Speech #940065192

Mr. Speaker. I wish self emigrated to America from his na- sponse. even in a time of high unemployto call attention to a most evocative and tive Hungary in 1956. the year of the ment and economic uncertainty. Is fun1.6530 damentally unAmerican and runs counter to our JudeoChristian values. While we now recognize the theory of "America as a social melting pot" to be historical wishfulthinking at best. perhaps we are indeed more fortunate that the separate ethnic and racial backgrounds and traditions which in their sum are America have remained distinct to the extent that they have. As with the Irish and the Jews. the Polish and the Italians and the Japanese who have preceded the Vietnamese to our shores. what truly matters is that they are ready to stake everything in a new future of selfimprovement. which has been Americas primary attractive commodity. as Mr. Fenyvesi observes. Here is a welleducated. sophisticated Hungarian who found himself in the midst of a refugee tide nearly 20 years ago. who believes that "there is no strong reason why 150.000 Vietnamese refugees should not make it in America." In his essay. this editor has also reminded us of a basic precept of humanity: What helps the refugee most in his struggle for selfimprovement is the generosity of those who are established here---"the openness to the refugees that is basic to the American character and makes this country what it is." I would like to share this essay with my colleagues who missed this timely reminder of the necessity to consult our consciences and our heritage as these newest strangers enter our society after 30 years of war in their homeland. The essay. as printed in the Washington Post. follows: STRANGERS IN A GENERous LAND (By Charles Fenyvesi) The refugee is seldom a hero. He may be a victim of discrimination or persecution. he might have been slated for martyrdom by an oppressive regime. But the majority of people flee their homeland to rebuild their lives in what they hope will be a more congenial environment.