Let Not The Light Of f i eedom Be Extinguished'
USPS 024100
ISSN Number 0164-68X
American Home
Ameriška Domovina*
^SLOVENIAN^MORNING NEWSPAPER
AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, JANUARY 22, 2004
Phone: (216) 431-0628 e-mail: ah@buckeyeweb.com
70c
I l H
J r. Pedro Opeka
‘Apostle to Garbage Dump Dwellers
. % TONY LAVR1SHA
January is an odd month of the year because we must straddle two years. We can’t just forget about 2003 and •ook forward to 2004. It is a time to look ahead into the future and make plans such as summer vacation, but it is also a time to look back and gather information to prepare °ue’s personal income taxes. January begins with the end °f the Christmas season -Epiphany - and sets up for the most solemn of seasons -Lent.
For the unfortunate poor of the world income taxes and summer vacations are not even concepts let alone words in their vocabulary. For the poor, one day is the same as the next, but marked with hunger, lack of clothing and shelter, disease, and, niost of all, a lack of hope. It 18 a downward spiral in which they are prisoners of their poverty.
Much has been written and discussed about how to break the downward spiral of pov-erty. In America, trillions of dollars have been spent on breaking the back of poverty without much success. Yet, ln 1'ttle pockets of the world, for pennies on the dollar, the ack of poverty is being bro-en, the flame of hope is beginning to flicker in the hearts of the poor, and they are trying to break out of
their prison of poverty. But, °h! so slowly.
Missionaries have carried the Gospel of hope to the Poor for centuries. Sloveni-ans are known for their sup-P°rt of missions, financially and in sending men and j^onien into the mission 'eld. Slovenia sent Frederick araga to America in the 30s; he is now a possible ^andidate for sainthood. To-ay> there are Slovenian mis-
sionaries spread out over the globe. They are in Albania, Bolivia, Bostwana, Brazil, Congo, Ecuador, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Siberia, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Zambia.
They are supported by various organizations, one of which is based in North America - CMA (Catholic Mission Aid, Inc.), also known as MZA (Misijonska Znamkarska Akcija). CMA was founded by the late Fr. Wolbang, who had been a missionary in China before being expelled by the Communist government. It supports about 80 priests, nuns, and brothers. It has an efficiency rating of about 99.9% because there is no budget for administration - when postage is needed, the volunteer provides her stamps. They raise about $100,000 a year which is sent directly to the mission field.
The average sum sent is about $450 per mission sta- • tion along with gifts that have been dedicated. Semi-narians-in-training in Uganda, Kenya, and Malawi are also supported with $350 a year per student.
One of the missionaries has caught the attention of the international news community. Fr. Pedro Opeka is known as the apostle to the garbage dump dwellers. Akin to Mother Theresa, he has reached out to the “poorest of the poor” in Madagascar - those who dwell on the garbage dumps and survive on what they
Mission
Benefit
Dinner
The Slovenian Mission Circle is sponsoring its annual chicken/roast beef dinner to benefit Catholic missions on Sunday, Feb. 8 in St. Vitus Auditorium.
Donation is $10.00 for adults and $5 for children. Serving from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Dinner tickets may be purchased in advance at the parish office.
Please support this worthy cause._________
find from picking through the refuse.
His ministry has helped over 100,000 individuals, mostly children. It has built homes, schools, a medical clinic, roads, a bell tower, reforestation (20,000 pines and eucalyptus), electrification, fresh water supply, sewers, a multi-use gathering place
The Gospel is also firmly rooted. Sunday Mass is 2-3 hour happening, and there are 5,000 in attendance.
A long standing political-economic crisis, however, has deepened the poverty in Madagascar. Accordingly, the need has not abated; rather, the demand has increased. As you read this know that the ministry educates 7,000 students daily (no summer vacations) by jamming 60-80 students in a room.
Fr. Opeka’s ministry is based on the Gospel and on the work ethic. It began with a stone quarry that is mined with rudimentary hand-tools and bare feet, transporting cut rock by balancing it on their heads. The goal is to uproot poverty and to attain autonomy so that life can be lived with dignity.
Another missionary has built a city in Brazil - Citadel Don Bosco. This priest left home at the age of 15 to become a missionary where he has served for 42 years. His vocation included the sacrifice of never seeing his mother again.
(Continued on page 2)
Annual Pristava Banquet
The Slovenska Pristava Board of Trustees is sponsoring their traditional annual banquet Pristavska Noč on Saturday, Jan. 24 at the Slovenian National Home on St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, beginning at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7:15 promptly.
For your dancing pleasure, music will be provided by Ed Mejač band. Tickets available by calling Mary Ann Vogel at (216) 383-9307.
All members and friends are invited.
Ernie and Gaye Ryavec attend party at Omar Bradley house
Ernie and Gaye Ryavec at home in Santa Monica, California prior to leaving to attend the MO WW Christmas Party at the former home of General Omar Bradley and now a fellow member’s home. Col. Ernie Coda and his wife, Rosemary in Bellaire, just a few miles from Santa Monica. The picture was taken by Ryavec’s youngest son, Steven.
ERNES I A. RYAVEC enlisted as an apprentice seaman in the USNR and Ohio Naval Militia at Cleveland, OH in June, 1934. He was called to active duty in December, 1940 with the 3rd Div. USNR at Cleveland. He served aboard the USS Lawrence to June, 1941 when he was commissioned as an ensign and reported to the Fire Control Div. Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Dept. In June, 1944 he completed postgraduate study in ordnance engineering at the California Institute of Technology.
He requested sea duty and was assigned to the USS Atlanta as a gunnery officer in November, 1944 and participated in the first sea bombardments of Japan starting in Hokkaido to Tokyo Bay. In June 1945 he was assigned as head of Mathematics Sections of the Navy Office of Research and Invention. In 1947 he transferred to the Science Dept, of the USN Ordnance Test Station. He was recalled in 1951 to active duty from the USN Air Missile Test Station, Point Mugu, CA, where he was assigned to the Range Instrumentation Dept' computing operations.
He participated in the development of the production Terrier antiaircraft missile; attended the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and received an MS degree in management engineering. He continued on active duty with assignments in Navy Ordnance at the Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Dept., and at the USN Ordnance Plant, Forest Park, IL until 1961. From 1961 to 1971 he worked in the aerospace industry and retired from the Hughes Aircraft Company when he became eligible in 1976. From 1971 to 1976 he was a senior adjudicator U S Veterans Administration, Los Angeles from which position he retired in June 1976.
He is a 1934 graduate of John Carroll University with a BS degree; 1940 graduate of Western Reserve University with an MS degree. He has participated for years in efforts for nuclear disarmament. He was retired as commander, USNR in June, 1976.
He and his wife, Gaye, married since 1949, live in Santa Monica. They have six children: Dr. Charles Ryavec, Dr. Carole Ryavec Dunleavy, Mark, Steve, Lisa, and Janice Ryavec Goranson.
Printing Notice
newspap WIU" BE NO American Homi
newspaper printed the week of Feb. 1.
AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, JANUARY 22, 2004
2 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, except 1st week in July and 1 week after Christmas, 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. 4
January 22, 2004
mFLEcnom by mm
Get-Well Card for Elizabeth
by RUDY FLIS
Isn’t it nice to receive a get-well card after an operation or an illness? I think such a greeting speeds recovery.
A few years past, I had an operation and remember recuperating at home and receiving get-well cards. I sat and just relaxed, doing my necessary exercises, watching TV, eating well and letting my wife, Therese, cater to me. I liked that very much.
I mentioned in the “American Home” that Therese put a bell beside me, to beckon her as I might need her help. I called my brother A1 to tell him about the great bell I had, and then rang it for him to hear over the phone line. Immediately Therese was at my side, and I told her I rang it for my brother Al, who was on the phone with me and didn’t believe I had a bell to ring, and so I rang it.
Right after the mentioning of the bell in the “American Home,” I received a get-well card from
my friend Marie Dular with this bit of advice, “Rudy, do not abuse the bell!” I really enjoyed the card with Marie’s warning. From then on I made sure I didn’t ring the bell until I was in dire need of a back rub!
Don’t you feel get-well cards are important? They are a real help, aren’t they?
We have a mutual friend who would appreciate a get-well card from all of her fellow subscribers to the “American Home.” You might also know her as the archivist for the “Bishop Baraga Association.”
If you have an extra get-well card, or a small piece of paper, you can send your best wishes on it, or a get-well prayer, to our friend. Her name and address is: Elizabeth J. Delene P.O. Box 550 Marquette, MI 49855 When you read this, Elizabeth will be recuperating from an operation. Pray that all is well for she has much work to do, but will be on the mend for six to eight weeks.
^ PERKIN’S RESTAURANT
22780 Shore Center Dr.
Euclid, Ohio 44123 216-732-8077 Operated by Joe Foster
Slovenian Children’s Books
VENICE, CA - Books of Slovenia is pleased to announce the arrival of two new books from Slovenia in English of interest to children and young people, “Come My Gentle Ariel,” and “Slovenian Folk Tales.” “Come My Gentle Ariel,” written by renowned Slovenian author and playwright Mira Mihelič, is based on Mihelic’s up-bringing in her grandmother’s home in the mining town of Trbrovlje. It is the best known of Mihelic’s many stories for children and young people.
“Come My Gentle Ariel” is the story of a dreamy, emotional, impulsive and imaginative young girl meeting the challenges of an unusual childhood. It was translated by Alasdair MacKinnon. The book’s 18 full-color and black-and-white illustrations were drawn by Dasa Abaza. The 129-page book was published by Didakta Publishing Company in 2002 and costs $29. Available in hardback only. (ISBN 961-6463-02-0) “Slovenian Folk Tales” is the English-language version
of one of the best-selling Slovenian children’s books. It includes six Slovenian folk tales - The Shepherd, The Three Peas, The Golden Bird, The Riverman, Three Vixens and Harry the hedgehog - with attractive illustrations by Aneka Gošnik-Godec. The translations were made by Lili Potpara. It has 52 full-color illustrations in its 82 pages. It was published by Mladinska Knjiga Publishing House in 2002. Price - $29.00. Available in hardback only. (ISBN 86-11-16248-X)
Both of these books are newly arrived in the North American market. Orders can be placed by credit card on-line	at
www.BooksofSlovenia.com or by sending a check (or purchase order) payable to Delphi Associates to 453 Rialto Avenue, Venice, CA 90291. Prices include shipping and handling (for Canada add $8).
For more information call (310) 392-4843 or email BooksofSlovenia@comcast. net
Slum Missionary...
(Continued from page 1)
God commands all of us to participate in missions since we have a duty to spread the Gospel (Matt 28:19-20). Moreover, James challenges us about faith and action. He writes in Chapter 2:15-17, “Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don’t have enough to eat. What good is there in your saying to them, “God bless you. Keep warm and eat well.” - if you don’t give them the necessities of life? So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead.”
Personally, many of us are not far removed from the days in the DP camps when our parents scrounged through the garbage for something to eat. Since then God has blessed us abundantly. Moreover, charity has a long-term peace dividend. By exporting the Gospel rather than weapons from our industrial-defense industry and immorality from our entertainment industry; there will be less war and less of our soldiers will be called to duty overseas.
CMA’s fundraising is primarily donations (gifts can be sent to CMA, 17826 Brian Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44119), a summer picnic at Slovenska Pristava, and a chicken dinner at St. Vitus Parish Gym.
The next fund-raiser is the delicious chicken dinner at St. Vitus Parish Gym. Mark your calendar for Sunday, Feb. 8. Dinners will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The food is filling and delicious, the company is friendly, and the benefits are out-of-this world.
TAX TIME IS HERE
Come in or Call Us for an Appointment
Cleveland
Accounting Service
6218 St. Clair Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44103 881-5158
100 WORDS MORE OR LESS by John Mercina
T.UCTKY SLOVENIANS FROM QHiCLiPartll
Additional “detective work” by the same Slovenian investigator as in the 01/15/04 AD, identified the following additional Slovenian names on the Ohio’s Unclaimed F unds list:
ROBERT KOGOVŠEK; JOHN USSAI; PHILIP HRVATIN; ANTHONY. JAMES, JENNIE, JOSEPH AND THOMAS TEKAVEC; PERKO - FRANCES, FRANK, JOE. ROSE JOHN JOSEPH MARY AND RALPH; JOSEPH A ZABUKOVEC; FRANK SELAN: MARIA LAH; FRANK BARAGA, HRIBAR - JOSEPH, VICTOR, EDWARD, ELIZABETH, FRANK, JENNIE AND JOHN; STANISLAV STARIN. ANNA E VOGEL, CAROLINE AND C HOČEVAR 5632 ST.CLAIR AVE; FRANK HOČEVAR ON E.246; JOHN HOČEVAR IN GATES MILLS, JOSEPH D ON BLISS AVE, JOSEPH R ON E 78 STREET, LOUISE ON ADDISON ROAD, ANNA, JOE, JOHN, MARY AND FRANCES HREN.
If any of the readers believe they may be identical to the persons on the two lists, send a self addressed /stamped envelope to yours truly, c/o American Home, 6117 St.Clair Avc, Cleveland, Ohio 44103-1692 . By return mail (or within a week) all the information available from the web site regarding a particular name will be furnished to you, as well as directions on how to proceed in making the claim. If your name was not mentioned on the two lists, also please send a self-addressed /stamped envelope to yours truly. You just might be lucky and have your name on the list.
If you reside in a state other than Ohio, send a request likewise, allowing two weeks for a response. Good Luck!
Life in the Refugee Comps
1948
by Anton Žakelj, translated and edited by John Žakelj
(Continued from last week) Easter Sunday, March 28, 1948
We went to Mass in the camp chapel at 6 a.m. and then again at 10 a.m. in Murdof. Then we attended a meeting regarding plans to close the camp and move everyone to a new location. It s not clear why we have to move. We are very worried that conditions in the new location will be worse. Everyone signed a petition asking permission to stay here. But it looks like it won’t do any good.
In the evening, Mire, Cene, Franc (Kokelj) and I went to a nearby tavern to celebrate Easter. We drank 2 liters of wine at 38 shillings each. People are feeling more hopeful these days. We no longer have such terrible shortages of food and clothing, and the political news gives us hope that we will find permanent homes
somewhere.
Tuesday, March 30,1948
The elected leadership of each of the three refugee camps in our area sent telegrams to the British Commandant, the pope, the IRO and others, asking that we be allowed to stay here. Thursday, April 1, 1948
Despite our protests, all °ur things are being moved to the Trofaiach camp about 20 miles away. The IRO is saying we can stay here, but We will be on our own, with-^jtfood or other support.
Twelve trucks left in the morning from one of the other camps in the area, and another 17 in the afternoon.
Friday, April 2, 1948
I mailed a 20 pound package to my family in Slovenia. I know they still have shortages there.
Cilka has been sewing shoes for Russheim, a local shoemaker. He wants us to stay, but he can’t pay enough for us to survive here.
Firsf they told us our camp will move next Tuesday, now it’s been delayed to Wednesday.
Sunday, April 4, 1948
At 11 a.m., Cilka and I went to say a sad farewell to Russheim, the local shoemaker who has been providing Cilka with some paid work during our time here in Judenburg. He wrote a nice letter of recommendation for Cilka, to help her get work in our new location. Russheim’s wife hugged Cilka, cried and could not let her go.
This afternoon Cilka and I picked dandelion leaves and went for a walk. We found a farmer who was willing to give us 2 pounds of bacon in exchange for a pair of shoes we had made.
In the evening, the children in the camp put on a play called “Mother’s Tears.” Then we had a beautiful farewell ceremony in the camp chapel. The ceremony gave us comfort and hope that we will survive.
