Fraternity-Testvériség, 1956 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1956-11-01 / 11. szám
4 FRATERNITY and thoroughly indoctrinated to be perfectly reliable defenders of the system against every internal and foreign enemy. They were relatively highly paid and kept on an economic level which made them a class in the allegedly class-less social society. But when the crisis came, they still remained true to their Magyar heritage, and instead of oppressing their own countrymen they turned the Soviet-made weapons against the hated rulers. What a splendid refutation of the Leninist, historical, doctrine of materialism which places material causes above the moral forces among history-shaping factors. And what a menace to the tyrants in the Kremlin who recently paraded their invincible military power including all the satellite divisions. The Hungarian sword cut a huge gap on the firmly closed iron curtain through which the internal weakness of the Red Russian empire came to light. If it is true that the golden book of mankind’s history is written in tears and blood of martyrs and heroes, then the Hungarians have just added the finest chapter to it. The service that these people rendered to the common struggle against world communism can be measured only by historical means. And what did the Western civilized world do to help this brave little nation which just gave the bloodiest proof of its faith and desire for the democratic way of life? First, we cheered the almost unbelievable gallantry and achievements of the “little David”. Later, when thousands of Russian tanks turned this fine, magnificent outpost of our civilized community into a bloodshed, we were demonstrating, weeping, mourning, warning. We sent even food, clothing and medical supplies — as far as the Austrian border. The only positive and immediate military aid was ordered to defend the Suez Canal and the Middle East oil. In the double world-crisis, oil won against blood. It may be that the very existence of a deservnig people was considered secondary in importance to commercial interests and strategical advantages. We have many intelligent and logical excuses, of course. The United Nations’ charter does not give any legal basis on which to act. We do not have adequate military power in readiness. We are engaged elsewhere. We cannot risk a war. Excuses so acceptable and fitting to soothe our bad conscience, but become only miserable mutterings before the Almighty God whose message contains this sentence: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life.” László L Eszenyi
