskovalnega centra Slovenske akademije znanosti in umetnosti. V omenjenih državah živi več Slovencev oziroma njihovih potomcev, kot so doslej domnevali, v večini pa zelo navezani na svojo domovino, s katero želijo imeti trdne in stalne stike. Veliko je primerov Slovenk, ki so se poročile, denimo, v Egipt ali Jordanijo, ki si zelo prizadevajo zagotoviti pogoje, da bi njihovi otroci lahko študirali v Sloveniji. Slovenstvo v Afriki in na Arabskem polotoku se uvršča v šest osnovnih kategorij. V Kairu, Aleksandriji in nemara tudi drugod v Egiptu žive potomci znanih Alek-sandrink, dojilji, guvernant, služkinj in pripadnic podobnih poklicev, po večini doma iz Vipavske doline in z Goriške- ■ ro Sf« Jih ie. iV..r nec 19. stoletja več tisoč. Avtor ob tem nekajkrat poudarja pomembnost knjige o Aleksandrinkah, ki jo je napisala Dorica Makuc, izdala pa Goriška Mohorjeva družba 1. 1993. Tej posebni obliki slovenskega izseljenstva pa je svoj novi roman z naslovom Grenko morje namenil tudi časnikar in pisatelj Marjan Tomšič. Nadaljnjo kategorijo slovenstva tvorijo nekdanji vojaki jugoslovanske kraljeve armade, ki so se 1. 1941 zatekli v Egipt oz. v sosednje države, vojaki-ujetniki italijanske vojske slovenske narodnosti, povojna ekonomska emigracija, Slovenci, ki so se tja preselili iz osebnih razlogov, delavci, razni poslovneži in misijonarji. Po podatkih iz raznih virov, ki jih je zbral pisec, živi v Afriki in državah na Arabskem polotoku naslednje število Slovencev: v Alžiriji 4, Bocvani 5, Egiptu 80, Gani 5, Gvineji Bisao 3, Izraelu 70, Jordaniji 90, Južnoafriški republiki 250, Keniji 23, Kuvejtu 15, Siriji 10, Tanzaniji 4, Tuniziji 1, Ugandi 2, in v Združenih arabskih e-miratih 5. V teh podatkih, ki služijo predvsem kot izhodišče za nadaljnje raziskave o dejanskem številu Slovencev v omenjenih in tudi v drugih državah Afrike in Arabskega polotoka, niso upoštevani slovenski misijonarji in misijonarke. O le-teh dr. Zvone Žigon opravlja posebno raziskavo. V knjigi so objavfjjem spomini posameznih, ase-Ijencev na domovino Slovenijo in tudi pričevanja o življenju in usodah v novem, drugačnem svetu, kjer sedaj živijo. Ponekod v Egiptu izseljenci iz Vipavske doline v pogovorih še zmeraj uporabljajo domače vipavsko narečje. Objavljenih je tudi ne- O Gospod minister, skorajda bi lahko rekli, da ne more biti naključje, da ste tudi danes zunanji minister RS v trenutku, ko Slovenija postaja polnopravna članica EU. Vaša ocena. Predvsem bi rad povedal, da me zelo veseli, da sem lahko sodeloval in prispeval pri najbolj dramatičnih (in tudi najbolj pozitivnih) dogodkih novejše slovenske zgodovine. Slovenski uspehi niso povezani samo z ministrstvom za zunanje zadeve ali z menoj osebno, sem pa - po svojem prepričanju - deloval v korist teh uspehov. Moj položaj ni posledica naključja, ampak prizadevanja moje politike, na primer, v okviru LDS. Sam sem prispeval k zunanjepolitični platformi te stranke pred volitvami. Brez nepotrebnega in do vas žaljivega laskanja lahko zapišemo, da ste pravi mož na pravem mestu, kar ste nič-kolikrat dokazali s suverenostjo državnika, ki sloni na znanju, in s pokončno držo človeka, ki se zaveda, da je prvi mož slovenske diplomacije in mora zato, ko je to pogrebno, reči