The Hungarian Student, 1958 (3. évfolyam, 1-2. szám)
1958-10-01 / 1. szám
The Hungarian students are generally more mature than their Western counter-parts. Their self-confidence and poise is much stronger and often exaggerated. They know that being University students they have a word to say - whatever happens - in the politics of the country. They indeed played a decisive role and shall do so in the future, not only in the life of the nation but also in society. They learned, more or less, to hide their feelings and their thoughts, as well as their intentions. They were obliged to do so, and had to wear an invisible mask against the deadly and poisonous atmosphere they had to live in. Consequently, they assume an attitude that is decidedly hostile to any power, — including their own teachers in general — from which they might get good and bad in equal doses, - and only when they were convinced and had proof that their suspicion has a priori been unfounded, do they switch over from suspicion to confidence. Their team spirit is highly developed and they are susceptible to deep and lasting friedship and comradeship. The kind of easy going and superficial camaraderie that can be found in Many of the Western Universities, does not satisfy them. On the other hand they are somehow less pliant and less realistic than the majority of the Western students; also - until they have not mastered a knowledge, or some method — they are extremely cautious and distrusting toward it. Despite all disappointment, they expect very much from the Western world, not only politically, but ideologically and scientifically. In general science not only means a compilation of data to them, but to a certain extent it also means a political stand and «Weltanschauung». Therefore, a University Degree does not mean the road to a «job» only, for the majority it is a passionate spiritual need. They demand that society and official strata takes good care of them and their lives. They are baffled by the free worlds disinteressement, neutralism and indifference toward the Present and the Future. 11