We have lived in barracks #27 in camp Liechtenstein for almost three years. During that time we have experienced many sad times as well as happy times. Some people think that refugees in camps lose their morals, but we have lived a more “Christian” life here than we did back home. I’m not saying that we haven’t had any cases of marital infidelity at all. It’s been especially difficult for some of the men who had to leave Slovenia without their wives, and who have not seen them for many years. But, considering the fact that so many of us are healthy young men and women, we have behaved very honorably. We’ve prayed a lot and we’ve had a lot of innocent fun. And, despite the crowded conditions, we’ve gotten along reasonably well.
Monday, April 5, 1948
Now they’re telling us we will move tomorrow. We have no idea what to expect at the new camp, so we are packing everything we have, including our firewood. We took down the boards that walled off a corner of our barracks for me and Cilka. We are also taking apart beds, furniture and electrical wiring that we had set up in our barracks during the past two years. (Later, we learned that we didn’t need to pack all those things.)
(To Be Continued)
Happy 95th Birthday
Happy 95,h Birthday to Pauline Burja of Euclid Ohio whose big day was January 2nd. Birthday wishes are sent from family, friends, and members of the American Slovene Club.
Happy 90‘h Birthday
Happy 90lh Birthday wishes are sent to Helen Fakult, R.N., from family and friends. Helen’s big day will be on January 30th.
For Rent
E. 200 & Neff Large one bedroom apt. New appliances and carpet. No pets. $450 a month,
440-951-3087
For Rent
Up/Cozy Duplex 18031 Neff Rd. Appl. Inc. Washer and Dryer
(216)310-8310
St Clair Pensioners Club
The St. Clair Pensioners lub is starting off the year V going to Casino Windsor, Niagara Falls, Canada.
Our trip is scheduled for uesday, Feb. 17. The bus ^ill depart the Orr Arena at ^■30 a.m. and depart the ovenian National Home at 7;00 a.m. The cost is $17.00 ^ ich covers two people.
Please make your check Payable to St. Clair Pension-pfs and send to Jeanette punski, 25801 Zeman Avenue, Euclid, OH 44132. ^hone (2i6) 261-1667. Indi-Cate 0n your check whether ^0u wHl board the bus at Orr ^rena or Slovenian National °nie' Include your name, ress and date of birth long with your check. This afis° necessary if two dif-?rer|t names appear on the eck- This information is
required by the 'Casino Windsor.
Since we are going into Canada, please be sure to bring one of the following items with you:
1)	- Original birth certificate
2)	- Passport
3)	- Driver’s license;^
4)	- State ^Registration Identification Card.
For information purposes, the authorities want to check your photo which appears on these items. If you have any questions or need further information, please call Jeanette Ruminski.
PLEASE NOTE:	Our
next meeting will be on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. New members arc most welcome.
--Sylvia Plymesser
fi *s impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has of work to do.	-Ray Mlakar
New Kres Members Sought
FrtlLInmo QlzurMno to	^~ 11 x * *1
Folklorna Skupina Kres is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. A performance has been scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 11 in the Slovenian National Home on St. Clair. Preparations are underway and the group is accepting new members. New dancers must be entering grade 1 in September 2004 or older.
Please call Martha Gaser at 440-951-5126 or email j.gaser@worldnet.att.net with the following information: dancers name, phone number and current grade. Dancers who participated in last year’s program do not need to register again.
The deadline for new member registration is Jan. 31 of this year.
Certificate Holders Annual Meeting
Slovenian National Home
6417 St. Clair Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44103
Eddie Kenik Room (Annex) Rear Entrance
Sunday, February 1, 2004 at 2:00 p.m.
We mvlte all certificate holders and lodge representatives to, attend
"The Board of Directors
It took John and Mary 6 months to build their home,
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How much time did it take them
to plan their estate? >uq ■
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■ AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, JANUARY 22, 2004
AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA/JANUARY 22, 2004
4
Mlakar Walks Down Memory Lane k
Coming Events...
by RAY MLAKAR
Well, as cold as it is, let’s warm up with a joke. During a flood, a man was swept away and found himself clinging to a floating tree branch as he was carried along with the current. Finally, he came to a half-submerged house with a woman and her children sitting on the roof. He grabbed onto the rouf and pulled hinteelf to safety. They all sat there watching the debris floating by and among other articles passing by was a straw hat. However, the hat was acting differently than the other debris. As it passed the house, it stopped against the current and turned around and then proceeded against the current to the point where he had first observed, it. Once again after moving a short distance, the straw hat reversed its course and began floating against the current. The man called the woman’s attention to this strange event. She replied, “Oh, that’s just Pa. He said he was going to mow the lawn today, come hell or high water.”
Time to get back to dad and if you recall, you remember in my last article I wrote about having his toe amputated but needless to say that was only the beginning for it seems then in the early sixties, dad’s paralyzed foot started to turn dark blue, then black and soon it began to fester. I took time off from work and took him to see the doctor he met while he was at Berea Hospital at the onset of his stroke.
The doctor examined it and then asked me to step outside with him. It was then that he informed me that it did not look good and it was caused due to lack of circulation. He went on to say that eventually the leg would have to be amputated, but said, “Ray, let’s hold off as long as possible for no one likes to lose a limb.” He went on to instruct me that it would only get worse as time went on, but said I should not force dad to walk any more than necessary, to soak his feet, pour peroxide afterwards and bandage it and keep white socks on his foot.
This I could not expect my mom to do and so each night after work, the first thing I attended to was soaking dad’s foot and following through with the doctors instructions.
At first we started out with a shallow basin plastic container, but gradually the dead tissue was moving up higher on his foot and I had to use a higher container un-tii towards the end 1 'vas
soaking his foot in a new clean waste basket.
1 hated for dad to see the condition of his foot, for it was becoming very brittle and I would work in his room with a small-watt light bulb primarily so he could not sec what was going on. He often remarked how could I sec what I was doing but I made excuses that I did not want to turn on the overhead lights for I worked under bright fluorescent lights at work and the brightness was giving me a headache.
I did that chore for some six weeks when it was just becoming too much, the gangrene was moving up fast and I called the doctor and was fortunate in talking to him on the phone from work and told him that I felt we could not wait any longer. He agreed and said I know it is difficult for you to see that, but went on to say that he had seen a lot of that while he was in the service with soldiers being wounded and ended up losing their limbs after excessive decay.
“Ray,” he said, “I will make the arrangements and you take him to Berea Hospital and 1 will operate tomorrow.”
I took off from work and mom and I remained with dad the entire day, before surgery and after. I guess dad realized what was happening and did not fight it. Deep down it was hard for dad to accept that from now on he would never walk again like he did before with the brace on.
When he came back to his room from surgery, he was out like a light and I noticed they had amputated the leg right above the knee, but what had me startled was that on his good foot, the so-called healthy foot, he had a towel wrapped tightly around his shin bone. I asked the nurse about it and she said, “Ray, the doctor will be up shortly and he will talk to you about it.”
Soon, the doctor came and we were to dad’s bedside and he said, “Ray, I have some bad news. His good foot is going and the same thing will happen to it as his first foot, but this will move faster since it is on his shin bone and the gangrene will move faster both up and down, and I am afraid that foot will also have to be amputated.
All I kept asking was WHY? Why, did this have to happen to dad after all the setbacks he already had. The doctor went on to say that he did not want me to go thru with the second foot as 1 did .with the first foot and sug-
gested that the second amputation take place within days. 1 said, “Doctor, 1 ask only one thing. You break the news to him. I can’t.”
It goes without saying that a lot of tears were shed although even though we were at his bedside, dad was still “out.” A couple of days later, the doctor broke the news to dad and surprisingly dad felt he knew he would not get better and accepted it. Within five days, dad had both legs amputated.
I am afraid I had enough of this story to tell for this edition and can only be relieved to know that in all that suffering dad went through, God must have a special place for him in heaven. I can only wish that no one ever has to go through what he did or for that matter what 1 had to go through, for it ripped my heart apart.
Time to close only in hopes that God watches over all of you and above all keeps you in good health for as I have said so often. Good Health is our greatest asset, our greatest gift and always remember to thank God for it each night.
In closing may the Good Lord Bless and watch over all of you and keep you all in his loving care.
Lodge 25 Dinner
Members of KSKJ St. Vitus Lodge #25 are cordially invited to the annual lodge dinner on Sunday, Feb. 1 in St. Vitus auditorium, after the 10:30 a.m. Mass. The meal will be served at 12 noon. Thirteen 50-year members will be honored.
If any member wishes to attend, please call the secretary, John C. Turek at (216) 531-0230.	_______
All Girls Polka Band on Tour
The sensational three piece “all girls” polka band Mlade Frajle will be in Detroit on Feb 14,
Chicago Feb. 15,
Feb. 22: TBA,
Maškarada Banquet (sponsored by Kres) in Cleveland on Feb. 22.
Feb. 24 - Shrove Tuesday — TBA
For concert information e-mail them at:
M ladcFraj leUSA@aol .com
--Martin Krpan Society
House for Sale
4 bdrm single home, 55lh & St. Clair Ave. S35,000/obo (216)391-1515 Bill
Leave a message.
Saturday,Jan.24
Pristavska Noč at Slovenian National Home, St. Clair, Cleveland.
Sunday, Feb. 1 St. Mary’s (Collinwood) Slovenian School annual dinner starting at 11 a.m. Tickets call (2.16) 381-4591.
Slovenian Ski Weekend at Windham Mts. Information call John F. Kamin, (212)691-5553.
Sunday, Feb. 8 Slovenian Mission Circle annual dinner to benefit Catholic missions. On menu is chicken/roast beef. $10 adults,: $5 children. Serving 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20 Newburgh Slovenian Home, 3563 E. 80,h St., Cleveland, OH pork, sauerkraut, potato dumpling dinner. $9 per person. Serving 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Music by W. Tomsic from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 21 Folklorna Skupine Kres Masquerade	Dinner-
Dance’Maskarada at Slovenian Home on Holmes Ave. Entertainment Mlade Frajle from Slovenia. Tickets $22. For tickets call 440-944-9780 or 216 383-7091.
Sunday, Feb. 22 Slovenian Language School of St. Vitus Parish hosts Annual Benefit Dinner from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in parish auditorium.
Saturday, Feb. 28 Baraga Day in Holiday, FL. 11:30 a.m. Mass at St. Vincent DePaul Church, followed by luncheon and program. For reservation call
727-376-2743 or 727-375-5342.
Friday, March 5
Newburgh Slovenian Home, 3563 E. 80th St., Cleveland, OH Fish Fry, walleye or shrimp, pierogi or Mac & Cheese, $9.00 person. Serving 5 to 7:30 p.m. Music 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. by J. Novak.
Friday, March 12
Newburgh Slovenian Home, 3563 E. 80lh St., Cleveland, OH Fish Fry -walleye or shrimp, pierogi or mac & cheese, $9.00. Serving 5 - 7:30 p.m. Music 6:30
-	9:30 by W. Tomsic.
Friday, March 19 Newburgh Slovenian Home, 3563 E. 80 St., Cleveland, OH Fish Fry walleye or shrimp, pierogi or mac & cheese, $9.00. Serving 5 - 7:30 p.m. Music 6:30
-	9:30 by F. Moravcik.
Saturdav. March 20 . federation ot Slovenian
National Homes Man/-Woman of Year Banquet, at Slovenian National Home on St. Clair Ave., Cleveland. Doors open 2 p.m. Dinner 4 p.m. Program at 6 p.m., followed by music.
March 27 - April 3 Slovenian Ski Trip 2004 to Lake Louise, Canada. $950 from Cleveland (2 per room) (includes round trip airfare from La Guardia via Denver to Calgary, all ground transportation, 7 nights lodging at Ptarmigan Inn, 5 days lift pass). Call John F. Kamin (212) 691-5551.
Friday, March 26 Newburgh Slovenian Home, 3563 E. 80,h St., Cleveland, OH Fish Fry -walleye or shrimp, pierogi or mac & cheese, $9.00. Serving 5 - 7:30 p.m. Music 6:30 - 9:30 by W. Tomsic.
Friday, April 2 Newburgh Slovenian Home, 3563 E. 80lh St., Cleveland, OH Fish Fry -walleye or shrimp, pierogi or mac & cheese, $9.00. Serving 5-7:30 p.m. Music from 6:30 to 9:30.
Sunday, April 4 Annual benefit dinner in St. Vitus auditorium sponsored by Holy Name Society, Altar Society, and KSKJ Lodge 25.
Sunday, April 25 Newburgh Slovenian Home, 3563 E. 80lh St., Cleveland, OH honoring John M. Hrovat, Slovenian Home Man of Year. $18 person 2 p.m. Music by Frank Moravcik 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 2 Holmes Ave. Pensioners Annual Dinner-Dance at Collinwood	Slovenian
Home. Dinner served 2 p.m. Dance to Ray Polantz 3 - 7 p.m. For tickets call (216) 531-2088 or (440) 943-3784 before April 25.
Sunday, May 9 Newburgh Slovenian Home, 3563 E. 80,h St., Cleveland, OH Annual Mother’s Day Breakfast Brunch $8.00. Children 10 years and under $4. Serving 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Friday, May 21 Newburgh Slovenian Home, 3563 E. 80lh St., Cleveland, OH Pork, sauerkraut, potato dumpling dinner, $9.00. Serving 5 to 7:30 p.m. Music by Frank Moravcik 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 12
Folklorna Skupina Kres Picnic at Slovenska Pristava.
Sunday, June 27 Ohio KSKJ Picnic at Slovenska Pristava.
Cleveland Baseball Excursion to New York
5
By JOE GLINŠEK
Collinwood was our neighbo.liood, but a steady job made it possible to see some of the outside world occasionally. Starting in the late 1940s until 1952 when I was drafted, I took two or three “baseball” trips with a couple of friends. The Cleveland Indians sponsored excursions from Cleveland to New York to see the Indians play at Yankee Stadium. Baseball is in quotes, because we saw a total of five innings of one game. We were more curious about seeing Yankee Stadium than watching the game, plus there were more interesting reasons for making these trips.
We left Penn Station at E. 55 and Euclid early. Friday evening, and returned on Monday morning. I missed a couple of hours of work on Monday, but it was well Worth it. The overnight trips hack and forth allowed time lor sleeping in a coach seat, hut there was very little of that on the train, and virtu-a|ly none at the hotel. We were young and had better lhings to do than sleep.
The package included the round-trip train fare and a room at the New Yorker Hotel, a better than average accommodation at the time, conveniently connected to lhe train station by a pedestrian tunnel. Also part of the cal, was a Saturday night •nner and a drink at one of the major night clubs: the hrst year, it was Billy Rose’s ■amend Horseshoe. To complete this super bargain, ere were tickets for a reasonably g00tl seat at ^ ba||
hame and a Grand Circle oat tour around Manhattan. e did this tourist .stuff 0riCe» but soon fouiid more ■riteresting attractions that Were not on the itinerary.
, We discovered Greenih Village with Eddie °ndon s, the Village Van-uard and Mona’s, which catured “female imper-onators,” that’s what they ere called back then. Con-0n s played the kind of jazz I e real*y liked, free and Ian? With 3 tW'St °f Dixie"
We soon realized pehali was not the it dw for most of the pec
" th's trip. The train '
WHi 1 T015'16 sin8les cl int ^e^0re the term ca
vni° COnini°" usage.
gaS crowd guys < f 18 from the Clevelanda
Ovp ^aiTlrne(l dub car on rn'ght ride to New Yi
abh a S'tuat'on w'th pred anve Consequcnces, few b - having to do with ba 4 ' Hicu with ever-.;
Citizens of Euclid Wake Up
staying at the same hotel, it was convenient to make plans for the weekend in New York, and many of
these liaisons were rekindled back in Cleveland.