odločno besedo tudi v prid slovenske manjšine v Italiji. Prav zato bi vas prosili, da nam pojasnite svoj pogled na izjemno ostre, a po naše največkrat neupravičene, kritike na vaš račun v nekaterih slovenskih medijih! ♦ Slovenska politika je svojevrstna. Po zadnjih volitvah so različni časnikarji zapisali, da ni več nobene prave opozicije in da morajo zato to vlogo prevzeti mediji. Ko so se domislili tega svojega poslanstva, so začeli posamezni pisci napadati svoje osebne ali ideološke nasprotnike - brez povezave z dejanskim javnim mnenjem ali z rezultati volitev. Predsednik dr. Drnovšek je to skupino imenoval “glasna manjšina” in dejansko ne gre za veliko število ljudi. Morda deset do dvajset privilegiranih piscev komentarjev levičarske ideološke usmeritve. Da ne pomenijo resne alternative, kažejo rezultati referenduma za EU in NATO. V njih je slovenska zunanja politika dobila najvišjo zaupnico. Kakšni občutki so vas prevevali, ko ste v Atenah bili v prvi vrsti kot protagonist in obenem v imenu države tudi priča vstopu Slovenije v Evropsko unijo? Osebno sem občutil zadovoljstvo in olajšanje, ker je Slovenija uspešno izpolnila neko pomembno zunanjepolitično nalogo, s tem pa se je tudi bistveno izboljšal njen zunanjepolitični položaj. Samo podpisovanje je bilo zelo ceremonialno in polno evropske simbolike. Mislim, da je utrjevanje evropske zavesti, tudi s simboli, zelo pomembno. O Slovenci pa imamo v zvezi s tem nasploh nekaj problemov, kar se je pokazalo tudi v nekaterih reakcijah. Obžalujem, da se Slovenci nismo bolj veselili svojega uspeha, na katerega smo lahko resnično ponosni. Bojazen, ki je prisotna tudi med pripadniki slovenske narodne manjšine v Italiji, da bi Slovenci z vstopom v EU počasi izgubili svoj jezik, je po naše neupravičena, saj smo mnenja, da bo predvsem od vseh Slovencev odvisno, kako bo z našo materinščino. Se vam ne zdi, da bi se lahko Slovenci iz domovine Slovenije vsaj nekaj naučili od nas, ki v zamejstvu skrbimo za ohranjanje narodnosti in seveda našega jezika? Slovenski jezik je že sedaj zaradi globalizacije pod vplivom drugih, predvsem angleškega jezika. Skrb za slovenski jezik, ki jo gojite v zamejstvu, bi lahko bila v oporo vsem tistim, ki se trudijo, da bi materin jezik še bolj spoštovali in ga ohranjali. Sicer pa bo slovenski jezik po vstopu RS v EU eden izmed u-radnih jezikov EU in bo s tem pridobil na svojem pomenu. Kot človek, ki se je zgodaj zapisal besedi, veste, da izraza zamejstva za našo narodno skupnost v Italiji po vstopu Slovenije v EU ne bomo več mogli uporabljati, najbrž niti v simboličnem pomenu. Gospod minister, kaj se bo zgodilo z zamejstvom, kako si vi predstavljate vlogo naše narodne skupnosti v novem evropskem prostoru? Naša narodna skupnost v zamejstvu Je bila vedno vezni člen med matico, ljudmi, ki živijo onstran meje, in državo, v kateri rojaki bivajo. Meje med državami bodo nekako zabrisane, toda države bodo ostale, torej bodoljudje še vedno živeli v okolju druge kulturne, jezikovne in državne skupnosti. Bodo pa s padcem mejnih ovir vsakodnevni stiki z matico veliko tesnejši in bolj pestri ter prepleteni. Slovenščina pa bo postala eden uradnih jezikov skupnosti, katere članice so tudi Avstrija, Italija in Madžarska. Pri