Magyar News, 1996. szeptember-1997. augusztus (7. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1997-03-01 / 7. szám
Bridgeport, March 1997 1 848/1 997 5 This might seem to be a strange combination of years, but it is not difficult to figure it out. It just means that in 1997 we think of 1848, the great Hungarian Revolution that was about freedom and selfdetermination for the Hungarian Nation. Somehow this is always in our mind. Watching, as the camera was scanning the Inauguration in the Capitol Building one could not miss noticing a Hungarian in the background. Not that he was actively participating, but his soul was part of the democratic process and it was manifested through his image carved in stone; he is Lajos Kossuth. This time of the year our mind wanders off to our history, a century and a half ago. In a high-tech way the images in front of our eyes mix in with Kossuth, Sándor Petőfi, the Pilvax Cafehouse, Bem Apo, the youth of Budapest and we hear the Talpra Magyar. We could let our imagination fly. But we see in disbelieve that we are fighting those whom we saved from the Turkish invasion, like Austria. Sure, after 150 years they came to help rid the country of the Turks. Then they, paying us back, took over our country. In 1848 we had to find a way to get rid of these “helpers.” Our desire for freedom didn’t stop in 1848. There were intervals, one didn’t have to wait long. After the dust settled came World War II. It wasn’t our choice. We fought to stay out of it, but at the end we had no choice, we were pushed into it. Then we were punished exactly by those who pushed us. In the Trianon Treaty, the pushers like Austria and the Czechs took a slice for themselves out of our territory. One would laugh if it wasn’t a tragedy. Also, we saw Rumania take away Transylvania. Howcome? Because there was a sizable minority of Rumanians on this Hungarian land. How did this happen? Back, when Ottoman attacked Europe, the Hungarians took in the Rumanians because they were threatened by the Turks. They made a life for themselves in Transylvania. The ignorant French politicians gave them a helping hand, giving them Hungarian land, not to the minorities, but to Rumania. The American President, Wilson, questioned this and the Trianon Treaty was never ratified by the United States. God bless them. Despite all this 71% of the Hungarian land was taken away with 63% of the population. Hungarians became foreigners in the towns that their fathers built. There is still a question; how is it that there were so many minorities in the Hungarian State? The first king of Hungary, Saint Stephen carried on a policy stating that it is beneficial to have many languages in the state. This spirit lived through the whole existence of the Hungarian State. The minorities were provided with schools in their own language. Just as a curiosity the Rumanians received the Bible in Rumanian from the Hungarians who translated it for them. What is the payback? Closing of Hungarian schools, then bussing in people from the mountains with pitchforks and sticks, letting them lose on the Hungarian community in Transylvania. Trashing the Hungarian Bibles, turning them into toilet paper. Could we leave out the northern neighbors? In Czechoslovakia, it was accepted to speak German as a tourist, and if one tried Hungarian, then one was very surprised to be refused by the same people who one heard speaking Hungarian a minute ago. They were afraid. There too, they packed up Hungarians and shipped them out to Sudetaland and to Hungary with practically nothing more than the clothes on their back. In Yugoslavia, in a region that was always part of Hungary, I had to get an interpreter to be able to talk to the director of the Hungarian Publishing Company. I wouldn’t say that these examples prove that Hungarians in the lands where their ancestors lived for a thousand year enjoyed freedom. Neither would I consider that the Nazi regime and the German occupation pampered the Hungarians. Then what about the Soviet? The 1956 Revolution against the Soviet occupation was bom out of the spirit of 1848. It put a nail into the Soviet Communism’s coffin. Then some more nails. Opening the little backdoor through Hungary for the Germans got their whole country back. It is amazing! By any chance do we see something done in favor of the Hungarians? I don’t want to get into the very questionable activities of some western corporations. I just want to talk about Hungarian people. Millions of them. 33% of all Hungarians were put under the rule of other countries by the Trianon Treaty. Over a million and a half were uprooted and found home in the USA. The other millions are mostly in countries that surround the present borders of Hungary. As we know presently there is an influx from these neighboring countries. At this time specially from the south, from the former Yugoslavia people in big numbers are fleeing across the border into Hungary. Naturally relatives, friends welcome them, also the government. Most of them are Hungarian minorities. They became refugees from their father’s land. They receive asylum. Other nationalities receive a temporary asylum for a half year. All this puts a major burden on the Nation. The United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees in Budapest criticizes this policy. He wants the same status for everybody. Doesn’t he notice that these Hungarian refugees were tossed by the international community of nations into foreign countries on their own land in accordance to the Trianon Treaty. These are people who are taken in by the Motherland, whatever is left of it. Doesn’t he notice that these people are suffering from the stupidity of Trianon. Doesn’t he notice that the stability of the region prior to the World War I. was tom apart with the dismemberment of Hungary. Doesn’t he twirl it around in his mind that the whole confusion in the Balkan is mostly the result of the decision made by the international community after WW I? Now in the name of the international community of nations he wants the Hungarians not to give preference to their own people!? The Hungarian government does not accept any non-European refugee, legal or illegal. Now hold on tight to your chair. Most of these refugees come from other European countries where most of them went to work. Can’t they keep them there and give them asylum? These problems don’t seem to be connected to the spirit of 1848. But they all are! In 1848 it was a struggle for the freedom of the Hungarian State. Now it is a struggle for the Hungarian State, its people, within the Hungarian borders or outside of them. It is for the freedom and survival of the Hungarian State and all Hungarians. This is what we leam from our ancestors who showed us the way a century and a half ago. We Hungarians in America are also Hungarians outside the borders. We could have a voice that should be heard. We should live up to our obligations to help our own people without hurting others. We should not be punished for mistakes and crime that was committed against us. Joseph F. Balogh PAGE 1 T
