Magyar News, 2000. szeptember-2001. augusztus (11. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2001-01-01 / 5. szám
flawed from heart flawed from eyes 1956 REMEMBERED BY THE HUNGARIAN SCHOOL OF THE MAGYAR STUDIES For many Hungarians October 23rd is a day when they have to stop, close their eyes and think of the heroism and of the horrible repercussions that took place. It is unfortunate that our traditions, heritage and culture gets on the back-burner as time passes. This happens to our memories about the Hungarian Revolution. Some try to wipe it out because it still hurts, some because they didn’t give their life to the cause. With the drastic political changes, that are taking place in Hungary, people are getting more interested in the present happenings, and in the future plans. The character of 1956 slowly changes from aching wounds to history. This year remembering 1956 in Fairfield, CT at the Calvin Hall, broke this pattern. It raised the emotions, it made the heart beat faster, and opened up the tear-ducts. So what happened? It was a pleasant Saturday afternoon. Hungarians and some Americans, older people and younger ones, those who never experienced the Revolution. Inside, at the hall, volunteers were preparing food for the usual reception. Also a small table was set up and original photographs, shot during the Revolution, were being displayed. The program started with Reverend Poznan’s prayer. The first speaker was Ed Parauka who was a marine guard sergeant at the American Legation in Budapest. He shot the displayed photos. He talked about his experience, what he saw, how the Soviet tanks shot up their apartment in the “American House.” In that historical time he made friends with the Hungarian people, and he was happy that he was invited to participate in the program. László Pal, whom we all know from the past Hungarian radio programs, delivered a historical account of the events in Károly Sziki * if his usual high standard way. The guest speaker was Karoly Sziki, theater director from Eger, Hungary. He did a lot more then speak. His presentation was in two part. First he showed a document video that he made. It was about people of Eger being interviewed. It covered the time after the Revolution was crushed. These were people who to some degree were involved. They definitely were not the leaders. Some were caught up in it because they said something. The common denominator was that these were all tortured and by some luck happened to survive it, and talk about the pain and suffering they had to go through. As the story was progressing so were the tears in the eyes of the audience. Just a sample, a man, a simple worker, described what they did to him. They were hitting his hands till they swell beyond recognition. Then they did the same to his feet. Later they started all over. The pain was indescribable. Suddenly in front of his eyes everything disappeared and all he saw was a pink color - and the pain stopped. He was so happy that he didn’t feel anything any more. All he saw was pink because the beating went beyond the threshold of pain. The audience at the program offered their tears. This torturing happened in a relatively small city. Think of all the people in the country who went through similar sufferEd Parauka ings. The second part of Karoly Sziki’s presentation was on a literary level. Two things were running parallel to each other. Alternating was an audio recording of the radio station giving account of the day to day events of the revolution. Between the days Sziki recited a poem from some Hungarian poets. His selections were excellent. The poems underlined human values, emotions, justice, historical meanings and showed an opposition to the words of the radio. It was a classic presentation. Joseph Balogh, who was the MC, thanked all the speakers for their participation, praised all the presentations. He then added the international importance of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution pointing out how it played a role in the fall of the Soviets and to the end of the cold war. Following the program a reception took place. Some were enjoying the delicious pastries, while others were still drying up their tears. László Pál Page 6