nas se večkrat govori, da bi Republika Slovenija vseeno morala imeti neko bolj dodelano, bolj jasno in tudi bolj odločno vizijo za ves slovenski narod. Govorimo o vseh tistih zadevah, ki oblikujejo državotvoren narod, torej o vrednotah, kot so jezik, zavedanje korenin. kulturne dediščine. zgodovine in tako naprej. Kako vi gledate na to? Slovenska država je mlada. V dvanajstih letih samostojnosti smo dosegli velik napredek in se uspeli priključiti najuspešnejšim državam. Ustvarjanje vizije za nek narod pa je dolgotrajen proces. Vseeno pa Je moje prepričanje, da se Slovenci dobro zavedamo svojih korenin, da ohranjamo svoj jezik in kulture. Mislim, da ne potrebujemo ene same vizije, ampak da potrebujemo več vizij in več vizionarstva pa več Javne razprave o tem. Danes pa je tako, da se vsa politika in tudi mediji, ukvarjajo predvsem z dnevnimi interesi, zanima jih predvsem to, kako bi si Slovenci zadali čimveč udarcev samim sebi. Sam sem napisal več študij in člankov o nujnosti večje produktivnosti, ki je velik problem male države. Svet od nas pričakuje, da se bomo izkazali, sicer se bodo nehali zanimati za nas. Na Goriškem imamo Slovenci neprijeten občutek, in to na obeh straneh državne meje, da se je v Ljubljani na gor iški prostor kar nekako pozabilo. V mislih imamo predvsem dejstvo, da je Italija v zadnjem desetletju postavila v Gorici - dobesedno na državno mejo -dve univerzi, videmsko in tržaško, iz katerih bo gotovo zrasla v nekaj letih ena sama, go-riška. Se vam ne zdi, da bodo prav tako po- Slovenci v Afriki (nadaljevanje s str. 13) kaj spominov in priče-vanj o prof. Ivanu Rudolfu, ki je med drugo svetovno vojno v Egiptu in sosednjih državah zbiral, narodnostno osveščal in usposabljal italijanske vojne ujetnike slovenske narodnosti, za njihov boj v okupirani in zasužnjeni domovini. V poglavju o slovenskih vojakih v Afriki je, denimo, zapisano, da Je “prof. Ivan Rudolf izdajal časopis Bazovica, ki je izhajal od 30. septembra 1941 do 19. novembra 1944. Njegova naklada je dosegla celo do pet tisoč izvodov. Po izjavi urednika prof. Ivana Rudolfa so časnik Bazovica prejemali Slovenci po vsem svetu.” Mary Pušpan, ki skupaj s sestro Zmago živi v Kairu, pa je avtorju knjige povedala naslednje: “Mami in oče sta imela slovensko branje, P°' gosto smo pisali domov-V jugoslovanskem domu v Kairu smo med drug0 svetovno vojno imeli sl°' vensko šolo, v kateri je poučeval profesor Rudolf-On je imel tudi časopi® Bazovica. V šolo nas Je hodilo okrog dvajset Sl°' vencev. Danes vseh teh ljudi ni več, saj so P0" mrli ali se odselili.” NOVI GLAS, Goric® 17. julija 2003 membne institucije, ^ot je univerza, v prihodnje tako braniki italijanstvm slovenstva kot tudi me' sto srečevanj med raž' ličnimi in je zato Šk°' da, da v tem prostor*1 tudi slovenska držav® ni bolje zavarovala sV<> je etnične meje? Univerza in z njo P° vezano znanje nekega na roda je za vsak prost°f zelo pomembna inštitut ja, še posebej tam. se stikata dva nar0^j, Slovenija Je z ustanivtt^ jo Univerze na Prim0^ skem pokazala, da j1 vseeno, kako se raZ^J h* ta prostor. Seveda P* se morala kot ustanov* Ijica zavezati tej novi ^ ganizaciji ne samo mor no, ampak tudi z dol£° ročnimi finančnimi vir*- Svoje veselje nad ^ topom Slovenije v (DALJE na str. 15) It's Time for your eye exam! J. F. OPTICAL Eye Care Specialists Eye Exams Latest in eye fashion - Contact Lenses We Welcome Your Drs. Prescription 775 E. 185th St. Eye Glasses Cleveland, OH 44119 • Repaired Tel.: (216) 531-7933 (34) Intervju tržaškega NOVEGA GLASU z Dimitrijem Ruplom Pravi mož na pravem mestu pripravi! JURU PAUK Pogovor z zunanjim ministrom Republike Slovenije dr. Dimitrijem Ruplom smo zaradi ministrovih delovnih obveznosti in številnih posvetovanj usklajevali več časa. Za čas, ki nam ga je posvetil in za odgovore na naša vprašanja smo mu iskreno hvaležni. ♦ začasno skladišče Na odlični lokaciji v samem središču Ljubljane, v secesijski palači na Miklošičevi 8, omogoča vladni servis skupnih služb uporabo dvorane za skladišče Al« je kulturna dediščina pomemben element narodove ‘dentitete in ali je njeno varovanje ob vključitvi v veliki konglomerat evropskih kultur pomembno? Odgovor je na dlani, pa vendar vse kaže, da sodobna slovenska družba nima ustreznega odnosa do nje. Eden izmed pri-merov, kako slabo ravnamo s kulturno dediščino, je palača nekdanje Zadružne gospodarske banke na Miklošičevi 8 v Ljubljani. O Stavba, zgrajena leta 1922, je delo arhitekta Ivana Vurnika in sodi ^od cenjene primerke Pozne secesije. Dekoraci-fasade in pritlične bančne dvorane je delo Zornikove žene, slikarke želene Vurnik. Ornament kaže izrazito nacionalno n°to, ki Je bila poudarje-114 v vseh nacionalnih državah, ki so nastale na °2emlju bivše avstroogr-ske monarhije. Palača se uvršča med Psjmarkantnejše Ijubljan-ske arhitekturne spomenike m prav zato Je še l°Uko manj razumljivo, nko je mogoče, da je PJena poslikana dvorana e več kot šest mesecev sPremenjena v začasno skladišče in za obleplje-nbhi steklenimi okni in skrita pred očmi lavnosti. Namreč, pritličje kot nekdanji javni prostor in ^ rati kulturni spomenik, ^ več dostopno javnosti hied freskami ter ori- ^Palno notranjo opremo, stavba je bila že od ^hiega začetka namenje- d kn^mštvu, se danes ‘Sajo do stropa naložene 0 r^de ter stoli in vsa r nia, ki je pripadala ♦ O ukinjeni agenciji za plačilni promet. Dedič prostorov nekdanje agencije za plačilni promet je najprej postalo ministrstvo za finance, ki pa je preneslo dolžnost upravljanja s prostorom (kot tudi opremo) na servis skupnih služb vlade Republike Slovenije. Na tem servisu odgovarjajo. da prostorov na Miklošičevi še vedno niso prevzeli v upravljanje. Tako je Miklošičeva 8 postala nikogaršnja last. “Mar bomo v Sloveniji spet zavrgli dragocen arhitekturni spomenik? In to v času, ko Ljubljana svojo secesijsko dediščino ponosno predstavlja na mednarodni razstavi Art Nouveau in Progress v Bruslju?”, se sprašuje Breda Mihelič, umetnostna zgodovinarka in koordinatorka mednarodnega projekta Art Nouveau in Progress, ki ga finančno podpira Evropska unija v sklopu projekta — Kulturni programi 2000. Na letošnji razstavi v španskem mestu Ter rasa se predstavlja 14 evropskih secesijskih mest. Ključni in najbolj reprezentančni objekt na tej razstavi, ki predstavlja Ljubljano, pa je prav Vurnikova palača na Miklošičevi 8. “Že januarja letos smo napisali pismo županji in ga poslali v vednost tudi oddelku za kulturo in raziskovalno dejavnost