Fraternity-Testvériség, 1956 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1956-06-01 / 6. szám
FRATERNITY 5 the Budapest Zoo was a large out-of-door picture of Stalin and Lenin erected alongside what used to be the monkey cage. I am no politician nor political historian but I am convinced by what I observed as a surgeon and civilian that the Hungarian government was sincere in its efforts to rebuild Hungary. One must remember that the Hungarian politicians were tremendously handicapped in all their efforts by having a Russian pistol at their heads; by unwanted ministers in their government who were members of the Communist Party and eager to destroy Hungary’s sovereingty, by being heads of a country that had just lost a war and was classed as an enemy nation which could expect no aid from any other nation and which was not only bankrupt, but faced with large reparation payments. I think the Hungarian people were courageous and did amazingly well. Despite the fact that everywhere one could see economic conditions improving and the country getting back on its feet under small-holder leadership, the government was being harrassed at every opportunity by the soviet-backed communist minority. Non-communists were assailed and later imprisoned on trumped-up and obviously false charges, but those that were still free, kept on their way, courageously attempting to rebuild a fine country. There is no doubt in my mind that 90 percent or more of the Hungarian people wanted a non-communist form of government and were willing to vote so if given the opportunity. But now I am finished with the past and want to spend a few moments on the present and future. As a result of past events Hungarians have mestastasized all over the world and I should think it would be a great source of pride for you to see how extraordinary successfully they have established themselves in their adopted homes, how quickly they have become leaders in all fields, particularly in the theatre, literature, music and art, and also in medicine, science and business. I laughed at myself because I, a life-long American citizen, had never been important enough to be invited to the White House, until a few years ago when I was invited for the first and only time because I was a friend of a recent Hungarian refugee for whom the party was being given. It is easy to understand their successes because Hungarians are a most talented people. The country to me is lovely. There are no prettier drives than from Budapest through Nagyvárad and Kolozsvár or to Eger and Miskolc. What better tasting fish is there than the fogas from Lake Balaton and in my opinion no city has a view that equals what one sees as he looks from Pest up to the Fisherman’s bastion and the Castle Hill with its jewel of a church that has such a graceful spire. The sight from the Buda hills across the Danube to the Parliament building and St. Stephen’s Church is just as beautiful, particularly on the night of a full moon. No wonder Hungarians love it so much and so do I. History and the Hungarians have demonstrated in the past that no country with similar virility and talent can long remain enslaved. It is tedious waiting for the change to come, but so long as barbed wire fences and armed patroling of the borders are necessary to keep Hungarians from leaving their land, there is always the probability that one day that change will come. I hope that it will be soon.
