Fáklyaláng, 1964. június-október (5. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
1964-10-23 / 10. szám
FÁKLYALÁNG 5 the darkest days in the history of the United States in sharp contrast with the glorious days of heroism shown by Colonel Zagonyi and his fellow fighters. It is different to speak loud about the role of “World Leadership” and it is, again, different to seize and to control the wheel of fate in the decisive and critical moments of history. Despite these tragic events, Washington seems to follow the road it has helped to build in 1919. It may be that the leaders in this country believe that the dust of oblivion will bury everything or the wind of forgetfulness will blow away everything. This will, however, not be so. If someone remains blind and deaf to such great human and political problems it seems that he will fall behind, left behind and the crises and problems will be solved by other peoples, of course, according to their own interest. This rising danger threatens the world once again in connection with the Hungarian question and this cannot be helped or prevented by wooden-sword rattling and empty threats expressed in always newer and different forms each week and which, by now, seem to be but shiny soap-bubbles. For us, Hungarians, it was a great honor that our Revolution and Freedom Fight was praised sky high and Budapest was set as a glorious example before the peoples of the world in 1956 and still in 1957. Results, however, showed that these were only empty and meaningless words. Less praise and more sense of realism would have been needed to size up the facts, and most obviously more determination, to gain influence and even control over the events. Where the leaders have no clear concepts, do not have a thorough understanding of the facts and lack the strong determination to do what history dictates them to do, empty lamentations replace the necessary hard actions which could yield results alone. These errors and helplessness are responsible for the death of tens of thousands of the Hungarian people who lose their young lives because of the indecision and sometimes even because of the mistakes of the leaders of other “great” peoples. Hungary is on the dark side of this picture ever since the fall of 1918. And if someone looks at the coming presidential elections then the question is not who is closer to the new capitalism which almost merges with socialism or who retains more traits from the fascisms of Europe of the thirties but the question is which one of the candidates or whether there is any candidate, who could be truly and realistically considered to be able and willing to lead us out of the darkness to the promising shine of the sun. The present — for us unfavorable — humiliation persists since the fall of 1918, i.e., for the last 46 years during which epoch the United States has had both Republican and Democratic Government. This fact does not give us any lead to a solution of our burning problem. The solution must be found some other way. •k k rk There are members in both Houses of the United States Congress who are willing to do the utmost to help to a solution the plight of the Hungarian people through peaceful means on condition that there will be no return to the reactionary, feudal, nazi, or fascist policy of the past. It is impossible not to mention by name the democratic Senator Thomas J. Dodd of Connecticut, Senator Claiborne Pell of Rhode Island, Representative Frank Thompson, Jr. of New Jersey, the Republican Senator Kenneth B. Keating of New York and Representative John V. Lindsay also of New York. It seems to be warranted that Americans of Hungarian descent support these outstanding men by all possible means. From among them only Senator Pell will not come up for reelection this year. Strong relationship must be established with them and with others who show willingness to adopt such a line of policy in those parts of the country where Hungarians live in larger groups. An initiative of the Hungarian October 23rd Movement establishing the Gold Hungarian Freedom Awards this summer — to be given to leading political and public figures friendly to the cause of the Hungarian people, — seems to be an excellent approach. The thus established relationships should not be limited to the election campaigns: it must be made living, warm, intimate and practical. Grave omission befalls all exile politicians without any exception — and I feel to be among them — for having failed to do this so far. The candidates must be approached well in advance and thenpledges must be obtained that, in the future, they will follow a Hungarophile policy. American citizens of Hungarian descent most obviously will give their support to those candidates who will make such a definite and unreserved pledge. Already in advance, they should be approached with the request to form bypartisan groups in both Houses of Congress consisting of Senators and Representatives who are friendly to the cause of the Hungarian people. It was already a grave mistake that the setting up of such groups was not urged before. Our decisions and problems should be brought before these groups for discussion and consideration. We must stress again and again as it has been stressed so many times in the past: we shall and will not tolerate any intervention in purely Hungarian internal political issues as they must be discussed and solved by Hungarians, and by Hungarians among themselves. We need, however, the support and, in certain aspects of the international affairs, the advice of others. This we seek individually from our friends without letting the great and sublime ideals of the Hungarian Revolution downgraded to simple campaign means in any election. In our eyes the Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight of 1956 is much more sacred and much more dear than to sell it for pennies on the greatest show in world politics in the fall of 1964. We do not want to get money for our stand — from anyone. What is even more important, we do not intend to vie to get pictures taken by a photographer in a favorable moment to mislead others or to make the impression of intimate friendship with some political figures. We intend and we are determined, to remain faithful to the memories of those fallen heroes whose blood painted the streets of Budapest red in October-November 1956. The Hungarian October 23rd Movement al(Continued on page 12) T