Mestnega odbora Ljubljane, ministrstvu za kulturo, zavodu RS za kulturno dediščino in ministrstvu za finance, v katerem smo od njih zahtevah, da dejanje ostro obsodijo in naj tovrstno prenovo nemudoma ustavijo. Že tedaj smo jih opozorili, da bomo v nasprotnem primeru obvestili novinarje in tudi mednarodno strokovno javnost v okviru mreže Art Nouveau, katere partner je tudi mesto Ljubljana. V odgovoru ministrstva za finance je bilo zapisano, da gre le za začasno rešitev. Vendar je od tega minilo že pol leta in do danes se ni nič spremenilo. Začasno skladišče je še vedno v bančni dvorani in kot kaže bo tam ostalo še naprej. Edino, kar smo s pismom dosegli, je bilo, da so šipo steklenih vrat prelepili s papirjem,” Je pojasnila Breda Mihelič. Na oddelku za kulturno dediščino ministrstva za Prijatel’s Pharmacy St. Clair & E. 68 St. - 36M212 IZDAJAMO TUDI ZDRAVILA ZA RAČUN POMOČI DRŽAVE OHIO - AID FOR j THE AGED PRESCIPTIONS | kulturo ocenjujejo, da objekt fizično ni ogroženo. Moti pa jih dejstvo, da je prostor zaprt za javnost in nedostopen za domače obiskovalce kot tudi za turiste. Sodijo tudi, da država in njeni organi s tem dajejo slab zgled in vzporedno celo izgubljajo denar. Torej gre za slabo gospodarjenje, skrivanje elitnih prostorov s secesijskimi poslikavami pa že meji na kulturni škandal. Dejstvo, da lastninska razmerja pri stavbi na Miklošičevi 8 niso urejena tudi zaradi nedokončanega denacionalizijskega postopka, pač ne more biti izgovor, da Je tako eminentna stavba že nekaj mesecev brez ustrezne namembnosti in zaprta javnemu pogledu. Hkrati ni vzpodbudno, da niti ekonomisti niti upravljale! z nepremičninami pri vladi RS ne vidijo vrednosti tega objekta, ki bi se ga dalo prav zaradi njegovega zgodovinskega, kulturnega ter umetnostnega pomena izredno dobro tržiti in hkrati varovati po vseh mednarodnih standardih. Morda pa so tudi tokrat zatajile službe za kulturno dediščino in to vse po vrsti do vrhnjih struktur. Direktor zavoda za varstvo kulturne dediščine RS, ki je pristojen za varovanje celotne slovenske kulturne dediščine, na stanje na Miklošičevi 8 ni utegnil reagirati niti pripraviti izjave za javnost. Hkrati pa je kot vodja krovne ustanove vseh slovenskih območnih enot on tisti, ki bi moral vla- do in njene organe opozoriti na neustrezno obravnavanje kulturnega spomenika. Le kdo drug bi bil lahko pristojen, da nemudoma opozori na nepravilnosti, saj je njegova “piramidalna” strokovna služba tista, ki bi morala najbolj pozorno bdeti nad kulturno dediščino. Vesna Teržan Delo, 18. Jul. 2003 NOVI GROBOVI (nadaljevanje s str. 9) ger in že pok. Johna, ženin Terese Stanley. Pogreb je bil 19. avgusta v oskrbi Že-letovega zavoda s sv. mašo v cerkvi sv. Felicitasa in pokopom na Vernih duš pokopališču. Caroline Zupančič Dne 17. avgusta je v Nonvalku, O., umrla 84 let stara Caroline Zupančič, rojena Roulanaitis 27. novembra 1918 v Bentleyvillu, Pa., bivša faranka fare Immaculate Conception v Willough-byju, zena Edwarda M., mati Carolyn Leniewski in že pok. Raymonda, 1-krat stara mati, sestra Johna, Edwarda in Virginije Rou-lan (vsi že pok.). Pogreb je bil 20. avgusta s sv. mašo v tamkajšnji cerkvi sv. Marije in pokopom na pokopališču sv. Pavla, tudi v Nonvalku. John