The girls and women traveled in small groups, as did the men, but they also outnumbered the males -rather unusual for a baseball excursion. Even more remarkable, was the price, and it’s not a typo. Our first trip was under 40 bucks'each! It climbed affer thaVfriit a couple of years later, it was ho more than $55. Even in context with the times, this was a real bargain and must have been subsidized by the Indians’ management in order to fill seats at Yankee Stadium with a Cleveland contingent. They ran this deal feif several years, but it would have been dropped sooner if they had monitored attendance.
None of the girls we met were half as beautiful as the 8 x 10 glossies in the window of Mona’s. We never went inside to see a live performance, but the pictures of these masquerading dolls were quite a revelation to “three hicks from the sticks.” This was not a tag we applied to ourselves, but it seemed that most New Yorkers I met here, and later in the Army, had this idea that Cleveland was somewhere in the western provinces where we lived among buffalo and real Indians - the kind with bow and arrows instead of baseball bats.
On our next trip we sold our tickets for the ball game and boat ride, and spent most of our time in more hedonistic pursuits. It appeared that most of the “baseball fans” were of one mind - let’s eat, drink, and make merry. There were continuous parties going on in many hotel rooms, but late evening drew us back to Condon’s on 3rd Street in the Village. Eddie played the banjo and was quite a character. With guys like Wild Bill Davison, Cutty Cutshall, Edmond Hall and more, they made the rafters rattle with the kind of jazz we loved. These boys were serious drinkers, and as the night wore on, they played better and better.
His saloon posted a $2.10 “minimum,” a term that was unfamiliar. There was no “cover charge,” but your minimum tab would be $2.10 - at 70 cents a drink, that was hardly a problem. However, there was a waiter that badgered us “foreigners” unmercifully; always in our face to re-order; cleaning our ashtray after every flick of a cigarette. He was being a majoi® nuisance until John, the tallest of our trio, stood
up and told him to shove off until he was called. The bouncer gave us a lot of attention after that, but we spent the night on our own terms and closed the place without incident. We drank considerably more than our minimum, and the waiter never bothered us unless he was summoned. We were going to “stiff’ him, but decided a very measly tip was a more pointed message.
Earlier, at the bar, I discovered that asking for rye whiskey and expecting Old Overholt, or one of the other two or three brands of straight rye, didn’t work. You had to name the brand. In New York, “rye” was merely a term for blended whiskey. (In the South, if you ask for scotch, vodka, gin, bourbon or whiskey, you get their “well” brand, which is whatever cheap brand is in the “wells” next to the sinks under the bar.) A soft drink, which we called a bottle of “pop” in Cleveland, was a “soda” in New York. If you wanted club soda or seltzer with your whiskey, you had to be specific.
I’ll always remember the great entertainment and our walk back to the hotel - yes,
I said walk. Even in “the safer and friendlier” New York of today, I wouldn’t try this now. The Village was a section that began around Washington Square at the foot of Fifth Avenue.
We left our saloon on 3rd Street at about 3 a.m., comfortably saturated with music and booze that had been spaced over about five hours of entertainment. The three of us strolled up Fifth Avenue to 34th St., then over a couple of blocks to our hotel.
In the wee hours of the morning we passed many small clusters of people all along this route. Traffic, though not heavy, was everpresent in the “city that never sleeps.” Never did we have an altercation, or even what you might call an incident. We arrived near our hotel, not only safe, but sobered by the exercise and very hungry. It wasn’t hard to find a place to eat at that hour, and we topped off the long night with a hearty breakfast.
Today I would be aching for my bed, but a good meal and a shower renewed us for the activities of the breaking day. There was plenty to do before the overnight train left for home. It was great to be young.
Not keeping an appointment is an act of clear dishonesty. You mav as well steal a j person s money as ius time, j
Editor,
All of the American Home readers living in Euclid need to be aware of the situation existing in our city. The Administration is playing politics with our house values and quality of life by changing the zoning on church property. They are only interested in collecting the city income tax and are giving the red carpet treatment to the builders, churches and developers, without knowing what is going to be built or where.
Never mind that the church will pay no real estate taxes, schools will become more overcrowded, and streets face gridlock by the additional traffic. The buildings and developers will be the winners, while the citizens of Euclid the losers.
Please contact the Euelid:,
City Council and voice your § concerns.	,	^
“Yours for a better Euclid”
—Ed Grosel Euclid, Ohio
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

Corpus Christi Parish W
OLKA MAS?
Saturday, January 31,2004
Everyone is welcome!
Immediately following Mass:
Chicken and Stuffed Cabbage Dinner
6:00 p.m. (Advance sale only)
WASH INCLUDED Tickets: $20.00 per person Dancing 'til 10:30 p.m. with
<7he Ray 'Polantz Rani
FOR TICKETS CALL:
Bob Zunt 216-749-3797 Jack Altenburg 216-351-6870 Joe Moynihan 216-351-2048
rx <JL/i
J~>an Cotia
Funeral Homes
Two Convenient Locations
28890 Chardon Rd. Willoughby Hills 440-944-8400
(Formerly Grdina)
17010 Lake Shore Blvd.
Cleveland (Collinwood Area) 216-486-2900
4 Slovenian family Serving the Slovenian Community.
Dignified-Personalized-Professional S
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Dsn Cosic and Joseph Zevnik, Funeral Direct
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AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, JANUARY 22,
AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, JANUARY 22,
Leadville Host to Button-Box Festivals

"
On Tuesday evening, July 17, 1984, Elm Street, now the home of the Leadville Eagles Aerie, echoed with the sounds of happy people reliving the days of old when Slovenian polkas and music fdled the building with the atmosphere that is characteristic of a Slovenian heritage: hospitality; a common bond of rich ethnic influences; a joy in just being alive.
The rebirth was a spontaneous occasion, the result of Kenneth Tomsick of Euclid, Ohio, desiring to come to Leadville to see the building his father once owned. That building is the present Eagles Hall.
Kenneth and Ann Tom-šick along with a number of others of Slovenian heritage who rc&ide in Cleveland, Ohio, and others, from Pennsylvania, took a Kollander tour which brought them to Denver where they spent three days at the Adams County Polka Jamboree.
The group had attended the Polka Jamboree for three years but had never come to Leadville. One of the reasons for the regular attendance at the Polka Jamboree is that (then) 19-year-old Joey Tomsick, son of the Kenneth Tomsicks, is a button-box accordion champion, coleader of the Kollander tour. It actually was a polka tour. Twenty-three years ago a Slovenian group in Cleveland began a revival of Slovenian culture which features polka clubs, and the original group of 700 people
has mushroomed to 4,000. Eleven buses come from out of the state to the Cleveland Polka Fest.
Leadville polka fans met some of the people three years ago by attending the Adams County Polka Jamboree. The invitation was extended to come to Leadville, and some 17 of them took advantage of the invitation and came here on July 17, bringing with them a polka group featuring button-box accordionist, Joey Tomsick.
Various devotees and lovers of the Slovenian culture were contacted, and the quickest party on record was created. For a few hours “Slovenski Drustov Dom” assumed its long-ago historic usage.
Jhe photograph above is of a convention gathering many years ago when the present Eagles Hall was owned by two Slovenian lodges, St. Joseph’s No. 56, and Paninske Bratje (Western Slavonic Association) No. 5, both still active here with St. Joseph’s continuing to hold monthly meetings in their former
home.
The building which has few exterior and interior changes from the past, was sold by Frank Zaitz, Sr. to the parents of Kenneth Tomsick, John and Mary, who had emigrated here from the ‘old country,’ met here, fell in love and were married in St. Joseph’s Church in 1902. They remained here in Leadville until about 1912 and five of their eight children were bom in Leadville; three were born in Cleveland where the family settled after a short residence in Joliet, Illinois, the first stop after leaving Leadville.
When the Tomsicks owned 527 Elm Street, they operated a boarding house with Mary Tomsick cooking for 40 boarders. Kenneth recalls that ‘she used to bake bread on an outside stove. The boarders would go to their work at the mines on horseback. Mother would pack their lunches. A lot of them would take off for another camp without paying their bar bill. Father sold this building for practically nothing -- $500.
The ownership of the building between 1912 and the early 1920s is not known by Slovenians still on the scene. Anton Zalar, an officer for many years in St. Joseph’s Lodge, said it was already owned by the two Slovenian lodges in 1925. The deed shows that the two lodges made the purchase of the building from the Zang Brewing Co. The two lodges sold the building to the Eagles about 15 years ago. The arrangements made at the time of the sale was that the lodges can use the hall for lodge meetings, the children’s Christmas party, and the St. Joseph’s Lodge Easter Sunday morning breakfast. The selling price to the Eagles was $8,000.
Frank and John Tomsic of Denver who sponsor the button-box accordion portion of the Adams County Polka
Festival are not related to the Tomsicks of Ohio.
The Slovenian tourists thoroughly enjoyed Leadville and received an insight into the Slovenian history of the west side. One of the announcements made by Pestotnik, spokesman for the group, was ‘Slovenians are all over the world.’
“We are all polka fans. If all the button-box accordionists were playing together at one time, there would be 35,000 of them.”
Frank and John Tomsic of Denver are perpetuating the Slovenian culture in the western frontier. One of their ways is the annual button-box accordion festival. Fea-
tured are Joe Fedorchek and Frank Fidigar and family of California; Gary Siebert and his orchestra, all in Colorado for the third year.
Slovenska Narodna Podporna Jednota, Pennsylvania, is actually the name of a town. It stands for Slovene National Benefit Society, which is one of the lodges that once met in Leadville’s ‘Slovenska Društvo Dom” (Eagles Hall). The mayor of the Pennsylvania town says, “Everybody and their brother just calls it SNPJ.’ The town is tucked away about 50 miles northwest of Pittsburgh amid wooded hills and lush green pastures near the Ohio border. It used to be the Herman Serjak’s vegetable farm.
The smallest municipality with one of the longest names has just 11 residents, no children, one pay telephone, one mail box, and 500 acres.
The Slovene National Benefit Society is an 80-year-old fraternal insurance company which owns the town and runs it as a summer camp and recreation center. About 40,000 people visit SNPJ each summer, but the town all but closes in the winter.
The town of S.N.P.J. was bom, in part, out of the need for a liquor license. The Chicago-based society bought Serjak’s property in 1963 for a recreation center. Then it was discovered that drinks could not be legally sold in Lawrence County, the location of the acreage, because it is situated in a dry community. Now the tiny town is free to sell alcohol to its guests at Slovenian festivals, picnics and parties.
The town’s annual budget is around $350, mostly for telephone calls and postage. In return, the surrounding North Beaver township collects taxes for SNPJ and provides municipal police, fire and road service.
F.rpm the July 25, 1984 The Herald Democrat of Leadville, Colorado. Article was submitted by Ken Tomsick of Euclid, Ohio.
Krofe Sale
St. Vitus Altar Society will hold a krofe and noodles sale on Saturday, Feb. 14 in the auditorium social room.
Dr. Zenon A. Klos
E. 185,h Area
* 531-7700
— Emergencies -Dental Insurance Accepted Laboratory on Premises - Same Day Denture Repair COMPLETE DENTAL CARE FACILITY
848 E. 185 St.
(between Shore Carpet and John’s Fun House)
-1
Dr. Mirko Vombergar D.D.S.

6551 Wilson Mills Road
i O (l Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143
Call for your appointment 1-440-473-4746
Office Hours - by appointment only.
Saturday and evening hours available.
We also speak SL O VEISIA M
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Petfawdi PolU
America's Longest Running Daily Show Since 1961
2 Hours Daily 3-5 pm / Saturdays 12-2 pm	AVB*
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"At the puke of an ever busy polka and Slovenian Community"
Offering complete Community News daily and phone in Polka Opinion every Monday
8 MARK SKDMAK (Alternative Slovenian music) ALICE KUHAR (Recipes and Traditions)
DUKE MARSIC (Strictly Slovenian News)
I A1TY SLUGA (Women’s Interviews)
___	kD OSTRY (Guest co-host)


P Death Notices j
RITA F. BARTOL
Rita F. Bartol (Shemple), 77, passed away on January 12, 2004 at Chardon Healthcare Center.
Rita was born on Feb. 11, 1926 in Cleveland. She resided in Euclid for 47 years.
Friends were received at The Dan Cosic Funeral Home, 28890 Chardon Rd., Willoughby Hills, OH on Wednesday, Jan. 14 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years Frank; sons Frank Jr. (wife Nancy) and David (wife Anna) Bar-to1; seven grandchildren; siblings Adeline Belko and Richard Shemple.
Interment South Kirtland Cemetery.
Large Donation
Thanks to John Goričan of Richmond Heights, OH who renewed his subscription and added a SI65.00 donation!!!
Donation
Thanks to Miro Odar of Richmond Heights, OH who renewed his subscription and added a $20.00 donation.
Donation
Thanks to Commander Ernie A. Ryavec, USNR (Ret.) of Santa Monica, CA who renewed his subscription and added a great $65.00 donation!
Donation
Thanks to Dr. and Mrs. Edward Gobetz of Willoughby Hills, OH for the $40.00 donation!
In Loving Memory
of the 13,h Anniversary
Frank J. Godic
In Memory
Thanks to France Sever and Family of Seven Hills, OH who renewed their subscription and added a $15.00 donation in memory of Prof. Janeza Sever.
Donation
Thanks to Frank and Justine Pieman of Euclid, OH who renewed their subscription and added a $20.00 donation.
January 28, 1991
Goe/ watched you as you suffered,
knew you had your share; e gently closed your weary eyes,
And took you in His care.
Donation
Thanks to Julka Zalar of Richmond Heights, OH who renewed her subscription and added a $40.00 donation!
Donation
°u[ Memory is our keepsake*
that We’11 never Part>'
® has you in His keeping,
e have you in our heart.
Sadly missed by
Rev- Frank Gpdic and Hpoer - sons. . °nnie Simmons 4nd
Clare Miller, daughters and families
In Memory
t \^anks to Arnold Pris-
r rn'k Rockway, NJ who
,nevved his subscription
jnUs added a $40.00 donation
memory 0f his wife, tlene!
?0f belaud H l°r $15.00 'mo'y Of his rn
c,a Gail stark.
Thanks to Mirko Longar of Euclid, Ohio for the $20.00 donation.
Tony's...
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Slovenian Pensioners Club of Euclid at a Crossroads
The Christmas party held on January 4Ih was a huge success and all who attended raved about the excellent family style dinner consisting of breaded chicken, roast pork and all the trimmings and the wonderful singing and music for dancing played by A1 Battistelli. Many of the members stayed to the very end because of the great entertainment.
Our regular meeting was held on January 7th at the Slovenian Society Home on Recher Avenue with only a small group of faithful members in attendance - 61 in all. Three varieties of pizza with beverage were served with the compliments of the club.
Sadly, we must report the passing of Frances Tomle and Genevieve Bohinc in November, and John Golesh and James Medveš in December. May they rest in peace.
With the flu season at its peak, it is difficult to avoid illness, and a few of our
members have been affected. In November those on the sick list were Jim and Jean Yanchar, Rose Silva, and Frank Ogorenc; and in December, Agnes Valencie, Sophia Skopitz, and Louise Jogodnik. We hope we will see their healthy, happy faces again soon.
We are so pleased to report that Frank and Frances Ogorenc will be celebrating 60 years of wedded bliss on January 22nd. Our warmest congratulations to you both.
And now, on to a serious matter for consideration.
Membership of the Euclid Pensioners has been declining steadily during the past several years. There are currently 200 active and 160 honorary members for a total of 360 members. A very small percentage attended the January meeting for which election of 2004 officers was scheduled. What does this indicate as far as interest is concerned? Do the members want the Euclid
Pensioners Club to continue to exist? An old cliche states: “Action speaks louder than words.”
We all realize there cannot be a functioning organization if people are not willing to give of themselves and accept office. There is no excuse, with the exception of health disabilities, for not accepting an office. We can all learn to handle responsibilities.
