INFORMATION BULLETIN

Lately, a number of books, periodi­cals and individuals debated aspects regarding the Romanian-American culture in its entirety and in a number of details. A good portion of the opin­ions expressed were laudative, objec­tive and constructive. They tried to analyze the Romanian-American group and its culture, and to the best of the ability of the respective authors. they tried to assess the importance of our group and the significance of its cul­ture. On the other hand, a number of voices were very vehement and totally critical. It was said that the Roma­nian-American culture is a “periph­eral” phenomenon and that the culture activities of our group, especially the Romanian Radio Hours, the few Ro­manian TV Hours and almost of all, the periodicals published by our group, are “amateurish”, that they lack “pro­fessionalism” and that according to a “superior” and “sophisticated” pom: of view, they are almost an embarrass­ment. Such sorts of comments are obviously negative and detrimental and besides, they are inaccurate. At best. such comments try to promote a son of uncalled-for elitism and at worst, try to humiliate and misrepresent a very complex cultural phenomenon in its entirety.

Such wild allegations and generali­zations are doomed to fail because they are part of, or anyhow border very closely, on the unfortunate practice of labeling. If such sort of allegations and comments are carefully scrutinized, it will turn out that they are superficial and frivolous.

When studying the Romanian-American group, or the Romanian-American culture, we have to define the terms and to make very sure that we know what we are talking about.

The Re manian-American group is the result c f a long, complex, and eventful historic al process that was in full swing at the beginning of this century, a his­torical process that continues to this day. The Romanian-Americans are part of the American nation, but they have preserved a number of traditions, cus­toms and the faith of their ancestors. The totality o: these customs and tra­ditions . together with the accumulated ~American” experience of our group, created the Romanian-American heri­tage.

The very fact that in the most open-minded society history has ever known, the Romanian-Americans chose to pre­serve their distinctness represents an all-important act of collective culture.

That distinctness of the Romanian-American group defines us and is very important for our group, but it also has cultural value for America as a whole. Our specific features are not barriers but bridges toward the rest of America and the Romanian-American phenom­enon, even if in a modest way. making Amen ca richer, more beautiful and the Amen can culture more complex. To attempt to analyze the Romaman-Amerlcan culture according to some very debatable and rather outdated European criteria would be not only useless but also irrelevant. Rather, the Romanian-American culture and its value should be analyzed from a per­spective that would present it in an even more fascinating light.

When one attempts to study the Romanian-American group or aspects of its life, he or she has to understand the specifics of the group’s existence. The Romanian-Americans are part of a huge society, and they live inside a powerful system that has multiple and overwhelming means to influence the

individuals. The fact that the Roma­nian-Americans, as a group, but also as individuals, were able to preserve a clear identity is proof that they were not and are not a “passive” but an “active” cultural body and entity. In other words, the Romanian-American group and its culture are not “stan­dard” products but the results of con­scious cultural choices.

Another specific and characteristic feature of the Romanian-American culture is that it is a collective phe­nomenon very much similar to the popular and traditional culture of Romania. The Romanian-American cul­ture produced and produces outstand­ing individuals, but their creation was and remains part of the collective cul­ture and has full significance only in association with it. To be part of such a culture is a privilege one should be proud of.

To all of the above-mentioned as­pects should be added that the Roma­nian-Americans built beautiful churches, monasteries and social in­stitutions; that they had and still have numerous and diverse publications; that they have a very active headquarters dedicated to the preservation of all the historical records of our group; that they have national institutions with a very long history. It would be useful to remember that the Romanian-Ameri­cans have a newspaper with almost ninety years of continuous publication, another one with almost sixty years of continuous publication, and institutions that existed and fulfilled their mission from the beginning of the century up to this day. If nothing else, those simple facts, this impressive historical conti­nuity, is an undeniable proof of cul­tural strength and vitality.

To say, or to suggest that such a culture was or is “amateurish” would be gratuitous and equally untrue.

ALEXANDRU NEMOIANU