Blatnik Dne 3. avgusta je umrl 97 let stari John Blatnik, rojen 6. junija 1906 v Sloveniji, v Kanado prišel leta 1929, v ZDA pa leta 1950, vdovec po Anni, oče Edwarda, Gregory) a, Johna in Mary Ann Shaw, 9-krat stari oče, brat Franceta, Jose-fa, Antona, Angele, Jožefe, Antona, Dominika in Marije. Pogreb je bil 6. avgusta s pokopom na Sv. križa pokopališču. Sprememba paslova Ko se selite, trajno ali začasno, ste lepo naprošeni, da naši pisarni posredujete pravočasno tako Vaš' nov naslov 'kakor sedanji. To omogoča, da boste brez prekinitve dobivali naš list, prihranili boste pa .pisarni strošek 60 centov, ki jih računa pošta za vsak povrnjen oziroma ne dostavljen izvod lista. Uporabljajte ta obrazec za posredovanje potrebnih informacij. Nov naslov Ime _______________ Naslov ____________ Mesto, Država, Zip Star naslov Star naslov ________ Mesto, država, zip Misijonska srečanja in pomenki 1490. Laiška misijonarka Gabrijela Hren, ki deluje skupaj s s. Zvonko Mikic v državi Angola v Afriki, je lepo opisala življenje v misijonu in okolici v Misijonskih Obzorjih. Ker vem, da ni veliko naročnikov za to dvomesečnik med nami, sledi ponatis njenega pisanja: “Prejmite lepe pozdrave z našega skupnega misijona v Kakuaku. Prav tako prejmite tudi iskreno opravičilo za precej dolg molk. Šolsko leto se je začelo s februarjem, še prej pa sem imela priložnost preživeti slab mesec dni v Lueni, kjer so sestre salezijanke odprle lani novo skupnost. Najprej utrip od tam. Luena je središče največje angolske province Mexico. Višinsko področje, prijetna klima, redno deževje in rodovitna prst omogočajo lep pridelek poljedelcem. Teh je le malo. Večji del prebivalstva se je namreč med vojno zateklo iz provinc v Luando in njeno okolico. Pa ne brez razloga. Ruševine, luknje od krogel velike kakor okna v zidovih, tu in tam zažgan tovornjak, otroci brez družin...pričajo o grozotah, ki so še pred kratkim divjale naokrog. Življenje v Lueni je sicer v obnovi, vendar poteka ta le neopazno in počasi, kakor se počasi celijo tudi rane v srcih prizadetih. Trije veliki centri beguncev v okolici Luene so še vedno polni. Enega od teh sem obiskala s tamkajšnjim škofom D. Mibilingi in nekaj sestrami tik pred koncem leta. Begunci čakajo na odločbo, da se bodo smeli vrniti na svoje domove ali storiti kaj drugega. Ti centri so veliki in globoki tolmuni, žejni ne le humanitarne temveč tudi in predvsem pastoralne oskrbe. Z odprtjem starih poti je ponekod po več kot dvajsetih letih mogoče priti do zapuščenih misijonov in pozabljenih vasi. Potovanje po slabo prevoznih poteh je precej naporno in traja včasih po več dni. Vendar tamkajšnji neutrudni Don Boskovi sinovi pravijo, da so ponekod še v celoti ohranjene katoliške skupnosti zavzetih domačih katehistov po načelu: “Kjer sta dva ali so trije zbrani v mojem imenu...” Velike potrebe ljudi in majhne zmožnosti Cerkve kot med privlačijo razne sekte in mimogrede pravijo, da jih še veliko čaka na registracijo za vstop v Angolo. Življenje misijonarjev v Lueni pa me je navdušilo. Ker jih je malo, lahko ohranjajo pravo družinsko ozračje in duh sodelovanja. V večjih mestih kot Kakuaku in Lueni je bilo to sodelovanje mogoče več kot pred desetimi leti; sedaj je preveč prebivalstva