INFORMATION BULLETIN

Romanian-American Heritage is a complex reality, the result of a con­tinuing, hundred-year-long historic process, and includes the totality of traditions, beliefs and behavioral at­titudes observed by the members of the Romanian-American community, along with the predominant use of the English language. Romanian-American heritage is not a finished product, but a living process that commenced ten decades ago and con­tinues today, with the expectation that it will persist in the foreseeable fu­ture. The hybrid heritage is among the most important contributions which Romanian immigrants made to their new country, and is in fact part of the greater American cultural milieu which Romanians made more diverse.

The pioneer Romanian immigrants did not come and were not accepted into the New World as a group, but as individuals. Only after they settled and became accustomed with the ways of their adopted country did they make conscious decisions to preserve at least some of their traditions and their Romanian understanding of life. Ro­manian-American heritage is the re­sult of voluntary cultural options in­tended to preserve at least some of the traditional Romanian values. which made known in a direct and personal manner the Romanian cul­ture and the way of life to American society.

To preserve and promote their heri­tage, a number of means were used, including initially the presentation of cultural, musical and theatrical pro­grams that were open to all. The pro­motion of some of the best known Romanian cultural and historic per­sonalities, who had made contribu­tions that were relevant not only to Romanian culture and history but to the universal heritage of mankind, was also undertaken. Active promo­tion was done gradually and in dif­ferent ways, with fraternal societies, clubs and associations assuming the names of famous individuals, and subsequently presenting and publi-

cizing their achievements and cre­ations. In such a manner, groups bear­ing the names of Avram Iancu, Stefan cel Mare, Mihai Viteazul, Carol I, Nicolae Iorga, Gheorghe, Lazar, Octavian Goga, Vasile Stoica, Constantin Brancoveanu and Constantin Brancusi, came into ex­istence, and became part of the Ro­manian-American communities and were also presented to the American public. With the passage of time, some of the organizations ceased to func­tion, bu: during their existence, the individuals whose names they bore were widely recognized.

Such a personality was Avram Iancu. His name is associated with the Romanian revolutions of 1848, and the 150xh anniversary of that event gave us an occasion to present a few aspects about that time in the present issue of the “Information Bulletin.”

ALEXANDRU NEMOIANU