Magyar Egyház, 2006 (85. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2006-07-01 / 3. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ §. oldal 1956 What I wish to emphasize are these outstanding human traits: History in perspective and through firsthand experience The distance in time has advantage and disadvantage as well. On one hand, as the decades have passed by, unknown events have been uncovered and published, also more objective viewpoints have developed, however, on the other hand, the details faded into oblivion and the enthusiasm could not have been duly recorded. One of the church leaders told me a few years after the 1956 revolution: "Alex, we understood the Hungarian revolution here in America much better, because we had the perspective." Obviously a newly arrived refugee was expected to be polite and say: "Yes sir!" Now I question this older pastor's statement for several reasons:- people in America saw and heard only what was printed in the newspapers and magazines, as well as, broadcast over the radio and TV.- You can report stories and events, but the report is always presented according to the interpretation of the reporter.- Feelings, enthusiasm, sadness, suffering cannot be exactly described through secondhand information and great distance. For these reasons historians seldom agree what had really and exactly happened. One can examine and interpret the 1956 revolution through military, political economic, social, judicial, moral, and psychological viewpoints. There have been many roads that had led to the uprising. During communism we said: "Communism will collapse either within three days or thirty years later. (Három nap vagy harminc év.) Eventually it has taken about forty years. The Hungarian uprising was SPONTANEOUS. Although after the uprising was defeated, the imperialists had been blamed for fomenting the "counterrevolution" - what nobody believed. The communist regime has developed such a terror and spying system that any major conspiracy would have been uncovered within short time. You also could have read in the "Magyar Hírháló" - or in another source - the reports of Mikoyan and Andropov about the situation in Hungary during 1956 prior to the revolution, and they had reported to Moscow the weakness within the communist party, Rakosi's egoistic leadership, unhappiness of the people, and the lack of goals to be achieved. People were confused and unrest had prevailed all over, but chiefly in Budapest. 1 do not want to go into details mentioning the heroic deeds, the courageous battles, facing the greatest risk, sticking together in the most dangerous situations, the patriotism on the highest level, and persevering to the last moment.- self-sacrifice, how many young people died without being forced to take up the arms,- high moral standards, on the streets people donated generously for the victims without anyone watching the box of collection,- the lack of revenge and grudge, the future was important and not the past,- patriotism as a unifying force. Ultimately the uprising was ruthlessly crushed by the superior force of the Russian army; and the new administration retaliated with the greatest fury. As you know a Reformed pastor was also executed. On the other hand the Soviet Union and Communism suffered a great loss of reputation all over the western world, because Russia was not anymore the protector of the workers, and the example of peaceful coexistence. In the sixties a Jewish person told me that Israel deserves to be supported by the United States because Israel represents the American interests. In a very humble way I asked that person: "And whose interest was the Hungarian 1956 uprising?" I am sure you also remember "THE SPRING OF PRAGUE - the capital of Czechoslovakia - and how it was brutally oppressed on August 21, 1968. The leaders in Kremlin were afraid that the Hungarian uprising will be duplicated. The attack was formidable, according to the statistics, 650 thousand soldiers, 6,300 tanks, 2,000 canons, 550 armored personnel carriers invaded Czechoslovakia from the Warsaw Pact countries, including Hungary. We know how the Communists snapped in the bud the reformed movement in Prague. Alexander Dubcsek, the leader of Czechoslovakia at that time, was asked: "How do you wish to be punished?" He replied: "1 wish that Czechoslovakia would be occupied by the Chinese army three times." "Why three times" he was asked. "Because in this case the Chinese army would march through Russia six times" was his wise answer. What we can do are these, not only to remember these heroes, not only to commemorate the 1956 uprising, not only to keep alive their legacy, but also follow their footsteps, how a common goal can become a unifying force, and show our love for our country the way they had done. May their memory be blessed, their rest in the grave peaceful, and may the utmost sacrifice they had made become an example for all the nations that strive for freedom. God bless our country from where we came, and the nation that welcomed us. We have to learn to love two countries with one heart, and praise one God in two languages. Rev.Alexander Jalso, Pastor