in, hvala Bogu, povečalo se je tudi število misijonarjev. Vrnimo se v Kakuako. Biblična akcija še vedno poteka, zato vas še vabimo k sodelovanju. Letos se je moje delo nekoliko preoblikovalo: namesto popoldanskega tečaja angleščine, nekoliko spremljam vaške šole s programom do četrtega razreda, ki izhajajo iz našega centra. To mi tudi omogoča več stikov s tukajšnjo realnostjo, z vsakdanjim življenjem po vaseh in s tukajšnjim preprostim ljudstvom. Občudujem pripravljenost in požrtvovalnost učiteljev, ki kljub majh- Misijonjska Znamkarska Akcija (MZA) Catholic Mission Aid (CMA) J je javna, hepridohitna, dobrodelna misijonska organiza-[ cija. Ustanovil jo je Fr. Charles A. Wolbang, CM. Registrirana je v mestu Columbus, Ohio, ZDA. Za pomoč slovenskim misijonarjem zbira finančno pomoč za. njih delo med ubogimi v misijonskih deželah ( t ter za vzdrževanje bogoslovcev za domači misijon. Hvaležni bomo za vsak dar, ki ga boste darovali v ta namen. Spomnite se misijonarjev in ubogih v svojih oporokah. , i Za vse prejete darove izdamo potrdilo za “Income tax ’. Uradni naslov: MZA - CMA 17826 Brian Ave., Cleveland, OH 44119 Glavni odbor MZA-CMA, Cleveland .. _____I. nemu plačilu svoje delo opravljajo redno in dobro. Sami pravijo, da vedo, za koga delajo: za svojo prihodnost! V Centru se zberejo enkrat na teden k pripravi. Na Centru tudi letos poteka pouk v treh izmenah. V njih se izmenja nad 1000 učencev. Razredi so polni do zadnjega kotička in ob vpisu ob vstopu v šolo se mi je paralo srce ob pogledu na tiste, ki so ostali zunaj. Zadnja izmena ob večerih so odrasla dekleta in matere. Tu in tam tudi kakšen fant. Prava paša za oči so matere, ki stopajo v razrede z otrokom na hrbtu in s šolsko torbo v rokah. Obrazi jim žarijo in vesele prihajajo v šolo, saj jim ta zbuja veliko upanje uprto v prihodnost. Same pravijo, da je šola izhod iz teme, z znanjem pisanja in branja se jim odpira nov svet. Za te skupine odraslih pripravljamo enkrat mesečno razne življenjske teme z različnimi predavatelji in videom: beseda teče o človekovih pravicah, zdravju, higieni, splavu, aidsu... Za konec naj še povem zgodbo o Esperanci. Ko sem jo namreč zdaj že predlansko leto ob prehodu čez begunsko naselje ob obali srečala, je imela v naročju dojenčka. Vprašala sem jo, če je njen. Pritrdila je. Potem me je pospremila lep kos poti proti misijonu. Povedala mi je svojo zgodbo, ki je žalostna in zato podobna zgodbam tukajšnjih prebivalcev; zaznamovana z izgubo, revščino in vojno. Njen fant, da je šel v vojsko in ga ni nikoli več videla. Ostala je z otrokom, materjo in sestro. Vzdihnila je, da bi z nekaj kvanzami (angolski denar) morda začela s kakšno trgovino in tako pomagala družini. Ve, da je treba tudi v šolo, delati, in ne biti lahkomiselna. Potem sva se poslovili. V žepu sem imela nekaj kvanz. Pokličem jo. Kako vesela se je zahvalila. Pred kratkim sem spet šla skozi tisto naselje. Veliko ljudi je že zapustilo to begunsko naselje, tako, da skoraj ni več otroškega vrveža. Spustila sem se ob občili proti misijonu. Pa me nekdo pokliče po imenu. Ko sem se ozrla, je nisem prepoznala. Bila je vsa urejena in lepa. “Esperanca sem. Ali se me spomniš?” Kar nisem mogla verjeti. Hodi v šolo, dela, skrbi za sina in