Hungarian American Coalition News, 1996 (5. évfolyam, 2-3. szám)
1996 / 3. szám
From the White House on the Fortieth Anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 This year freedom-loving peoples around the world commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. We remember the exhilaration of those brief days when the Hungarian people took to the streets to declare their freedom and to demand an end to Soviet domination of their beloved country. Young and old, workers and university students, mothers and fathers defied Soviet tanks in a passionate struggle to restore the sovereignty of their homeland. Many paid the ultimate price for their love of liberty, and many more left Hungary to find freedom in the West. President Eisenhower, in his message on Human Rights Day in December of 1956 paid them an eloquent tribute: “...the human spirit knows, as Thomas Jefferson said, that the God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time. The courage and sacrifices of the brave Hungarian people have consecrated that spirit anew.” But the Hungarian people’s dreams of freedom did not die in the streets of Budapest. The ideals for which they struggled remained deep in the hearts of Hungarians; the memory of their resistance nurtured hope and determination that the ideals of freedom and democracy would not die, but live on. The fires of resistance cast their light down the years. The Revolution of 1956 foreshadowed the fall of the Iron Curtain and the sweep of democracy across Europe as the Cold War ended. And America rejoiced in 1989 as the new Republic of Hungary was fittingly proclaimed on October 23, the anniversary of the beginning of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. So the Hungarian people triumphed in the end. There is no better tribute we can make to the heroes of the Hungarian Revolution than to help achieve the goals of liberty and democracy for which they fought. The time has come for America, working with Hungary and all of Europe’s democracies, to build an undivided and secure Europe. The time has come for Hungary to become, once again, a proud member of the democratic family of nations. This goal, which seemed so distant in 1956, is within our gasp. We shall not fail.------Presidential Candidate Robert Dole on the 40th Anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution Forty years ago, Hungarians rejected communism and began a process which recently restored their freedom from Soviet domination. The Freedom Fighters launched an event which revealed the undying commitment of the Hungarian people to liberty and inspired the generations that followed to never give up their yearning for freedom. On the historic occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution, I wish to join Hungarian Americans all across America in saluting the heroes of this Revolution and the Hungarian people who never gave up their hopeful struggle for independence. I also join Hungarian Americans in paying tribute to martyrs, the teenagers of Budapest, the fallen and the executed and, in particular, Prime Minister Imre Nagy who choose to die rather than to compromise with Soviet oppressors and their collaborators. Liberty eventually triumphed in Hungary. Today, Hungary is not only a free and independent state, but a young democracy establishing a free market economy and seeking to participate in Western institutions. The remarkable progress Hungary has made in democratization and reforming its economic system must be commended. In my view, Hungary—together with the Czech Republic and Poland—is ready to join the North Atlantic Alliance. It is high time to get the NATO enlargement process moving. When I am President, the “go-slow” approach of the Clinton administration will be abandoned. Hesitancy and indecision will be replaced by determined American leadership at the heim of the NATO enlargement process. My position is clear: Hungary should be offered full NATO membership today. The promise of the future has never been greater. With strong decisive American leadership, we can make that promise a reality. I look forward to working with Hungarian Americans on issues of importance to the United States and Hungary. Bob Dole Chairman of the Board Rev. Imre Bertalan President Edith Lauer Vice Presidents Gábor Bodnár Bishop Andrew HarsányiT Rev. István Mustos Dr. Balázs Somogyi Bishop Dr. Francis Vitéz Secretary Dr. Andrew Ludányi Treasurer Zsolt Szekeres Legal Counsel Géza Kádár, Jr., Esq. Budapest Liaison Szabolcs Szekeres Board of Directors Anne C. Bader Rev. Imre Bertalan Rev. Imre A. Bertalan, Hungarian Club of Toledo László Bojtos, Hungarian Community of Friends Dr. Edward Chaszar, Hungarian Scouts Association Abroad Paul Fekete László Hámos, Hungarian Human Rights Foundation Bishop Andrew Harsányi.t Hungarian Reformed Church of America István Jeszenszky, Hungarian-Americans for Human Rights in Délvidék Géza Kádár, Jr., Esq. Nyíri Zsuzsa Hungarian Alumni Association - Bessenyei György Kör Frank Koszorús, Jr., Esq., American Hungarian Federation of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Rev. Paul Kovács, Bethlen Home Edith Lauer Dr. Andrew Ludányi Eugene Megyesy, Jr., Hungarian Club of Colorado Rev. István Mustos. American Hungarian Catholic Clergy Association George Pogan, F.A.C.H.E. Dr. Paul Rupprecht, Minnesota Hungarians, Inc. Helen Szablva Comprehensive Health Education Foundation Zsolt Szekeres Arved Teleki Frank Dobos Magyar Club of Cleveland Péter Újvági Julius Várallyay, Committee for Danubian Research Paul Varga Hungarian (Magyar) Club of Chicago Suzanne Virgulák, Hungarian Reformed Federation of America Bishop Dr. Francis Vitéz Calvin Synod of the United Church of Christ 2 • Hungarian American Coalition News • Fall 1996