Members present at this meeting were unable to find an individual willing to assume the presidency, and without a leader, there is no need to fill other offices.
All members are urged to attend the February 4th meeting as the future of the Slovenian Pensioners Club of Euclid is at stake and will be decided then.
Wouldn’t the demise of the Slovenian Pensioners Club of Euclid be a tragic beginning to the New Year?
--Lori Sierputowski, Secretary
1
State vs. Church or Vice-Versa in Slovenia?
Are the State and the Church still separated if their authorities intermingle? Can the Church perform religious classes in public schools? Can the Church abide by its own canon laws and not the State ones and if so, does it become a State within a State? And how much can the secular State intervene in religious matters?
All these questions (and many more) were raised by a simple document called the Vatican agreement.
The principle of the separation of Church and State is enshrined in the Slovenian Constitution.	Various
churches are thus obliged to follow the laws of the state. However, some believe the Vatican agreement may have given the Roman Catholic church too much power and authority, and so the government asked for the so-called Vatican Agreement (legal international agreement with the Holy Seat) to be sent to the Constitutional Court. Two years later, at the end of November, the Constitutional Court finally made its ruling. The Vatican Agreement is in fact in accordance with the Slovene Constitution, they said, but, they added, only if the Roman Catholic Church is still obliged to follow the laws of the Slovene state.
What is Vatican Agreement?
The first international agreement between Slovenia and the Vatican caused a political storm at the beginning of last year. Instead of Parliament ratifying it (as is the usual procedure with international agreements), the government proposed to send it to the Constitutional Court. The government was concerned about Article No.
1 of the Vatican agreements since it might give the Roman Catholic Church the legal opportunity to follow its own (canon) laws instead of State ones. The Church has preserved its own jurisdiction over religious matters and the State over secular ones, such as education and the marriage ceremony. If the two clash, state legislation would prevail. However, the Court also ruled that the State muse negotiate with the Church, although not at all costs, if an agreement between the two cannot be reached.
State vs. Church The relationship between the state and the Roman Catholic Church is still a complicated one today, for it bears many unhealed scars of the past. Under the communists, religion was limited in public for nearly half a century. After World War 11 priests were prosecuted for alleged co-operation with the Germans or Italians and the Church’s assets were nationalized.
Today, religion is considered by majority of Slovenians to be a private matter and they mostly oppose religion being taught in public schools. Yet if you ask church officials, intolerance towards the Roman Catholic Church is still very high, and the opposition to the Vatican agreement is proof of that, they claim.
Hostility Towards Church
On one hand we have Archbishop Franc Rode who uses every opportunity to express his views about current political and social issues. He claims Slovenian society is stripped of all moral values, abortion to be against humanity and homosexuality unnatural. On the other hand individuals and groups accuse Rode of spreading intolerance among people and that artists are (miss)using church for their artistic expression, e.g. burning of cross in Strunjan, and wrapping church bells with cloth to prevent them from ringing.
Slovene Churchgoers
About 81 percent of the Slovenian population is baptized, but the number of regular churchgoers is lower. Around 70 to 75 percent of pupils visit religious classes organized by the church.
This article was submitted by Phil Hrvatin of Wachovia Securities.
AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, JANUARY 22, 2004
AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, JANUARY 22, 2004
8 Jim’s Journal
By Jim Debevec
These cold days in the northern Ohio reminds me of the corn field.
The corn field was located off Nottingham Road near E. 174th Street (where I lived), across from St. John’s Lutheran school in Cleveland.
In my entire life I had never seen a stock of corn there, but that is what everybody called it. Maybe at one time it was part of a farm that produced corn. I don’t know, but what 1 do know is that there was a magnificent hill there where the kids of the neighborhood went sledding.
1 rode on a Flexible Flyer until it crashed into a tree and broke the front support. Then my dad bought me another one, which I wore out using it until some developer came along and bought all the property and built homes, ruining the corn-field and the terrific outdoors activities for the neighborhood youth. At the bottom of the corn-field hill there was a tiny creek. During a real cold winter, you could sled over it and start up the other embankment. The constant contest was to see who could go the furthest.
We would do our sledding after school or on the weekend for hours at a time. We were kept healthy by the exercise of walking back up the hill and when we became too cold, it was a five minute walk back home.
Other times my brother Bob would call, and we’d go sledding down Sherwood
Blvd., off Euclid Ave. This was before anyone thought of spreading salt on the hills.
Super Bowl Party
A super bowl party sponsored by St. Mary’s (Collinwood) Court 1640 COF will be held on Sunday, Feb. 1 in the school cafeteria. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
Donation is $15.00 which includes all prizes and food.
Tickets are limited and may be obtained by calling Alan Spilar at 440-951-9775.
Stimburys
Accounting
Accounting & Income Tax Services 496 E. 200th St..
Euclid, OH 44119
(216) 404-0990 Fax (216) 404-0992
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Zooming along, one had to be careful not to keep going at the bottom and hit busy Euclid Avenue where cars were a nuisance, or the Thompson Products Company (later TRW, then Argo), across the street.
During high school and beyond, I abandoned the reliable sled for an erratic, but much more comfortable toboggan. A number of people could sit in one toboggan and there was a cushioned pad to rest on, and ropes along each side to hold. Its main drawback was the lack of steering. There was no wheel and you couldn’t turn it much. Where you pointed it when you got on, was pretty much where it went.
Manakiki Golf Course in the Metropolitan Park System of Greater Cleveland v/as a favorite place with dozens of super hills. 1 went tobogganing well into my married life. Skiing became a fad that didn’t last too long, especially after Madeline broke her leg while ice skating.
Today, when the weather is freezing cold, it gives me great pleasure relaxing, sitting comfy-cozy in a warm Lazy-Boy chair, and just THINKING about the good old days at the com field. How about another hot chocolate, my dear?
Slovenian School Annual Dinner
St. Mary’s (Collinwood) Slovenian School Annual dinner will be held on Sunday, Feb. 1 with serving of roast beef/pork in the school cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Donation is $11.00 for adults and $5.00 for children.
Tickets may be purchased from Slovenian School teachers, parents and also at the school door on the day of the event.
Elaine Barthelemy in Cairo
Editor,
Want to mention that as I write this, my daughter Elaine Barthelemy is in Cairo, Egypt. The schools in Hong Kong are closed for Chinese New Year and she and a friend decided to visit another friend, whose husband is affiliated with The International School of Cairo. Then they will take a 3-day cruise on the Nile. Talk about a world traveler.
The Chinese celebrate the New Year for a whole week.
--Stephanie Polutnik Lorain, Ohio
Specialists in Corrective Hair Coloring
tina & brenda’s
HAIR SALON
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Collinwood Slovenian Home
15810 Holmes Ave., Cleveland, OH
Shareholders Meeting
Feb. 1, 2004 - 2:00 p.m.
cSt. Q/'ctui
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 Kudy Sterk at (216) 361-0300 with any question on how you or a family member can become a resident in our very special community.
There is a loftier ambition than merely to stand high in the world. It is to stoop down and lift mankind a little higher.
--Rev. John Kumse
Whenever you can, shorten a sentence. And one always can. Caress your sentence tenderly; it will end by smiling at you.
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FOR
Freedom
AND
Justice
Ameriška Domovina
Ji ^ T* " ^ »i reti ing-rrg-»^ i H,..
AMERICAN IN SPIRIT FOREIGN IN LANGUAGE ONLY
AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA (USPS 024100) Thursday, January 22, 2004
SLOVENIAN MORNING NEWSPAPER
- Vesti iz Slovenije -
Janez Potočnik kandidat za evropskega komisarja
Današnji Delo fax poroča, da se je predsednik vlade Anton Rop odločil, da bo za kandidata za evropskega komisarja iz Slovenije predlagal ministra za evropske zadeve Janeza Potočnika. O premierovem predlogu bo vlada odločala danes na svoji seji. Po Ropovi oceni je Potočnik najboljši in naj-kopetentnejši kandidat za omenjeno funkcijo. S svojo odločitvijo je pisno seznanil vse predsednike parlamentarnih strank, in predsednika republike ter državnega zbora. Slednje telo bo moralo Potočnika potrditi, kar je pa pričakovati. Alojz Peterle je dejal: “Visoko cenim sposobnosti in dosežke ministra Potočnika, vendar mislim, da bi bilo za Slovenijo bolje, če bi bila oseba bolj politična in bi imela močnejše politično ozadje na evropski politični sceni.” Peterle je dodal, kakor so tudi drugi predvsem iz opozicijskih vrst, da bi bil moral Rop predlagati tri kandidate, državni zbor bi pa glasoval o najprimernejšem.
Novi prvi človek poličke - Darko Anželj
Pretekli četrtek je slovenska policija dobila novega generalnega direktorja. Vlada je na predlog ministra za notranje zadeve na ta uradniški položaj imenovala dr. Darka Anželja, dosedanjega svetovalca v kabinetu notranjega ministra Rada Bohinca. Primopredaja je že bila pretekli petek. Dosedanji vršilec dolžnosti generalnega direktorja Marko Pogorevc bo poslej delal kot višji policijski svetnik.
Darko Anželj, ki je star 40 let, ima 19 let delovnih izkušenj, magisterij iz javne uprave in doktorat iz policijskega menedžmenta. Dalje, ima vodstvene izkušnje, opra-
vljen izpit iz javne uprave in izpit za policijski nadzor.
Uradno potrdilo o imenovanju Marcela Koprola za generalnega konzula Republike Slovenije v Clevelandu
Včeraj je pisarna AD prejela uradno pismo od slovenskega zunanjega ministra Dimitrija Rupla, v katerem je sporočeno, da je bil za generalnega konzula Republike Slovenije v Clevelandu imenovan Marcel Koprol. Dosedanji generalni konzul Anton Gogala se je vrnil v Slovenijo. Tekst pisma se glasi:
“Na podlagi 23. člena Zakona o zunanjih zadevah je bil s Sklepom Vlade Republike Slovenije gospod Marcel Koprol imenovan za generalnega konzula Republike Slovenije v Clevelandu v Združenih državah Amerike, s konzularnim območjem v državah Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri in Colorado.
Naloga gospoda Marcela Koprola je pospeševati vsestransko vzajemno sodelovanje med Republiko Slovenijo in Združenimi državami Amerike, še posebej na vseh tistih področjih, za katera obstajajo interesi v obeh državah pri njunih državljanih, gospodarskih, kulturnih in drugih organizacijah in ustanovah v skladu z mednarodnim pravom.
Ljubljana, petindvajsetega decembra dva-tisoč tretjega leta.
Dr. Dimitrij Rupel, l.r. minister za zunanje zadeve”
V kolikor smo obveščeni, je g. Koprol že tu, nismo pa še gotovi, da je uradno prevzel funkcijo. O tem poročamo prihodnjič. Naslov generalnega konzulata ter telefonska in fax številka so nespremenjeni.
e *•'
Janez Drnovšek in rvo sanader se prvič srečala - Na nekem forumu v
Berlinu sta se 11. januarja prvič srečala slovenski predsednik Janez Drnovšek in novi, Pravkar izvoljeni hrvaški predsednik vlade Ivo Sanader. “Mislim, da je to priložnost za n°v začetek,” je dejal Drnovšek, opozoril pa: “Stališča bo težko uskladiti, to je treba realno povedati”. Ko je bil predsednik slovenske vlade, je Drnovšek dosegel sporazum o meji med Slovenjo in Hrvaško s Sanaderjevim prednikom, Ivotom Račanom. Vendar je bila reakcya v Hrvaški odklonilna do sporazuma, to je tudi odnos Sanaderja, ki je re-ke,» da je bil sporazum Drnovšek-Račan krivičen do Hrvaške in si je treba poiskati kaj I,°vega. Drnovšek, ki sicer ni več glavni pogajalec Slovenye, kajti ima to vlogo njegov “Slednik Anton Rop, je poudaril, da bi lahko Hrvaška stran ponudila kaj boljšega, da Pa doslej ni v tem oziru storila nič.
Iz Clevelanda in okolice
Kosilo Slov. šole—
V nedeljo, 1. februarja, ima Slovenska šola pri Mariji Vnebovzeti svoje vsakoletno kosilo z govejo pečenko in svinjskimi zarebrnicami. Kosilo bo v šolski dvorani s serviranjem od 11. do 1. pop. Dar je $11 za odrasle in $5 za otroke. Nakaznice bodo na voljo tudi pri vhodu na dan kosila, sicer jih dobite tudi pri starših učencev. Pridite!
Kosilo MZA—
Misijonska Znamkarska Akcija (MZA) vabi na svoje vsakoletno kosilo v nedeljo, 8. februarja, v dvorani pri sv. Vidu. Serviranje bo od 11. do 1. pop. Ves dobiček je namenjen podpiranju misijonarjev in njih delo po svetu.
Novi grobovi
Žita Brezavšček
Umrla je 72 let stara Žita Brezavšček, žena Aloi-sa, mati Victorja in Franka, sestra Matilde Klainsek. Pogreb je bil 21. januarja s sv. mašo v cerkvi sv. Vida in pokopom na Vernih duš pokopališču.
Michael J. Erjavec
Umrl je 33 let stari Michael J. Erjavec, sin Josepha in Nicolette, roj. Milicia, brat Josepha Franka. Pogreb je bil 20. januarja v oskbri Ferfolijevega zavoda na Sagamore Hillsu s sv. mašo v cerkvi sv. Barnaba-sa.
Olga K. Mohorčič
Dne 17. januarja je umrla 77 let stara Olga K. Mohorčič z Maple Hts., rojena Stanovic, žena Roberta, mati Debre Woloszynek in Dale-a, 3-krat stara mati, sestra Anne Nash ter že pok. Franka, Ernieja in Roberta. Pogreb je bil 21. januarja v oskrbi zavoda Blessing v Twinsburgu, kjer je pogrebne obrede opravil župnik iz fare sv. Monike, s pokopom na pokopališču Crown Hill.
Eleanore Omerza Umrla je Eleanore Omerza, rojena Schroeder, žena Edwarda st., mat. Sandre Bennett, Jackie Parr in Edwarda ml., 8-krat stara mati, 2-krat prastara mati. Pogreb je bil 18. januarja v oskrbi Želetovcga zavoda s sv. mašo v cerkvi sv. Marije Magdalene.
(dalje na str. 16)
Bralcem—
Naš list dne 5. februarja ne bo izšel. Izšel bo prihodnji četrtek, 29. januarja, nato zopet 12. februarja.
Krofi in pecivo—
Oltarno društvo župnije Marije Vnebovzete bo imelo prodajo krofov in peciva v soboto dopoldne, 31. januarja, v šolski dvorani. Pridite in vse pokupite!
Občna zbora—
Slovenski narodni dom na St. Clairju ima občni zbor v nedeljo, 1. februarja, ob 2h pop., v Kenikovi sobi zadaj. Pridite skozi vrata zadaj. Vabljeni so lastniki certifikatov in zastopniki društev, ki certifikate lastu-jejo.
Slovenski društveni dom na Recherjevi ulici v Eucli-du ima pa svoj občni zbor v nedeljo, 8. februarja, pop. ob 2h.
KOLEDAR
FEBRUAR
1. — Slovenska šola pri
Mariji Vnebovzeti ima kosilo v šolski dvorani. Serviranje bo od 11. do 1. pop.
6., 7. in 8. - Slovenska
poslovna skupnost v New Yorku organizira 13. letno smučarsko srečanje in tekme v Windhamu, NY. Ivan Kamin: 718-424-2711.
8. - Misijonska Znamkarska akcija ima kosilo, v avditoriju pri sv. Vidu. Serviranje od 11. do 1. pop.
21.	- Folklorna skupina
Kres ima maškaradni ples z večerjo v Slov. domu na Holmes Ave. Igrajo Mlade frajle iz Slovenije. Več informacij: 440-944-9780 oz. 216-383-7091.