družino, močna je in vztrajna. Esperanca pomeni upanje. In upanje v njej je živo. Upanje, ki nam je vsem tako potrebno. In v upanju skozi postne dni čakajmo velikonočno slavje, zmago, življenje v polnosti v Vstalem. Zahvala vsem vam za vsako dobro misel in podporo!” Zelo razgledano in razumevajoče dekle, apostolska duša. Zdaj se celijo rane v deželi po več kot dvajsetletne vojne med raznimi plemeni. Tako kratko je naše življenje in toliko gorja za nekatere. Vključimo v naših molitvah tudi to dekle, ki je polna misijonskega duha, da bo kos vsemu delu in vsem preizku-šnjam. Prav lep misijonski pozdrav vseh sodelujočih! Marica Lavriša 1004 Dillewood Rd. Cleveland, OH 44119 Pravi mož na pravem mestu (NADALJEVANJE s str. 14) TO in EU ste javno izrazili večkrat, a bi vas vseeno prosili, da za nas in naše bralce še enkrat poveste, zakaj Je to izjemno pomembno za vse Slovence? V kratkem desetletju je Slovenija iz socialistične republike v Jugoslaviji postala ugledna in uspešna država, ki sodeluje z vsem svetom, postaja prizorišče svetovnih dogodkov in vstopa v najpomembnejše mednarodne povezave. Pol leta po razglasitvi samostojnosti smo dosegli mednarodno priznanje, po desetih letih mednarodnega uveljavljanja pa Slovenija vstopa v EU in NATO. Z včlanitvijo v NATO se bosta odgovornost in pomen Slovenije v mednarodnih odnosih okrepila, omogočena pa nam bo tudi aktivnejša vloga v čezatlantskih odnosih. Kot članica NATA bo Slovenija postala del velike čezatlantske skupnosti dr- žav, ki jih družijo skupne demokratske vrednote in kjer bo lahko v okviru sistema kolektivne var--nosti zagotovila svoj temeljni varnostni interes. Seveda članstvo v NATO prinaša tudi odgovornosti in prepričan sem. da je Slovenija v teh desetih samostojnih letih že dokazala, da je odgovorna članica mednarodne skupnosti in pripravljena po svojih močeh prispevati k mednarodnemu miru, varnosti in blaginji. Ste izjemno delavni, o čemer pričajo tako javni nastopi kot tudi poročila o vaših delovnih potovanjih, srečanjih, sestankih, a tudi kritični zapisi, ne nazadnje zajetne knjige in še kaj bi lahko našteli. Kako vam uspeva uskladiti vse obveznosti, kakšne delovne navade imate, kako preživljate prosti čas, če ga seveda sploh kaj imate, skratka, povejte nam kaj o vašem zasebnem življenju! Prostega časa zadnjih dvanajst let tako rekoč nisem imel, me pa veseli delo, ki ga opravljam-Upam, da mi bo, ko bo čas, uspelo napisati §e kakšno knjigo, če bodo knjige Slovence sploh še zanimale. Če jih ne bodo, gotovo ne bodo več dolgo Slovenci. Za konec , pogovora smo prihranili vprašanje, pravzaprav prošnjo, da prek Novega glasu s kratko mislijo nagovorite Slovence, ki živimo v Italiji! Pripadniki slovenske narodne skupnosti, ki živite v Italiji oziroma v Furlaniji-Julijski krajini, boste seveda še vedno državljani Republike Italije, mi na tej strani Pa bomo državljani Republike Slovenije. Prvič v zgodovini Pa se bo zgodilo, da bomo oboji državljani Evrope* da bomo pripadali sistemu, ki ga povezujejo enake vrednote. Odstranjene bodo mnoge ovire, ki s° nas v preteklosti ločevale, in Slovenci z obeh strani meje bomo živeli v enakem družbenem sistemu- (KONEC) Novi glas, 10. Jul. 2003 BRALCI AMERIŠKE DOMOVINE Priporočajte naš list!