We are opening this page for contributions (everyone welcome!) from all alumnae, about any subject they feel is worthy of consideration, thought and reflection by the entire global membership of AMASC. In particular, we would like to focus on ideas and ideals about what it means to belong to AMASC in today’s world, and how this identity we all share can be reflected in the way we live, in active roles we might take, and the way we interact with each other, our communities, our countries, and the increasingly ‘global’ world we live in.
Opinions expressed in these pages are not necessarily those of AMASC as an organisation.
We open with this contribution by Eva Szalai-Kohl, National President of the Hungarian Association.
VOCATION - VOCATIONS
(original - French)
It was due to the first Presidential letter from AMASC (June 1990), that we began to envisage a more general concept of "Vocation". We, as Hungarian alumnae, would also like to contribute some ideas on this subject.
My own lot in life - quite separate from my vocation working on projects for the young - the fate of my country and that of Hungarian alumnae, were the starting points for this brief overview.
INDIVIDUAL AND COMMON VOCATIONS
If we accept that each person "has a vocation", this implies that every human community must equally have "a conscious vocation" - a task, a body of work which it also considers its vocation.
The social, economic and political changes of our times occur with frightening speed. It is because of the difficult situation which we all share that one is tempted to consider an active life to be a priority over a contemplative life.
What will be the active vocation of AMASC in the years to come?
The AMASC Newsletter gives us information about the various activities of the different National Associations. One can analyse these and see what they have in common. Perhaps my information has been somewhat superficial, but it appears that in the majority of cases, these activities have been of a "conservative" character:
What are we doing now, what can we do for the future?
The future of humanity and of the whole world is determined by realised concepts of teaching and education. Everything depends on these factors!
What kinds of teaching and education can AMASC - and its affiliated National Associations - help to advance and promulgate?
Some of the means of teaching are through play and through stories.
What type of playthings do we see today? Can we say that these serve principles of education which we consider correct? Take for example the "Barbie" doll. Far from encouraging maternal feelings, it often brings out the vain, superficial and extravagant tendencies in our little girls.
What are the stories we have today? Horrifying tales shown on television, which because of its visual immediacy has a truly destructive effect on the souls of our children.
Is it possible that AMASC might have a social influence in these areas? Might we eventually contact OMAAEEC and WUCWO on this subject?
We all know that behind all these questions, one must confront amazing economic and business interests. We must not just analyse these issues, we must also become more effective in submitting plans for change.
With what means can we influence the situation? We think that in these times, it would be better to approach the issue not in conjunction with the Church, but among organisations associated with ‘the Feminist Movement’: they will welcome us more!
Some methods, among others, could be the following:
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