22.	- Slovenska šola pri
Sv. Vidu ima kosilo v šolskem avditoriju. Serviranje od 11. dop. do 1. pop.
MAREC
27. - 3. aprila - Slovenska skupnost v New Yorku organizira smučarski izlet v Banff, Lake Louise, B.C. Ivan Kamin: 718-424-2711.
MAJ
30. — Društvo SPB sponzorira spominsko sv. mašo pri Lurški Materi božji na Chardon Rd. opoldne, popoldne ob 3h bodo molitve na Vernih duš pokopališču.
JUNIJ
"12. - Folklorna skupina
Kres ima piknik na Slovenski pristavi.
V spomin in opomin
CLEVELAND, O. - V Ljubljani so lani izšli osebni zapiski pokojnega ljubljanskega nadškofa Antona Vovka v obsežni, preko 500 strani obsegajoči knjigi pod naslovom "V spomin in opomin”.
Zapiski so razdeljeni v tri dele: v neke vrste kroniko kroniko dogodkov od 5. maja 1945 do decembra 1953; v razgovore pisca s predstavniki politične oblasti, in v zaslišanja pisca s policijo, ki je škofa Antona Vovka trpinčila od 14. avgusta 1945 do 4. decembra 1952.
Anton Vovk je prevzel vodstvo ljubljanske škofije kot generalni vikar, ko je nova oblast prijela in zaprla 14. junija 1945 prošta in generalnega vikarja Ignacija Nadraha. Sveti sedež ga je kot generalnega vikarja potrdil šele jeseni tega leta, ga septembra 1946 imenoval za pomožnega škofa, ko je bil redni ljubljanski škof dr. Gregorij Rožman v tujini kot begunec pred komunisti. Po smrti škofa Rožmana je bil Anton Vovk novembra 1959 imenovan za rednega ljubljanskega škofa kot njegov naslednik. Decembra 1961 je bila ljubljanska Škofija povzdignjena v nadškofijo, škof Anton Vovk pa imenovan za nadškofa. Umrl je 7. julija 1963 in je pokopan pri Sv. Križu v Ljubljani v grob poleg škofa A. B. Jegliča. Ljubljanska nadškofija vodi postopek za njegovo beatifikacijo. Anton Vovk je s tem dobil naziv "božji služabnik”.
Zapiski so jasni, v glavnem navajajo dejstva, neposredno kažejo razmere ob nastopu komunistične oblasti v Ljubljani, njeno izrazito sovražne nastopi proti katoliški Cerkvi, duhovnikom, redovnikom in redovnicam, pa tudi samim vernikom.
Anton Vovk se je v teh razmerah pokazal za trdnega, značajnega moža, ki je neustrašeno branil Cerkev, njene duhovnike in vernike. V teh svojih naporih je bil tako odločen, da so mu oblastniki rekli, da jih zastonj izziva, da bi ga zaprli.
Knjiga Vovkovih zapisov je zanimivo branje, podaja pretresljivo podobo razmer one dobe ne le v Ljubljani, ampak v vsej Sloveniji. Brez uporabe teh zapiskov ni mogoče dobiti polne slike razmer one dobe. Za tiste, ki smo to dobo preživljali izven Slovenije, je ta knjiga posebno dragocen vir za vživljanje v tisti čas in za njegovo razumevanje.
Knjiga “V spomin in opomin” je na razpolago v Slovenski pisarni v prostorih St. Vitus Village na 6114 Lausche Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103.	V. L.
Izpod zvona sv. Marije Vnebovzete
CLEVELAND, O. - Na božične praznike smo se lepo pripravili. Vreme nam je bilo naklonjeno, da smo se brez težav vsako jutro podali proti cerkvi v kar lepem številu. Na sveti večer so gorele le male lučke na božičnih drevesih, da je bila cerkev bolj temna.
Ob pol dvanajstih so pričeli s petjem božičnih pesmi na koru. Ko so pričeli s pesmijo Sveta noč, blažena noč, so prišli iz zakristije ministranti, nato nekaj otrok iz Slovenske šole z lučkami, zadnja teh je nosila Je-zuščka v naročju, ter naš župnik g. Janez Kumše.
Ustavili so se pri jaslicah in g. župnik je položil Jezuščka v jaslice. Počasi so se prižigale luči
in za Slavo se je cerkev zasvetila v vsej svoji lepoti. Sledili smo sveti maši, ki je med prepevanjem in sodelovanjem hi-trro minula. Po maši smo si voščili lepe praznike in se počasi kljub mrazu podali proti domu.
Na dan sv. Janeza je bil koncert svetovidskega zbora v naši cerkvk Zbor je podal božične pesmi v slovenščini, angleščini in latinščini. Hvala vam za ta lep večer, nepozaben s Handlovo Alelujo!
MALI OGLASI
HIŠA NAPRODAJ
Enostanovanjska s 4 spalnicami. E. 55 St. in St. Clair Ave. $35,000 / obo 216-391-1515 - Bill Pustite sporočilo
Lepo smo praznovali nedeljo sv. Družine. G. župnik nas je navdušil, naj jo posnemamo in verujemo, da je družina najboljša celica človeške družbe.
Na prvo januarsko nedeljo, praznik sv. Treh Kraljev, smo imele članice Oltarnega društva svoj praznik. Sv. maša je bila lepo obiskana. Popoldne je tudi ura molitve imela kar lepo število molilk. Nato je bil sprejem sedmih novih članic. G. župnik to prav slovesno naredi, saj je prav, da si zapomnimo ta dan, ko Mariji obljubimo, da bomo ljubile tudi njenega Sina Jezusa v presvetem zakramentu.
Po blagoslovu smo se podale v dvorano, poslušale poročila Odbora in volile dve novi odbornici. Podpredsednica je Nežka Cer er, zapisnikarica pa je Mari Celestina. Po sestanku smo ob čaju, sendviču in pecivu še malo pokramljale. Po pospravi smo odšle domov.
Na soboto, 31. januarja, bo delanje krofov, kar vas lepo vabimo, da pridete v šolsko dvorano in jih kupite; na voljo bo še drugo pecivo.
Bog daj srečno leto 2004. Prav lep pozdrav v imenu vseh naših članic!	Lavriševa
Z AMERIŠKO DOMOVINO STE VEDNO NA TEKOČEM
V BLAG SPOMIN
Ob štirinajsti obletnici smrti naše ljubljene žene, mame in sestre
MARY SEMEN
ki je umrla 24. jan. 1990.
Preteklo štirinajst let je že, ko hladna zemlja krije Te. Sedaj vse prazno je pri nas, Tvoj se več ne sliši glas.
Oh, grenko je spoznanje to, da Te med nami več ne bo; čeprav v hladnem grobu spiš, v srcih naših še živiš.
Žalujoči:
Janez, mož
Dori in Janez Tominc, Maria in Barbara, hčerke Janez sin; Maryann, snaha Vinko in France, brata ter ostalo sorodstvo v Clevelandu in Sloveniji
Zahvala Slovensko ameriškega sveta
(sedma zahvala)
CLEVELAND, O. - Slovenski ameriški svet se iskreno zahvaljuje naslednjim, ki so velikodušno darovali v spominski sklad dr. Valentina Meršola. Posebej pa se SAS zahvaljuje za pripisane vrstice odobravanja našega dela za postavitev spominskih obeležij.
Darovali so:
Ga. Teresa Gerkman, Portland, MI - Oba, pokojni mož in jaz, sva bila med onimi srečneži, ko nam je dr.
Merešol izprosil varnost. Vsa čast mu! ........ $ 30
Gdč. Stefanie Avsenek in ga. Marija Holjevac ..	100
G. Anton Babnik, Putnam Valley, NY ............. 1000
Ga. Metka Dejak ...................................... 50
G. Mihela Kolarič, Mentor, 0........................ 50
G. John in ga. Mimi Kozina - s hvaležnostjo in spoštovanjem dr. Valentinu Meršolu prilagava
dar v spominski sklad ............................. 50
Družina Peter Osenar ................................ 300
G. Peter in ga. Agnes Rebolj, Hicksville, NY - I
remember him when I was a boy of 15 on the fields in Vetrinje in 1945. He was a very good
man.................................... 100
G. Alois in ga. Rozi Starič, Lachine, Quebec - V zahvalo za dr. Meršola v spominski sklad. Obenem se tudi spomnimo majorja Paula Barreja, ki je veliko prispeval za našo rešitev. On Je v starostnem domu tu v Montrealu. Dne 22. febru-
arja bo imel 98. rojstni dan.................. 100
G. Vinko in ga. Mimi Štefančič .................. 100
Ga. Uršula Štepec - Prilagam dar za pomembno
nabirko.......................................... 30
Dr. Stane Šušteršič, Chevy Chase,	MD ............. 50
Ga. Lojzka Zabukovec .............................. 100
O
S tem končujemo nabirko in se še enkrat prisrčno zahvaljujemo vsem darovalcem!
Slovenski ameriški svet opozarja, da pripravlja organiziranje skupnega potovanja po Koroški in Sloveniji, to ob priložnosti odkritij spominskih obeležij in vsakoletni sv. maši v Kočevskem rogu, ki bo predvidoma potekalo v prvih dveh tednih meseca junija 2004. Organizacijo potovanja bo vodila potniška pisarna Borisa Mušiča, TRAVELMAX.
Vsi tisti, ki se zanimate za to potovanje, ste vabljeni na informativni sestanek, ki bo v nedeljo, 1. februarja, po pol enajsti sv. maši pri sv. Vidu in sicer v St. Vitus Village na Lausche Ave. v prostorih poleg Slovenske pisarne.
Maruša Pogačnik Tajnica SAS
-ob *>v.	>100 r.ui.
• . _______________ _____ _____ __ ■
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 prfekinitve 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
(2-5)
Filozof dr. Tine Hribar o odnosu do povojnih pobojev in “izbrisanih,” o demokraciji, lustraciji, ud bi in etiki, “imamo demokracijo, ni pa popolna’
“Neresnica ne more prevladati”
II. del -
Pučnik je imel zelo prav, ko je zahteval, da je treba začeti pri partiji. Pri nas se brez partije ni zgodilo nič. Vodila je vse. Ozna je bila njena udarna pest. Tega se naši tožilci ne upajo lotiti. Vendar ne smemo spet vsega valiti na tožilce. Če Parlament ni sposoben sprejeti neke resne dekla-racije, resolucije o bivšem komunističnem režimu, seveda od nekega tožilca ni mogoče pričakovati, da bo vse prevzel nase.
Nekje ste zapisali, da ima udba še vedno dolgo senco, če ne celo roke. Morda pa ste to formulirali preskromno. Najbrž tudi sami pozna-*e ljudi, nekdanje udbovce ali njihove šefe, ki so §e s celim telesom tu in na položajih. Zakaj pričakujete, da bodo ti ljudje dopustili, da se uveljavi drugačen Pogled?
Eno je človek, drugo Pa so njegove vloge. Če bi bilo vzdušje drugačno, bi parlament spreje-prave resolucije in zakone, bi ti ljudje delo-drugače. Zdaj živijo Ze v demokratični družbi. Res je, da imajo nad seboj to breme, in 1;o’ toga takrat nismo razčistili, je bila ena gla-^ih napak Demosa.
Napak? To je zelo tež-lo° re^k Kaj pa bi nastalo bi se mi takrat spustih v to? In če bi se Za^ela medsebojna obra-'mnavanja?
Tega smo se strašno Glavni cilj je bila posvojitev. Demos je
Z*16* v parlamentu le pno večino Del te ve
be nam je zagotavljala uPina levičarjev, ultra-omunistov okoli dr. Lea erka, ki so k nam v^topili samo zato, ker Partiji niso mogli nare-
diti kariere. Ker so bili preveč zagrizeni.
Zveni groteskno.
To je bilo dejstvo. Za zadevo sem vedel, pa še kdo. Če bi šli v obračun, bi nam takoj skočili v hrbet in Demos enostavno ne bi imel več večine. Tako smo morali hoditi po konici noža in strašno paziti, da smo izpeljali vse, kar smo nameravali.
Pozna pa se, da tedaj nismo izpostavili vsaj nekaj sodnikov, ki so sodili v imenu revolucije in kaznovali v imenu bivšega režima. Morali bi ustanoviti sodišče kot v Južni Afriki ali pa po vojni na Japonskem in v Nemčiji, ki bi moralo te stvari obravnavati.
Najbrž je nevzdržno, da nekdanji sodniki, ki so sodili oporečnikom, še vedno sodijo.
To se nam danes maščuje. Še ena stvar, ki se vleče za nami.
Oblast razglaša, da je v Sloveniji demokracija, pisatelj Drago Jančar meni, da je demo-kratura, torej mešanica demokracije in diktature. Kaj menite vi?
Nisem tako kritičen kot Jančar. Naredili smo nekatere premike, in še naprej se dogajajo. Res pa je, da smo v nekem zaostanku. Odtod tudi nervoza na vseh ravneh. Tu bo treba nekaj narediti. V smeri prave demokracije. Imamo demokracijo, ni pa popolna. Imamo zelo slabe pojave, ampak znotraj demokracije. Jaz bi to poudaril. Ker je forma pomembna.
Opoziciji pešajo moči, vedno bolj deluje samo še formalno, volivci so vedno bolj apatični. Je to še vedno
demokracija?
Odvisno je od tega, na kakšni ravni govorimo. Paziti moramo na različne ravni. Formalno je demokracija, in formalna plat je bistvena zanjo. Če bi zdaj začeli govoriti, da demokracije ni več in da bomo zadeve vzeli v svoje roke, to pomeni, da se bomo požvižgali na formo. To je potem še bolj nevarno in bi dejansko lahko pripeljalo v diktaturo.
Se pravi: vztrajati moramo na formi, ampak na podlagi etičnih vsebin, kar se ponavadi meša. Zdaj smo zelo nervozni. To ni dobro. Ampak vse, kar bomo naredili, moramo narediti v okvirih demokracije.
Zadoščati moramo torej demokraciji znotraj same demokracije, ne pa proti njej.
Ko se demokracija znajde v gospodarskih stiskah, je ogrožena. Država se strahovito zadolžuje, vladajoči razred živi v slogu Ludvika XV. in vodila Za nami potop. Imate še kakšno upanje, da ta demokracija lahko preživi?
Prav zato sem se odločil, da se bom oglasil. Kot ste me vprašali že na začetku.
Imate slabe občutke?
Ja. Mislim, da je treba nekaj narediti. Zato sem tudi napadel vladajočo koalicijo, predvsem pa liberalnodemokratsko stranko, ki je glavni povzročitelj vsega tega.
Veste, ta histerija, ta nervoza, to se je zdaj pojavilo tudi na najbolj banalnih, vsakdanjih rav-(dalje na str. 12)
Pesmi ..
^Melodije
12 Naše Lepe Slovenije
Radijska Družina Cleveland
ED MEJAČ
Vodja Radijske Družine
WCSB 89.3 'FM Nedelja 9-10 am Sreda 6-7 pm
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Irena Grafenauer
Svetovno znana flavtistka Irena Grafenauer je na slovesnosti v predsedniški palači 22. decembra lani, kjer je iz rok predsednika republike Janeza Drnovška prejela najvišje državno odlikovanje, zlati častni znak svobode Republike Slovenije, v zahvalnih besedah nagovorila in prosila slovenski narod, naj ji pomaga: zbolela je za neozdravljivo levkemijo. Življenje ji lahko reši samo darovalec ustreznega kostnega mozga, ki ga je treba najti nekje na ozemlju njene domovine. V zelo hitrem odzivu se je prijavilo 400 ljudi, ki so pripravljeni sodelovati pri testiranju, ali so primerni darovalci. V intervjuju je povedala, da stane tkim. tipizacija krvi za vsako osebo v Sloveniji več kot 200 dolarjev, v Nemčiji npr. pa kakih 35 do 40 dolarjev. Podatki bi bili sicer ohranjeni, tako bi morda kdaj lahko testirana oseba, ki Grafenauerjev! ne bi mogla pomagati, kakšni drugi žrtvi levkemije pomagala.
