Hungarian American Coalition News, 1995 (4. évfolyam, 3. szám)

1995 / 3. szám

COMMEMORATIONS - PAST AND FUTURE

Frank Koszorús, Jr.

Hungarians recently commemorated the 75th Anniversary of the Treaty of Trianon - the most severe of all post-World War I settlements - and the aid of the Second World War which relegated Hungary to the status of a Soviet satellite. By the terms of the Treaty of Trianon, Hungary lost not only areas of mixed populations but also purely Hungarianinhabited regions, resulting in the transfer of more than three million Hungarians and over 70 percent of the country’s former territory to foreign rule. The American proposals, which were more favorable in solar as Hungary was concerned, would not have left one out of three Hungarians outside the country. Not only were these proposals ignored, but the much heralded principle of self-determination was violated when plebiscites were denied the affected populations, with the exception of the Sopron region which voted to remain with Hungary. In addition to being dismembered, Hungary in the immediate post-war period was wracked by two revolutions, the Red Terrror, a devastating Romanian occupation, and the White reaction.

Hungary regained certain territories in the inter-war period, but at a heavy price - it found itself fighting on the side of the Axis, albeit primarily against the Soviet Union. As the eminent historian, Joseph Rothschild, noted: “[b]efore ... [1944] Hungary was virtually neutral in the war between the Axis and the Western Allies. And in ... noncombatant war efforts ... Hungary minimized its contribution to the Axis effort” Even though Hungary’s involvement in the war was limited and largely unavoidable given the country’s size and geographic location, it nevertheless was extremely costly in toms of lives lost and property destroyed. The siege of Budapest alone destroyed much of that beautiful city and, in the immediate adtermath, Soviet “liberators” wreaked havoc on the population, raping women and looting freely. Hungary’s Trianon borders were reimposed with the additional loss of a bridgehead at Bratislava (Pozsony).

Thereafter, the imposition of Sovietstyled communism initiated a rule of terror which targeted all opponents of the new regime and declared Hungary’s middle class, entrepreneurs, and wealthier peasents to be

“class enemies” to be liquidated in Marxist class warfare. In a spontaneous expression of nationalism (in the best sense of that term), Hungarians revolted in 1956 against Russian occupation and totalitarianism only to be crushed by the massive intervention erfSoviet tanks. The long-term structural damage to Hungary’s economy and the spiritual devastation to its population as a consequence of dose to 50 years of “socialism” became evident after the communist system collapsed in 1990.

A momentous question confronts Hungarian-Americans - should they sit on the sidelines and watch history pass them by or grapple with the enormous challenges of our time?

As the painful history of Hungary in the Twentieth Century is commemorated, many debate what Hungarians could have done, if anything, to at least blunt the recurring tragedies and cataclysmic events which engulfed than. Now that the United States has won the Cold War, a momentous question confronts Hungarian-Americans - should they sit on the sidelines and watch history pass them by or grapple with the enormous challenges of our time? Will people 75 years hence ruelully recall that a unique historical opportunity was squandered because the West failed to take enagertic steps to shore up the new democracies and promote marka economies, human rights, and the rights of national minorities in Central and Eastern Europe? Will the blame fall sddy on politicians who, because erf the exigendes of day-to-day politics, fail to protect the vital geopolitical interests erf the West in a stable and democratic Central Europe? Will Hungarian-Americans erf 1995 be remembered as having recognized their special responsibilities and opportunities to fully participate in the political process, use available levas erf powa, and educate policymakas and opinionmakas erf the critical juncture lacing Europe and the long-tom interests of the United States?

There are disturbing signs that Central Europe will once again fall victim to the benign neglect that often has

characterized U.S. policy toward that region. This trend is exacerbated by the alarming wave of neo-isolationism that appears to be sweeping Washington and threatens to seriously weaken America’s role as a world leada. Foreign aid, which represents a mere 1.3% erf the total budget, is being slashed Particularly hard hit are assistance programs to the enraging democrades in Central and Easton Europe at a time when our involvement is needed the most

NATO expansion, uncertain at best because of a misguided tear of offending Russia, apparently will be furtho hampered by presidential campaign politics. Meanwhile, Central Europe faces the prospect erf languishing in a powo vacuum, even as the devastating war in Bosnia remains unresolved.

The legitimate aspirations of national minorities are brushed aside with the refrain that we do not recognize group rights or territorial autonomy, even though the mistreatment of such minorities is a source of instability in Coitral Europe. President Iliescu, on the otha hand, has been welcomed in Washington at a time when Romania’s parliament enacted legislation that outlaws the singing of foreign national anthems and displaying foreign flags. Even more recently, a newly enacted educa-tional law constitutes the most aggressive assault since the fall of Ceausescu against the culture of Romania’s more than 2 million strong Hungarian minority. In a furtha attempt to deprive ethnic Hungarians of their identity, Romania's National Media Council reportedly will ban broadcasts by Duna TV, a Hungarian satellite program on cable network.

We can have a strong voice in these matters. The one million Armenian-Amaican community has an office on Capitol Hill with approximately 17 paid employees. They place scores of interns in Congressional and government offices and in think tanks. Portuguese-Americans, who number 1.5 million, have secured a Portuguese Caucus in the U.S. Senate. The activities and successes erf Greek- Americans, Cuban - American s, and Jewish communities hardly need mention.

Surely we can rise to the challenges in the best of American traditions and ensure that the anniversary commemoration 75 years hence will be an occasion for ebullient celebration as well.

Special Edition -1995 • Hungarian American Coalition News «3