Fraternity-Testvériség, 1968 (46. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1968-02-01 / 2. szám
Book Review • • • by László L. Eszenyi Victor Vashi: Red Primer for Children and Diplomats. Published by Viewpoints Books in 1967. The 50th anniversary celebration of the “glorious Bolshevik Revolution” is over. The free world but especially the people of the U.S. were showered with carefully selected pieces of information about the great history and the breath-taking achievements of the USSR, written not only by official Soviet agencies but on too many occasions by misguided “Western experts” and well indoctrinated fellow-travellers, too. Fortunately, there were many other newsmen, scientists and artists who recalled the bloody events of the past decades and revealed the shortcomings of the Soviet- Socialist society and economy. Victor Vashi, the greatest living Hungarian political cartoonist, is one of them. He acquired his expert knowledge of the totalitarian systems as a very young man irritating Nazi leaders with his hilarious cartoons in the early forties; he was imprisoned later by the Communist rulers of Hungary for his unappreciated political humor but managed to escape to the West in 1948. He has chosen the most efficient way to tell the true story of Communism: cartoons explained in a few tragicomic words. We give here a few samples out of the more than hundred cartoons published in his book. In 1967, many people, West and East, are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the “Glorious” October Revolution. To help people understand more about what they are celebrating, we offer a few slices of the anniversary cake. We hope no one gets indigestion. Religious freedom was applied equally to every church. Freedom of the press was strictly enforced. While Soviet troops joined the Hungarians in their revolt, the West considered what it could possibly do. Sympathy was quickly extended by some, and other courses of action were discussed. Then to everyone’s great relief, the UN got busy. There was even talk of sending notes, but no one seemed to know where. The message of this highly recommended book is clear: “Those who do not read history are condemned to repeat it.” Give it to your children that they should he able to draw moral lesson from this book which presents important fucts the way they like to read them. Order from: Viewpoint Books, P. O. Box 9622, San Diego, Calif., 92109. 13