Grafenauerjeva je od sredine sedemdesehh let, ko je zmagala na najzahtevnejših mednarodnih tekmovanjih v Beogradu, Ženevi in Miinchnu, do danes imela na stotine koncertov po vsej Evropi, v ZDA od Atlantika do Pacifika, v Južni Ameriki, Koreji, na Japonskem, Novi Zelandiji in Avstraliji. Za Philips, Deutsche Grammophon in Sony Classical je posnela petnajst plošč, njen celotni koncertni opus pa presega vse, kar so izvajali drugi najslavnejši flavtisti na svetu.
Najbolj odprto je vprašanje, kaj se je pred leti dogajalo na slavni akademiji Mozarteum v Salzburgu, kjer je redna univerzitetna profesorica in kjer so zaradi radioaktivnega sevanja iz azbestnih sten morali celotno zgradbo, kjer je Irena Grafenauer poučevala, zapreti, veliko profesorjev in študentov pa je zbolelo in celo umrlo.
V Sobotni prilogi Dela z dne 11. januarja je Grafenauerjeva dala daljši intverju. ki obsega kar štiri polne strani. Med drugim je povedala o svoji bolezni takole: ‘V mojem primeru je število očetovih in materinih genskih vrednosti razdeljeno točno na polovico Po besedah mojega zdravnika pa bi obstajala večja možnost najti zame primeren mozeg na geografskem področju, iz katerega izhajam. Zunaj družine je možnost najfl genskega "sorodnika" zelo redka, vendar, kot kažejo izkušnje v medicini, vseeno možna. V Nemčiji so mi zdravniki povedali, da je možnost najti ustreznega darovalca v razmerju ena proti 40.000, v Ljubljani pa menijo, da je to razmerje ena proti 25.000.”
“Neresnica ne more prevladati”
(NADALJEVANJE s str. 11)
neh. Vedno poslušam radio ob sedmih. Njihova zvočna kulisa je strahotno nevrotična. Ko sem bil na morju, sem poslušal Radio Koper, ni bilo tako hudo.
V Ljubljani pa je ozadje strahotno. Tudi če so čisto navadne informacije, je vedno ista šablona in neka histerična glasba. Podobno tudi novi dnevnik na TV Slovenija povzroča histerijo in nervozo. To bi bilo treba preseči.
Predsednik države dr. Janez Drnovšek vas je povabil na pogovore o prihodnosti Slovenije. Izrazili ste bojazen, da se tudi to utegne izkazati za “slepilni manever”. Kako kaže zdaj?
Prvi učinki so dobri. Imeli smo tri okrogle mize. Nervoza, o kateri sem govoril, je na teh srečanjih že bila prevla-dana. To je dober uvod, ker smo sodelovali vsi, od Janše in Stanovnika, do Kučana, Bajuka, mene itd.
Pomanjkljivost prvih treh srečanj je, da ni prišlo do polemike, do neposredne izmenjave mnenj. Ampak v prvi fazi je bilo to dobro. Videlo se je pač stališča, in glavni dosežek je v tem, da se pogovarjamo. To znižuje nervozo.
Naslednja faza bo po novem letu. Predlagal bom, da bi bilo število udeležencev bolj omejeno. Upam, da bo prišlo tudi do medsebojnega pogovora, ne samo do ekspli-kacije.
Vendar ostaja vtis, da se ni mogoče čisto na nič opreti in da je vsakršen optimizem le teoretičen. Navsezadnje Slovenija ni tako huda izjema. V ZDA še danes občutijo travno zaradi svoje državljanske vojne, v Franciji še po dveh stoletjih zaradi svoje revolucije, da ne govorimo o Ircih. Ali je morda treba pristati na to, da bomo s temi travmami živeli še nedoločen čas in da se niti nima smisla truditi?
Ne, treba je oboje. Na neki ravni živimo naprej, ne glede na to. Jaz na to pristajam. Ne bom zaradi tega še aodatno po-
vzročal napetost. V toliko imajo dr. Alojz Ihan in nekateri drugi predstavniki mlajše generacije, čeprav nastopajo z ljudem všečnimi, torej povprečni, obenem pa površni pameti ustrezajočimi stališči prav.
Samo: živeli bi veliko bolj avtentično, če bi te stvari razčistili. To pa je moja pozicija. Govorim z etičnega vidika. Ne upam si presoditi, v kolikšni meri ima Kučan pri tem prav z vidika realne politike, ki ima drugačen pristop, v neki točki celo proti. Ne upam si definitivno reči, da nima prav. Ampak če ne bi bilo te etične zahteve, sploh nimaš merila, in potem je vse skupaj kaos. Potrebna je orientacija.
Zdi se, da etika v Sloveniji zadnja leta nima nobene teže. Mlajše generacije pogosto le zamahnejo z roko: ah, stari spet težijo. Nekateri skušajo zadevo skrčiti na spor med generacijami. Vendar v nekaterih državah, recimo v Nemčiji, ni tako. Kako si to razlagate?
Glavna krivda je v šolstvu in v tem, kar dela zdaj liberalna demokracija: da se na etiko v šoli tako rekoč požvižga. Pa ne samo za etiko, tudi za domovinsko čustvo, narodno zavest in nacionalno samozavest ji ni mar. To je tisto, kar nas zelo ogroža. Zato bom na tej ravni še naprej nastopal.
To je ena plat. Druga plat pa je povečana občutljivost pri mladih. Če bi zdaj, recimo, delali anketo o smrtni kazni, bi bili starejši najbrž večidel za ponovno uvedno smrtne kazni. Mladi pa so le tako daleč, na panevropski valovni dolžini, da bi bili večinoma proti smrtni kazni.
To je veliko. Tu je še dragocen odnos do živali itd. Obe plati moramo upoštevati.
Kaj menite o načrtih za gradnjo mošeje v Ljubljani?
Nimam še dokončnega stališča. Mošejo kot cerkev vsekakor podpiram in mislim, da jo verniki morajo imeti. Res pa je, da je uradna religija nekaterih muslimanskih držav teokratska. To pome-
ni, da je politika popolnoma podrejena “morali”, morala pa “religiji”.
Če bi bil ta center teokratski, bi morala na nek način posredovati slovenska država in ga vsaj imeti pod nadzorom. Še posebej, če bi ga podpirale izrazito teokratske države, kot so Savdska Arabija in še katera.
Slovenija se je znašla v dveh hudih vrtincih, več kot le političnih: v debatah o gradnji mošeje in debatah o zakonu o izbrisanih, v obeh primerih pa zahtevajo še referendum. Ali ni to velika porcija za tako mlado demokracijo ali kakorkoli ji že rečemo?
To gre spet deloma za simptom nerazčiščene preteklosti. Nepokopani mrtveci iz povojnih pomorov so bili izbrisani -iz knjige življenja in iz knjige mrtvih.
Ampak ti ne zanimajo nikogar na oblasti.
Ne zanimajo na ravni zavestne odločitve. Miran Potrč (vodja poslanske skupine ZLSD, ur. PD) je zadnjič izjavil: "Kolikokrat moramo še reči, da je bil to zločin in da nas je sram.”
Še nikoli prej ni bilo tako rečeno, to je korak naprej. In dejansko jih je sram. Ker niso razčistili s preteklostjo, so zdaj vse sile, vključno s krivcem, usmerili v podporo teh, drugih izbrisanih. Prav je, da jih podpirajo.
Ampak najprej bi morali dati satisfakcijo prvotno izbrisanim. Zdaj pa kompenzirajo:	pretirano
se zavzemajo za sedanje izbrisane, obenem pa o-malovažujejo domovinsko zavest in čustva ljudi, ki so se ob osamosvajanju dejansko borili, ne da bi jih država ustrezno nagradila.
To je povzročilo upravičeno čustveno reakcijo, ki pa se je usmerila napačno, proti izbrisanim, ki se jim je povečini zgodila krivica, namesto da bi se proti vladajoči koaliciji. To je treba zdaj jasno pokazati. Če tega ne bomo storili, se bo vse skupaj še bolj zavozlalo in še več konfliktov bo. Za vse to pa je v glavnem kriva sedanja vladajoča koalicija.
(KONEC)
Vatikanski na poti v
Ljubljana (Delo fax. 15. jan. 2004) - Odbor Državnega zbora za zunanjo politiko (OZP) je s 13 glasovi za in enim proti podprl predlog zakona o ratifikaciji vatikanskega sporazuma, ki ureja pravna vprašanja med Slovenijo in Svetim sedežem, in državnemu zboru predlagal, da ga sprejme. Proti je glasoval le Aure-lio Juri (ZLSD), njegov strankarski kolega Samo Bevk pa se je glasovanja vzdržal.
Zunanji minister Dimitrij Rupel je v uvodni predstavitvi sporazuma povedal, da ta po eni strani ureja razmerje med državo Slovenijo in Svetim sedežem kot subjektom mednarodnega prava in po drugi strani razčlenjuje vprašanja v razmerju med državo in rimskokatoliško Cerkvijo (RKC) v Sloveniji.
Predsednik OZP Jelko Kacin (LDS) je dejal, da je vatikanski sporazum “zaradi izjemno občutljivih pravnih, pa tudi čustvenih in ideoloških vprašanj, ki so se odpi-
sporazum
parlament
rala”, prehodil dolgo pot in je bolj delil kot povezoval slovenski politični prostor.
Samo Bevk je dejal, da njegova stranka še vedno misli, da bi si lahko Sveti sedež sporazum razlagal po svoje, še zlasti, ker doslej predstavniki Cerkve niso dali nobene izjave, s katero bi soglašali z interpretacijo ustavnega sodišča. ZLSD ima še vedno pomisleke glede vatikanskega sporazuma, je dejal.
Aurelio Juri pa je povedal, da sporazumu nasprotuje, ker da krši načeli laičnosti države in enakopravnosti vseh verskih skupnosti. Juri ne dvomi, da bo država pri izvajanju sporazuma spoštovala razlago ustavnega sodišča, poznavajoč RKC pa si upa napovedati, da "nas bo zaradi sporazuma še bolela glava”.
Razprava o vatikanskem sporazumu je bila v OZP predvidena že na seji 10. decembra lani, vendar so jo tedaj na
• dalje na str. 13)
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Duhovnik Franc Skumavc (1926-2003) p° ^»opu siovemje v nato...
Ljubljana (Družina. 11. Jan. 2003) - Kanadska nadškofija Toronto, ki jo vodi naš rojak kardinal Alojzij Ambrožič, je za božič izgubila slovenskega duhovnika Franca Skumavca. Ni še minilo leto dni, kar smo lahko brali njegovo življenjsko zgodbo “Po enosmerni poti”, ki jo je izdala celjska Mohorjeva družba. Šele takrat smo Skumavčevi rojaki lahko izvedeli, po kako zapleteni, vendar neomajno prehojeni poti je do duhovništva prišel naš zavodski sošolec Franc.
Rodil se je 8. marca 1926 v Požrvovi hiši v Zgornji Radovni v župniji Dovje. Mimo njegovega doma je že marsikak planinec začel svojo pot na Triglav skozi Kot ali Krmo,
V osnovno šolo na D°yje pa je mali Franc bodil vsak dan v nasprotni smeri skozi gozdove. že takrat je, sicer nejasno, začutil duhovniški poklic, zato je moč-no hrepenel po nadaljnjem šolanju. Domači pa 80 ga namenili za kmeti-j°< oče mu je šele po enem letu meščanske šo-k na Jesenicah, češ da bo to tudi kmetu koristi-dovolil, da je jeseni 1939 prišel na škofijsko klasično gimnazijo v Šentvidu nad Ljubljano.
Zaradi nemške okupa-cije je bil samo dve leti deležen učenosti zavod-skih profesorjev in vzgo-je Prefektov - vsi so bili duhovniki.
Spomladi 1941 je ®ole zanj konec, spe bU kmet. dokler ni e*a 1943 vpoklican nemško vojsko. Še v r°sti se je natanko ; ^njal, kam ga je vo Posiljena pot, ki se končala v sovjetskem Jotniškem taborišču v inovu pri Moskvi. Zdržal je tudi t Ude zime in nečlove Razmere: na svoj dvaj
SIT dan se jc
vrnil domov. S pa so ga v Ljub 2a nekaj dni zelo prijazno, kot vse vrnJe
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še zadržali v repatriacij-skem centru v šele zasilno dozidanem Baragovem semenišču za Bežigradom.
V tej hiši bi želel biti kot bogoslovec, pa se ta želja ni izpolnila ne njemu ne stavbi, ki še zdaj ne služi svojemu namenu.
Le nekaj časa je bil doma, jugoslovanska armada ga je hotela prevzgojiti z vojaškimi vajami pa tudi z delom na avtocesti bratstva in enotnosti. S pridnostjo je tam dosegel celo udarniško značko in ponudbo za članstvo v komunistični partiji.
Duhovništvo pa je kljub vsemu živelo kot želeni cilj v njem, vendar po vrnitvi iz vojske v Sloveniji ni videl nobene možnosti za to, zato je marca 1950 skrivaj s tovornim vlakom skoz karavanski predor zbežal v Avstrijo, od tam pa prišel kot gozdni delavec v Kanado.
Po letu dni obveznega dela je dobil službo v torontskem semenišču, tam srečal bogoslovca Ambrožiča, ki ga je učil angleščino. Postal je bogoslovec tudi sam, potem ko je z odlično šolsko podlago iz zavodske gimnazije zmogel opraviti potrebne izpite na srednji in na visokošolski stopnji.
V duhovnika je bil posvečen leta 1959, za no-vomašnega pridigarja je naprosil škofa dr Gregorija Rožmana (v knjigi sta oba njegova govora). Na slovesnosti seveda ni mogel biti noben izmed domačih, niti ni mogel pravočasno dobiti maminega daru - keliha in novomašnega križa. Z mamo sta se šele pozneje lahko srečala na Kor-škem.
Pri novi maši mu je škof Rožman priporočil, naj vsako letno na obletnico posvečenja zanjo zmoli Marijino hvalnico Moja duša poveličuje Gospoda.
Služboval je na različnih angleških župnijah, nekaj let tudi na hrvaški, ker je bil takratni škof
mnenja, da bo mogel kot Slovenec tudi Hrvatom posredovati božjo besedo v njihovem jeziku.
V knjigi “On a One Way Path”, ki jo je leta 1992 kar sam izdal v angleščini, je svojo zgodbo podrobno opisal, nato smo ga pregovorili, da je napisal tudi besedilo za slovensko izdajo.
Zelo se je razveselil, ko je knjiga izšla, ni pa se mogel udeležiti predstavitve 14. marca 2003 v Kulturnem domu na Dovjem. O knjigi so pisali nato v Družini, Ognjišču, Demokraciji, v reviji Ampak pa je Denis Poniž zapisal, da je to knjigo “vredno prebrati”.
Avtorju so vsi priznavali sijajen spomin in veliko ljubezen do domovine in maternega jezika. Hvaležno se je spominjal tudi vseh, ki so mu kjerkoli naredili kaj dobrega v hudih časih.
Poleti 2003 se je dokončno upokojil in se naselil v slovenskem domu Lipa v bližini Toronta. Skrita bolezen z ranami v želodcu mu je preprečila, da bi še kdaj videl domače in dom, ki ga je s tako ljubeznijo predstavil	kanadskim
bralcem. Bog mu je dal, da je z vztrajnostjo dosegel duhovništvo, zdaj pa je vstopil v večnost prav v dneh praznovanja, ko je božji Sin postal človek. Naj v miru počiva!	M. S.
