their meetings we learn much from
them.
We only talk with each other
about how nice it was in Holland
or Indonesia, but when it comes
to offering something: a good
lecture about our heritage, a
really good dance (not that "rom
mel" we are presenting usually),
good music, we just fail.
I understand why Mrs. Winkel does
not like those "feestavondjes".
They are often terribly boring for
the elder people. You just cannot
Vv>p and jump all night long, spend
VAl your money on snacks and drinks
and then go home emptier than ever.
Why then do not we ourselves pre
sent or make something good? Be
cause we miss training. And trai
ning should be brought up in small
circles of people who are conscious
of their heritage, learn more from
each other and put together all
scattered pieces of knowledge to
one school of learning and crea
ting. That is how other social
groups in America do it, and that
is what we ourselves should do.
Therefore we should reorganize
our clubs, not abolish them. I
myself would be just a negative
and worthless onlooker in any
^"^merican club, where members of
fer Irish folksongs or Bulgarian
dances or read French poetry and
I could offer nothing of my own.
That's why I am buying books now
about Indonesia and studying eth
nic arts and customs. I shall and
must bring something original and
educational to my American friends
and I deplore the fact that I li
ve in a very small town with no
Dutch-Indonesian friends at all,
ACHTERSTALLIG
geraakt zonder dat U er erg in
had? Stuur gauw een check van
5 (voor een half jaar) of 10
(voor een heel jaar) en wij
fixen het in een wip voor U.
I envy all those Dutch and Indo-
Dutch, who live in communities with
many friends and have the opportu
nity to do something good together,
but instead only feast or turn theii
backs on their heritage for Americai
friends and give them nothing at al"
for their goodwill to receive us.
We immigrants hear time and again
from our American friends: "Never
forget your home country and bring
its values to life here in America!'
That is indeed one of the richest
ways of life of the American citizer
And I am glad to state here that I
get all information and education
about my background from only one
magazine:"The American Tong-Tong".
Its monthly subscription dollar is
the dollar that offers me most on
my way to true American citizenship,
which is a citizenship that takes
and gives.
Connie Willems
DANKBARE BRIEFKAART
Dit briefkaartje dient alleen om
U te vertellen dat ik me rijker
voel dan ooit tevoren hier in Ame
rika sinds ik "Tempo Doeloe" van U
kocht. De gesprekken in onze ken
nisenkring zijn erdoor op een ander
en beter niveau gekomen. Mijn Ame
rikaanse vrienden zijn er dol op.
Voor het eerst voel ik me trots
dat ik een Indisch meisje ben.
Fanny M. Otto
7
