Magyar News, 2004. szeptember-2005. augusztus (15. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2004-11-01 / 3. szám

I

Nothing!!! Short victory, but compare the two countries.

Then from of a letter received by the Magyar Studies of America, I quote the words of the Budapest Gallery. This Gallery is the official forum deciding the artistic value of a monument that would be erected in a public place. It also decides on the ideology of the piece. This is part of the letter: “A direct, a cavalcade of naturalistic style formed figures would be an anachronistic enclosure put into the 21st century of art of public places in Hungary, therefore the comity does not approve of the design...”

I still have a few words to say about a monument expressing 1956. The almost three decades old Magyar Studies of America started a program to create a proper monument in Hungary. This was a wake-up call, and the officials in Hungary, to save face, came up with “great ideas” of their own. One was a poet, turned out to be in Rumania, who is working on a real monument. Who, where, what, when ...? The question hasn’t been answered.

This didn’t seem to be a problem. There was something else in the bag. The then, Prime Minister Péter Medgyessy announced that he already has taken care of the big 1956 Monument for the fiftieth anniversary. Nothing was said before the Magyar Studies of America (MSA) opened the Pandora’s Box. Nothing was said when MSA put everything on the table, and, would you believe it, there is nobody to come forward to support the Ex-PM, or to show anything about the the great monument. It is only the Magyar Studies of America. This organization also offered a modified statue of 1956, created created by an American-Hungarian artist, Gyuri Hollósi, and erected in Boston. The Budapest Gallery in Hungary doesn’t seem to like it because it shows the triumph of the heroic youngsters during the Uprising. Triumph over the Communists.(?????)

of 1956, a historic event that helped reshape the world. It wasn’t just reshaping Budapest. Though it was never brought up at the meetings between Ragen and Gorbachov. There was no need for it. Some of the job had been done already.

At the time of the Uprising, Andropov, the Soviet chief in Budapest, saw what happened, knew why it happened. When he went back to Moskow he didn’t condemn the Uprising. Instead pointed out failures in the Soviet system and underlined that it is a small country that has to be the eye opener for the great Soviet. Evidently he had followers and supporters who in a short time put him into a position to become the head of the Soviet. Unfortunately his ruling only lasted a few months when his illness ended his life. Andropov had a protege, to whom he was a long time mentor, this person was Gorbachev.

Reagen and Gorbachev ended the very dangerous Cold War. As they say a pinch of salt could make things better. We are happy that the Hungarians had that pinch of salt. The world should take the time to notice it.

We are talking about historical events. Events that go beyond politics. In every political system there are faults but what Communism provided wasn’t just fault, it was terror. How could we search for a better way of life if we don’t even pay due respect to those who who gave their life for it?

The Magyar Studies of America opened the door. We can see what is behind the door, who it is, and what are they doing. What we find is the tribute to bloody Communist oppression clearly stated with the StatuePark.

I hope that the eyes of the Hungarian nation will be opened so they could find the best road to benefit all people of the country. May God bless them.

Joseph F. Balogh Page 3

The bird

The Gallery is not afraid to show where it stands. It is their own world and they rule it. This world might be political or the good old buddy system, but they make it known who ‘they’ prefer. I was able to look into some of them. I don’t want to single out any artist by name, some of them really don’t know what 1956 was. Others, even though being good artists, give in to the Gallery, and obey by the words we quoted. Finding an abstract way to show the inner soul, instead of showing the truth they only look for the bla-bla-bla. Wasn’t the horrible oppression of the artists during the Communist regime enough? They still cannot show the true history of the Hungarian people? We are talking about people! Our own ancestors, our own blood.

One of the acceptable designs was about a bird. This bird representing the 1956 Uprising is trying to break out of its cage that is sitting on the top of two columns. A bird, -not even bloody!?

Then supported by the Gallery, despite its realistic style, is the statue of a dissident after the Soviet put down the Uprising. Poor kid sitting there, holding a flag, might give the impression that he needs a change of clothing.

It is a sad way to pay respect to the Hungarian Uprising

A figure that could be part of a monument. What one learns is not to lock horns with the Soviet.

Now, this represents the October 23rd Hungarian Uprising; a bird caught between some wires on top of two columns. Above photo makes sure that we recognize it as a bird. Well by-by-birdie. Left: A sketch with the columns.