Vatikanski
sporazum
(nadaljevalce s str. 12)
predlog poslanske skupine ZLSD preložili. DZ naj bi o ratifikaciji sporazuma predvidoma glasoval na januarski seji, vatikanski tajnik za odnose z državai, nadškof Giovanni Lajolo pa je pred nedavnim na srečanju z Ruplom dejal, da bo Sveti sedež sporazum ratificiral takoj zatem.
Z vstopom v NATO se delo šele začenja
Ljubljana - "V nasprotju z večinskim mnenjem, da se bo projekt vklučevanja v EU in NATO končal maja lets, na ministrstvu vemo, da se z majem projekt šele prav začne,” je 19. januarja tiskovno konferenco začel obrambni minister Anton Grizold. Potegnil je primerjavo s svetom športa - preboj v prvo ligo je zahtevna naloga, še zahtevnejša pa je dokazati, da si res vreden in sposoben igrati po visokih provoligaških standardih.
Načelnik generalštaba generalmajor Ladislav Lipič je povedal, da nameravajo letos zaposliti 600 vojakov, jasno pa je tudi, kakšne poklice potrebujejo. Slovenska vojska bo do leta 2006 za potrebe NATA pripravila bataljon motorizirane pehote, do leta 2009 pa bataljonsko bojno skupino.
Na obrambnem ministrstvu ocenjujejo, da bodo stroški za vse naloge delovanja v NATU - to so stroški za plače in delo predstavnikov Slovenije v NATO-vih strukturah, poveljstvih in agencijah (okoli 75 ljudi) in stroški stalne misije v letu - znašali približno 4,9 milijona evrov, prihodnje leto 6,2 milijona in 2006. leta 6,7 milijona evrov.
Slovenija bo za četrto rotacijo (januar-julij 2005) v NATO-ve sileza hitro posredovanje prispevala vod za dekontaminacijo. Ta bo v sestavi bataljona za radiološko, kemično in biološko obrambo, kjer bo imela vodilno vlogo Nemčija.
Slovenija v zameno od NATA pričakuje, da ji bo pomagal pri zagotavljanju suverenosti zračnega prostora vključno z njegovim varovanjem, saj sama za to ni sposobna. “Varova-
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nje zračnega prostora štirih novih članic (treh baltiških držav in Slovenije), ki nimajo ustreznih zmogljivosti, je v domeni severnoatlantskega zavezništva,” je povedal minister Grizold. Spet je zanikal, da bi se o tem dvostransko dogovorili z Madžari.
Slovenija želi NATU ponuditi predvsem kakovost in ne količine. To nujno pomeni, da se bo poskušala specializirati na posameznih področjih. Vse kaže, da bo to RKB obramba. Do leta 2009 naj bi v Kranju oblikovali RKB bataljon, ki bo imel dekontaminacijsko in izvidniško četo ter kemijski in radiološki laboratorij, je povedal general Lipič.
Do leta 2006 naj bi sestavili tudi tri bataljone motorizirane pehote, do leta 2009 pa bodo lahko v operacije NATA poslali bataljonsko skupino, v kateri bodo pehotni bataljon in elementi inženirstva, zračne obrambe, RKBO in topništva.
Temelj takšnih načrtov je zaposlovanje poklicnih vojakov. Vojska bo potrebovala predvsem srednješolsko izobražene strojnike, kemike in elektrotehnike. V ta namen bodo letos začeli tudi štipendirati tovrstne poklice. Doslej je obrambno ministrstvo tako podpiralo samo univerzitetno šolanje.
Na tiskovni konferenci je bila morda še najzanimivejša novost ta, da bo vojska letos izbrala novo pehotno orožje - avtomatske in ostrostrelne puške ter puškomitralje-ze -, ki bo zamenjalo
(dalje na str. 14)
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CENE NIZKE PO VAŠI ŽELJI!
Intervju z nekdanjim generalnim tožilcem ANTONOM DROBNIČEM...
Veljavna sramotna sodba
Dolga pot do sodne rehabilitacije škofa dr. Gregorija Rožmana
- L del -
Ljubljana (Družina, 11. 2003) - Pogovarjal se je Bogomir Štefanič ml.
O
Ali ste osebno poznali škofa dr. Gregorija Rožmana?
Škof Rožman me je leta 1935 birmal, pozneje pa sem ga poznal iz ljubljanske stolnice, kjer sem med vojno bil ministrant in sem tako škofa večkrat videl in slišal, kar pa ne pomeni, da sva se osebno poznala.
Kako bi na podlagi svojih spominov izrisali škofov portret?
V mojem spominu je škof Rožman zapisan kot blaga oseba. Bil je nekoliko zadržan, ni bil napadalen. Tudi v svojih pridigah je bil blag, nikoli oster, ni povzdigoval glasu. Morda bi ga lahko primerjal - pa se zavedam, da je vsaka primerjava šibka - z nadškofom Pogačnikom.
Ta podoba se bistveno razlikuje od tiste, kakršno je izrisala sodba v procesu avgusta 1946, na katerem je bil škof v odsotnosti obsojen na osemnajst let zapora s prisilnim delom, izgubo državljanstva, političnih in državljanskih pravic, premoženja. Od kod takšna razlika?
To razliko je naredila komunistična politična propaganda. V resnici škof Rožman niti približno ni bil tak, kot ga želi prikazati sodni proces iz leta 1946. Ta podoba je popolnoma izkrivljena. Ne govorim le iz osebnega poznanja škofa Rožmana, ki je vendarle prešibko, temveč predvsem na podlagi drugih stvari, ki jih vem in sem jih tudi sam doživel.
Ste se kmalu po nastopu službe generalnega državnega tožilca odločil za korake, ki bi lahko privedli do sodne rehabilitacije škofa Rožmana?
Ko sem prevzemal državno tožilstvo, sem imel pred seboj tri glavne naloge:	posodobitev	tožil-
stva, da bo iz prejšnjega
Anton Drobnif (foto: B. Š.)
še na pol političnega in podrejenega nastalo demokratično pravno tožilstvo samostojne države; pregon zavarovanih vojnih zločincev in poprava krivic, ki jih je zagrešilo pravosodje v polstoletnem totalitarnem sistemu. Med temi krivicami najbolj “kriči” prav proces zoper škofa Rožmana.
Zakaj?
Ker je to eden najbolj sramotnih in krivičnih sodbih procesov v Sloveniji. Pravih sodnih procesov, kajti tisti v Kočevju leta 1943, ki sicer "uživa” sloves, da je bilo na njem največ Slovencev “obsojenih” na smrt in umorjenih, pač ni bil zakonit sodni proces, temveč vojni zločin in v obliki sodnega procesa.
Proces iz avgusta 1946 proti petim slovenskim obtožencem je še posebej zavržen zaradi dveh izmed njih, škofa Rožmana in dr. Miha Kreka. Oba sta bila tako vnebovpijo-če krivično obsojena, da je to v resnici ena izmed najbolj sramotnih sodb.
S tem procesom je tedanja totalitarna oblast hotela obsoditi ne samo Rožmana, Kreka in druge obtožence, ampak zlasti ustanove, ki so Ji predstavljali. Rožman ni bil obsojen le osebno, ampak je bila z njim obsojena slovenska katoliška Cerkev. Dr. Miha Krek je še bolj nesmiseln primer, saj je bil med vojno v tujini minister za-
vezniške vlade. S Krekom so obsodili vso slovensko nekomunistično politiko. Komunisti so hoteli s tem procesom prikazati nasprotno stran, cerkveno in politično, kot popolnoma pokvarjeno, sovražno, izdajalsko.
Zato je za slovensko zgodovino - pravno, kulturno, i,n politično - zelo pomembno, da se proces znova odpre in preizkusi, kaj je res in kaj ne.
Kako ste odpirali dosje Rožman?
Ker se rrii je ta pro-ceš zdel tako pomemben za slovensko zgodovino, nisem hotel iti po lahki poti. Imel sem dve možnosti, dve izredni pravni sredstvi, ki omogočata preizkus pravnomočne sodbe: zahtevo za obnovo postopka in zahtevo za varstvo zakonitosti.
Zahteva za obnovo postopka napada v sodbi ugotovljeno dejansko stanje, zahteva za varstvo zakonitosti pa napada sodno uporabo prava. Ni namenjena samo krivično obsojenemu, ampak tudi enotni uporabi prava na sodiščih. Zato o tej zahtevi odloča vrhovno sodišče.
Z zahtevo za varstvo zakonitosti ne bi bilo težav, saj so v Rožmano-vem procesu bile narejene tako hudo kršitve zakonov, procesnih in materialnih, da bi vrhovno sodišče sodbo hitro raz
(DALJE na str. 15)

Z vstopom v NATO se delo šele začenja
(NADALJEVANJE s str. 13)
preskušene kalašnikovke. Do leta 2015 bodo z novim orožjem opremili predvidoma 18.000 vojakov, kolikor naj bi jih štela Slovenska vojska.
Rok Praprotnik Delo fax, 20. jan. 2003
(V isti številki Dela je novinar Praprotnik tudi napisal rubriko ‘tema dneva”, ki nosi naslov “Rast v NATOVem objemu. V njem podaja poleg svojih gledanj tudi nekatere zanimive podatke.
Ur. AD)
O
Slovenija vstopa v zvezo NATO s tem, kar ima, to pa za zdaj ni veliko. Slovenska vojska je tako rekoč še v nastajanju, saj je veliko enot po odpravi naborništva večinoma še zgolj na papirju, brez poklicnih vojakov.
Počasi pa se razmere spreminjajo. Lani se je v vojski zaposlilo 600 novih vojakov, leto jih pre-čakujejo enako število. Tako bo vojska zrasla do leta 2015, ko naj bi štela okoli 18.000 pripadnikov.
Vendar so to samo načrti, kaj se bo dogajalo v resnici, pa je še velika neznanka. Največja skrb je, da sčasoma med mladimi ne bo dovolj kandidatov za zaposlitev v vojski. Lani in letos, ko se je ta možnost šele odprla, so namreč kandidati prihajali iz dovolj velikega kroga generacij, starih od 18 do 27 let. Ko bo ta “bazen” izčrpan, bo vojska nove vojake novačila skoraj samo še med tistimi, ki bodo dopolnili 18 let.
Pa še generacije so čedalje manjše. Kar pa je.
kot priznavajo tudi v vojski, lahko problem. Bojijo se še, da bi lahko imele morebitne smrtne žrtve med slovenskimi vojaki, ki so ali bodo v tujini, poguben vpliv na zaposlovanje novih. Februarja bo 18 vojakov odšlo na prvo nevarno misijo v tujino - v Afganistan. Imeli bodo zahtevno nalogo globinskega izvidovanja nenadzorovanega območja zunaj prestolnice Kabul.
Postavimo domnevo, da hujših težav ne bo, vojska pa bo zaposlila dovolj vojakov in jih prav toliko obdržala v službi. Leta 2015 naj bi bila vojska videti približno takole: imela bo 8000 poklicnih vojakov in 10.000 prostovoljnih rezervistov.
Jedro vojske bodo sestavljali trije bataljoni mehanizirane pehote, po en RKB in en topniški bataljon in eskadrilja transportnih helikopterjev. V vojski pa po sedanjih predvidevanjih ne bo več tankov in letal.
Tako bo Slovenija v naročju zveze NATO lahko postavila manjšo vojsko, opremljeno predvsem z lažjim orožjem, kar bi bilo brez NATO-vega objema nemogoče.
Tako se račun za zdaj izide v dobro nove majhne članice. Ampak samo dokler ji ne bo treba zaradi obveznosti do zavezništva v tujino pošiljati velikih vojaških enot, kar bi takoj pomenilo velikanske finančne stroške in nevarnost človeških žrtev.
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Združene države Amerike in “Združena” Evropa
Kavboji in Evropejci
Komentar, ki sledi, je izšel v Delo faxu z dne 17- januarja izpod peresa Boruta Grgiča, ki po-gostuje komentira o zunanjepolitičnih zadevah in je dalj časa raziskovalec pri Atlantskem svetu v Washingtonu, D.C. Ni seveda treba z njim sogla-ševati v vsakem ali v mnogih točkah, _/c pa zanimivo pretehtati zase njegove poglede na aktualna dogajanja. Ur. AD
O
Veliko Evropejcev še vedno upa, da se bodo stvari normalizirale, če bo (George) Bush na predsedniških volitvah novembra Pogorel. Res čudno razmišljanje.
Prvič: kaj je sploh normalno v čezatlantskih odnosih? Bolj ko kar koli drugega je stalno nesoglasje edina stalnica v tem razmerju. Clintonova leta so bila polna čezatlantskih sporov. Drugič: verjetno je, da bo Bush znova izvoljen za predsednika ZDA. Tretjič: celo če bo demokratski kandidat premagal Busha, bo ostala nespremenjena sedanja ameriška varnostna strategija, ki se je °d Clintonovih časov zelo spremenila.
pred 11. septembrom 2001 je Busheva sdministracija v sodelo-Vanju z izvedenci v Washingtonu začela spremi-nJati strateško razmišlja-nje iz hladne vojne, ki ■ie Prevladovalo tudi v devetdesetih letih.
beta 2001 je Štiri obrambno poročilo (g 1 Sa jo pripravilo j strstvo za obrambo, , menilo ameriško st ko naravnanost. A\ 9DR so adminisb P^Poročili, naj ra Možnosti, ki bodo Pričale zaveznike, za ,1 e nasprotnike, odvi e agresijo m - če „	~ premagale
®ovražnike. ki jih ne °goče odvrnid od n danega vedenja.
J sk^adn s tem sh 'm premikom iz meriški obrambni n er (Donald) Rums ^‘zprosno prevetritev JsaŠke strukture ZDA; : e Poudarjajo mobiln ^eksibilnost, moč h
drža ?ate§ka Jedr 1 , ’ raketna obramba bka orožja.
Poleg tega so teroristični napadi 11. septembra 2001 povečali ameriško občutljivost za grožnje. Danes si ameriški politiki - tako demokratski kakor republikanci - pridržujejo “pravico”, da ravnajo proaktivno in tako nevtralizirajo grozečo nevarnost.
Zelo naivno je pričakovati, da bo Amerika sedela križem rok, medtem ko si maligni diktatorji še naprej prizadevajo, da bi si pridobili orožja za množično uničevanje, poleg tega pa podtalno še naprej vzdržujejo stike s terorističnim omrežjem.
Stranki soglašata, da mora Amerika z vsemi razpoložljivimi sredstvi preprečiti, da bi si malopridne države in teroristične skupine prisvojile “katastrofično moč”. V skladu s tem ZDA drugih jedrskih držav - kot denimo Rusije - nimajo več za glavno grožnjo svoji varnosti. Januarja 2002 je bila tako Rusija uradno izbrisana s seznama glavnih strateških nevarnosti za ZDA. Z moskovskim sporazumom sta se Rusija in ZDA dvostransko zavezali da bosta zmanjšali svoj jedrski arzenal.
Strategija nacionalne varnosti pravi, da so danes glavna grožnja ZDA in Američanom amorfna narava sodobnega terorizma, dostopnost orožja za množično uničevanje, predvsem pa zločesta možnost sinergije terorizma in orožja za množično uničevanje v okviru malopridnih držav. oj .?
ZDA so zato temeljito spremenile svoje odnost do širjenja takšnega orožja:	obstoječi nadzorni
mehanizmi so neučinkoviti, zato Američani poudarjajo aktivne ukrepe zoper širjenje teh orožij. Konec marca 2003 je tako predsednik Bush napovedal ustanovitev Pobude za varnost pred proliferacijo (PSI) - ohlapnega zavezništva zoper širjenje orožja za množično uničevanje, ki naj bi dopoljnevalo obstoječe u-krepe za nadzor nad o-boroževanjem ki je priljubljena tako med republikanci kot tudi demokrati.
