William Penn Life, 2011 (46. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2011-10-01 / 10. szám

FOR THIS MONTH'S TAKE, I had intended on writing something a little more buoyant than my last two takes.

I felt that something cheerful would have been welcome, especially considering the subject matter of my recent columns. I had a wonderful piece on Hungarian dances and dancing prepared, as well as a little recap of September's Gala and General Convention.

Then, I remembered. This month is October. It will be 55 years ago this month that one nation dared to stand up to one of the world's two superpowers. It was October 1956 when students and workers made history in a small land far to the east. That country is called Hungary. Those students and workers-they were Hungarians. The article on dancing was filed away, and I powered up my laptop to write a more appropriate article.

For American Hungarians, the months of September and October are filled with patriotism and memory. The United States solemnly remembers the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, this year. I cannot help but make the connection between America's 9/11 and Hungary's '56. While the two events are obviously different, they share striking similarities. While one was committed with airplanes and in the name of religious extremism, and the other was done with tanks for a regime of tyranny, the two are far more similar than what the facts appear to indicate.

We remember these two tragedies in largely the same way. Speeches are recited, memorials are dedicated and special gatherings are held across the United States to remember both events. Perhaps the greatest similarity they share is that these events have changed both nations forever.

The year 1956 changed Hungary, that is for sure. Yet, as with all human endeavors, there are mixed consequences. While the brutal crushing of the revolution was tragic, what came out of that event meant something different-and better—for many Hungarians. In short, what was Hungary's loss became the gain of the United States.

We, as Hungarians, tend to think of the valiant struggle of those days in late October 1956. Yet, there is something far more profound than just the revolution itself. It is the aftermath of the revolution. Namely, it is the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Hungarians from their homeland, fleeing west and seeking safety and freedom. While the military outcome may seem like a tactical setback for the Magyars, it was, in fact, one of the greatest strategic

victories of the Hungarian people.

First, the true face of Communism was revealed. After 1956, no Western nation would ever have to deal with the threat of a Communist takeover from within their own nation. The ugly, violent nature of the Communist state was shown to the world, and no amount of propaganda could put the mask back on.

Rising out of 1956 was "Goulash Communism," a period of relative liberalization and reform in Hungary. The Prague Spring and the Solidarity movement in Poland could not have developed as they did without the Hungarian Revolution. The domination of the satellites by the Soviet Union was proved to be tenuous at best. Yuri

Tibor's Take with Tibor Check, Jr.

Was 1956 really a lo

Point to Ponder....

Now that the General Convention is history, we as William Penn Association members look forward to it’s next 125 years and beyond. What would you like to see the WPA do to evolve and develop as a American-Magyar fraternal society! Should we continue to embrace and encourage our long history of ethnic pride, or should we become a more American-themed organization? If you have been reading Tibor’s Take over the past two-plus years, you know my sentiments. How about your own take on this point? Let me know you opinion. - Tibor

6 0 October 2011 0 William Penn Life