Podpirajmo našo skupnost!
Veljavna sramotna sodba
(NADALJEVANJE s
Večina proračunskega denarja bo namenjena u-dejanjanju teh sprememb v ameriški varnostni naravnanosti, ki jih je - z minimalnimi dopolnili -potrdil tudi senat. Tudi če bo naslednji predsednik ZDA demokrat, ne bo mogel spremeniti nove ameriške varnostne usmeritve.
Poleg tega večina vodilnih demokratov soglaša s spremembami v ameriški varnostni doktrini. Glede zaščite Amerike nista senatorja Lie-berman in Kerry [pravkar presenetljivo zmagal na soočanju demokratskih predsedniških kandidatov v državi Iowi, op. ur. AD) nič manj odločna kot Bush.
Howard Dean pa se je v enem od zadnjih govorov označil za realista in poudaril, da je “voljan u-porabiti oboroženo silo, če bo to potrebno, želim pa tudi ohraniti odnose in zavezništva, pa čeprav bo stopnja svobode in demokracije v državah, kot sta Rusija in Pakistan, znižana”.
Evropa mora upoštevati te globoke spremembe v varnostni naravnanosti in razmišljanju Amerike. Namesto da se ziblje v upih, da se bo Amerika spremenila, torej da bo novi ameriški proaktivi-zem izginil, se mora spremeniti sama, kajti le tako bo zmožna obvladovati novo varnostno dejanskost 21. stoletja.
Nova varnostna strategija EU, ki jo je nedavno sprejel svet ministrov EU, je pozitiven korak v pravo smer, a treba bo narediti še kaj. Evropa bi morala definirati novo strategijo sodelovanja z ZDA, ki bo upoštevala o-menjene nepovratne premike v varnostnem razmišljanju Američanov.
Evropa namreč ne more spremeniti niti nove varnostne percepcije Ame-čanov niti tega, da se počutijo ogrožene. Ne sme samo čakati, da se bo v Belo hišo vselil manj odločen kavboj. Lahko pa zavre revolveraški impulz sedanje administracije (morda pa tudi prihodnjih), če bo glas zmernosti, ko bo to primerno, in vojaška partnerica Amerike, ko bo to nujno. Šele ko bodo Evropejci sprejeli novo varnostno dejanskost, se bo spet začel ploden čezatlantski dialog.
veljavilo, kajti pa pri nobenem vrhovnem sodniku, pa če bi bil še tako “rdeč”, ne more vzdržati pravne presoje.
To bi bila lahka pot. Sodba bi bila razveljavljena na podlagi procesnih predpisov brez preizkusa leta 1946 ugotovljenega dejanskega stanja. Odločil sem se za zahtevnejšo obnovo postopka in preizkus v sodbi ugotovljenih dejstev.
Za to pa ste potrebovali nove dokaze.
Najprej je bilo potrebno priti do sodnih spisov, 1 kar ! je posebna zgodba, zato o njej le na kratko. Sodne spise smo leta 1991 odkrili v arhivu Udbe na notranjem ministrstvu, kamor jih je že leta 1965 poslalo jugoslovansko vrhovno sodišče. Notranje ministrstvo originalnih spisov ni hotelo izročiti sodišču, zato je to po velikih težavah - nekatere lahko označim kot nagajanje -leto 1994 spise obnovilo.
Za obnovo postopka pa smo potrebovali tudi nove dokaze, predvsem listine, saj so priče tedanjih dogodkov bile že mrtve. Tako smo začeli zbirati listine, zgodovinske knjige ... Bilo je veliko raztresenega gradiva, zato smo pritegnili izvedence, da bi prišli do celovitejšega poročila, do strokovne obdelave listin in opisa dogodkov, zaradi katerih je bil obtožen in obsojen škof Rožman.
Tako ste prišli do zgodovinarjev dr. Tamare Griesser Pečlar* In dr. Franceta M. Dolinarja.
Tako je. Svoji poročili sta delala samostojno, neodvisno drug od dru-gega, tudi vsak po svoji metodi. Izmenjala sta, si gradivo, nista pa se pos-vetovala.
Svoji poročili sta. mi predložila v začetku decembra 1995. Pozneje , sta poročili izšli v knjigi “Rožmanov proces” pri vaši založbi. Do konca leta 1995 smo na tožilstvu pravno oblikovali zahtevo za obnovo postopka in jo vložili pri < O-krožnem sodišču v Ljub-' Ijani.
Zvrstijo pa se trije odklonilni odgovori.
str. 14)
Da, a ne prav hitro.
Med posameznimi sklepi -je vedno minilo kar ne- , kaj let. Prav 29. decem* bra 2003 je preteklo že osem let od vložitve zahteve, čeprav bi postopek . -po zakonu moral teči ,	-
“brez odlašanja”.
Ste bili ob nedavni tretji zavrnitvi obnovi- ± --tve postopka na tej so- m* dni ravni presenečeni?
Ne, nisem presenečen, -n • ker je v to smer kazalo . ^ vse dosedanje ravnanje ,*r prvostopenjskega sodišča.
Res je, da so se v zad- W nji, tretji fazi obnovitve- -nega postopka kazali znak, da bi lahko bila j odločitev tudi drugačna.-;:* Zlasti zato. ker je višje sodišče, ko je drugič razveljavilo sklep okrožnega sodišča - razveljavilo ga je tako kot prvič iz procesnih razlogov - v obrazložitvi svojega • sklepa nakazalo možnost, da bi predloženi dokumenU, knjige ih zlasti poročila zgodovinarjev lahko bili hovi dokazi in podlaga ža obnovo postopka. Niso rekli, da to so novi dokazi, ker b tem niso odločali, so pa opozorili okrožno sodišče, da je v prejšnji odločbi na prelahek nazin zairnilo te do-, kumente. '
> V ' V •’ ‘ t . .V» ,	' : '
Toda okrožno sodišče jim je kljub temu znova odreklo vrednost novih dokazov. S kakšnim argumentom?
.	• t
. v	• I ‘	;
Sodni sklep je obse-žen (36 gosto tipkanih strani), zelo dolgovezen, poln besed in malo misli.
V bistvu pa' se zavrnitev
• • ' i »1. I . 1 * S j ; ’ •;;	>
zahteve opira na en sam razlog, ki je enak tistim iz prejšnjih sklepov.
Tako oba prejšnja kot zadnji zavrnilni sodni sklep poznajo in priznavajo eno samo dejstvo: med drugo svetovno vojno je bil v Sloveniji samo boj proti okupatorju in nič drugega. Kdor je nasprotoval organizacijam in gibanjem, ki so bili po mnenju sodišča nosilci tega boja, je bil izdajalec in vojni zločinec, kdor je nasprotoval komunizmu, je nasprotoval NOB-ju.
Tak enostranski pogled na zapleteno dogaja-nje med vojno je bi pod-
‘.dalje na str. 16)
Misijonska srečanja in pomenki
1509. Popoldan nedelje 11. januarja je bil
lep. Najprej smo se zbrali v naši cerkvi sv. Marije Vnebovzete, se z litanijami zahvalili za vse milosti v preteklem letu, pri blagoslovu pa prosili za blagoslov v tem v pravkar začetem letu.
Nato smo se podali v šolsko dvorano. Z molitvijo k Sv. Duhu smo pričeli naše delo. Prebrano je bilo pismo misijonarja Danila Lisjaka, ki deluje v Kongu. Za tem smo gledali videokaseto o misijonskem delu Petra Opeka, ki deluje na Madagaskarju med malga-škim ljudstvom. Pokazano je bilo veliko smetišče, kjer si številni ljudje iščejo košček kruha. Ti ljudje so prišli iz podeželje v mesto in niso našli zaposlitve. Za prvo delo jim je misijonar dobil sekanje kamna v kamnolomu, kar je težko delo. Počasi so si pričeli postavljati hiše, kar je zdaj v skrbi že več vasi.
Misijonar ima zelo rad otroke in po njih pomaga družinam. Na skrbi ima čez 7000 otrok v šoloobvezni starosti, poleg pa so še otroški vrtci. Zelo je skrben za vzgojo, čez teden imajo veliko dvorano za razne prireditve, na nedeljo pa so združeni pri sv. daritvi, kjer je navzočih več kot 5000 duš, tako malih kot odraslih, daritev pa traja od dveh do treh ur, kjer se vse giblje in prepeva. Ta ustanova se imenuje Akamasoa in je že 14 let na delu. Veliko dobrega je bilo narejeno v teh letih. Zdaj delajo Koroško vas, ko Korošci zbirajo v ta namen, da bo tudi na Madagaskarju zrasla Koroška vas.
Še nekaj fotografij naših misijonarjev smo videli na tej kaseti, kar je bilo v arhivu. Tudi na sestre sa-lezijanke nismo pozabili.
Hvala vam vsem, ki ste prišli to popoldne ali v cerkev ali v dvorano in oddali svoj dar za naše misijonarje, da bodo lahko delali za blagor njim izročenih duš. Hvala g. župniku Krajniku za molitve v cerkvi in blagoslov. Hvala imetniku kasete in izvajalcu tega programa. Hvala vsem vam za dobro voljo. Naj vsemgočni Oče, ki vse prav ureja, povrne vam vsem s svojim blagoslovom, je želja vseh odbornikov MZA.
nothing but blue skies!
naše storitve vsebujejo:
Bankir anj e Vodenje investicij
Zavarovanje
Investicije
Obiščite Vaš lokalni finančni center, ali nas pokličite na 866-SKY-BANK za več informacij o Sky Banku.
wwwskyfi com
FDIC
insured Equal Housing Lender
Lepo vas tudi vabim na naše kosilo, ki bo pripravljeno na nedeljo, 8. februarja, v dvorani pri sv. Vidu. Kosilo bo na razpolago od 11. do 1. ure pop. in ga boste lahko vzeli tudi domov. Ves dobiček tega kosila bo šel v sklad za vse naše misijonarje, ki se trudijo za izboljšanje življenja in prinašanje božjega kraljestva.
Prav lep misijonski pozdrav od vseh sodelujočih in	Marice Lavriša
1004 Dillewood Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44119
Veljavna sramotna sodba
(NADALJEVANJE s str. 15)
laga že za sodbo iz leta 1946, katere izrek o krivdi se začne z navedbo:	Obsojenci	so krivi,
da so v času veličastne borbe narodov Jugoslavije. od leta 1941 do 1945 za obrambo svoje svobode, neodvisnosti in obstoja vstopili v službo o-kupatorju itn.
Začetna in temeljna sodna ugotovitev je torej, da je šlo za boj proti okupatorju in na drugi strani za nasprotovanje temu boju. Na tem počiva celoten Rožmanov proces - pa ne le njegov, temveč ves povojni - na tej veri pa so zgrajene tudi sodne odločbe, s katerimi je Okrožno sodišče v Ljubljani trikrat zavrnilo zahtevo za obnovo postopka zoper škofa Rožmana.
Zanimivo je, da sodišče boja proti okupatorju ne jemlje kot dejstvo, ki bi ga bilo mogoče izpodbijati z drugimi dejstvi. Sodišče t. i. NOB jemlje kot nekaj svetega, nedotakljivega, božanskega.
Če bi sodišče NOB vzelo kot dejstvo, bi morali dokaze, ki kažejo na drugačna dejstva, obravnavati, preučiti in oceniti. Oni pa tega niso hoteli, ampak so vzeli NOB kot božanstvo, kot zvezdo na nebu, ki trepetajoče gori in sveti, sveti ... Če strokovnjaki ugotavljajo, da na zvezdi ni niti ene luči, temveč samo črno kamenje in prah, jih to nič ne moti. Sodniki vidijo samo svetlečo zvezdo! Kaj Je v resnici ta zvezda, si ne drznejo razmišljati.
Sodniki v medvojnem dogajanju ne prepoznajo nič revolucionarnega?
Na kratko povedano, njihovo stališče je zahteva za obnovo zatrjuje, da je v letih 1941-1945 v okviru NOB in OF tekla tudi nasilna komuni-
stična revolucija, in v dokaz tega predlaga poročila zgodovinarjev, razen knjige, pričanja itn. To pa pred sodiščem nima dokazne vrednosti, saj ugotavljanje dogodkov med NOB in sprememba pogleda preteklosti ni naloga sodišča.
Čigava pa?
Sodni sklep pravi, da je to stvar zgodovinarjev.
Pa saj ste predložili zgodovinski ekspertizi?!
Prav v tem je nemoč ... ali pa prebrisanost takega nelogičnega mišljenja, saj je z njim mogoče opravičiti vse. Sodniki pravijo, da ni naloga sodišča ugotavljati in spreminjati zgodovino, da je to stvar zgodovinarjev. Tisto, kar so zgodovinarji ugotovili in opisali v svojih strokovnih poročilih in knjigah in je bilo predloženo sodišču kot nov dokaz, pa sodišče zavrača, češ da je pisanje zgodovinarjev samo subjektivna interpretacija preteklih dogodkov.
Pa kaj ne bi bilo potem najbolje “subjektivnih interpretacij” v obnovljenem sodnem postopku soočiti? Torej “subjektivne interpretacije”, ki so nastale na podlagi novejših zgodovinopisnih utemeljitev, in tiste, ki izhajajo iz režimske tradicije?
Seveda! Tako pa imamo opraviti s tistim, kar je nedavno ugotovil tudi sodnik iz Evropske zveze kot opazovalec pri našem pravosodnem mini-strsvtu: slovenski sodniki bi morali spremeniti mišljenje.
Sodišče, ki je odločalo v tem primeru, je sprejelo odločitev v ključu vladajočega političnega mišljenja: v okviru NOB je bil samo boj proti okupatorju, revolucionarnega nasilja ni bilo. V to ve-
rujemo, drugačno mnenje je stvar zgodovinarjev in ne sodišče. Za sodišče je NOB sveta in nedotakljiva dogma.
Seveda je to popolnoma napačno. Sodba vojaškega sodišča zoper Gregorija Rožmana počiva ravno na "ugotovljenem" dejstvu, da je šlo med vojno samo za boj proti okupatorju. To stališče daje barvo vsem ravnanjem škofa Rožmana, resničnim ali izmišljenim. V tej svetlobi je vse videti - črno.
Če pa bi bila ta svetloba drugačna, če bi bilo osnovno dejstvo z novimi dokazi drugače postavljeno, bi bila tudi posamezna dejanja obtožencev videti drugačna, v drugih, svetlejših barvah.
(DALJE PRIHODNJIČ)
NOVI GROBOVI
(nadaljevanje s str. 9)
Edith M. Vahčič
Dne 18. januarja je umr-la 86 let stara Edith M. Vahčič, rojena Colbovv, vdova po Franku, mati Franka ml., Gerri Beaumier in že pok. Kennetha, 4-krat stara mati, 2-krat prastara mati. Pogreb je danes v oskrbi Brickmanovega zavoda s sv. mašo v cerkvi sv. Felicitasa in pokopom na Vernih duš pokopališču.
Rita F. Bartol
Dne 12. januarja je umrla 77 let stara Rita F. Bartol iz Kirtlanda, kjer je živela 47 let, prej pa v EuclidUi rojena Shemple v Clevelandu, žena Franka, mati Franka ml. in Davida, 7-krat stara mati, sestra Adelin6 Belko in Richarda. Pogreb je bil 15. januarja v oskrb’ Cosicevega zavoda na Char-don Rd. s pokopom na p°' kopališču South Kirtland v Kirtlandu.
Frank W. Šuštaršič
Dne 3. januarja je umrl 77 let stari Frank W. SuS' tarsic, sin Anne in Frank3 (oba že pok.), brat Victor]3 ter že pok. Williama, stric-Pokopan je bil 23. januar]3 na Ohio Western Resell6 National pokopališču v R'tl manu, Ohio.
<1 BRALCI
Ameriške domovin^
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