Amerikai Magyar Hírlap, 2006 (18. évfolyam, 1-50. szám)

2006-11-03 / 43. szám

Eva Szörényi, the Grande Dame of Hungarian Tom Örményi gave a heart-rending performance theater, pictured here with Josef Csöngei of Márai’s poem. Pictured with Susan Jancso.

MINDSZENTY SQUARE, LOS ANGELES - Hundreds of members of the Hungarian community gathered on Sunday, October 22nd to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the 1956 Revolution and Freedom Fight. Greetings by László Sólyom, President Bush, N.Y. Governor Pataki, L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa, L.A. County Mayor Mike Antonovich and others were delivered. Former Consul General Szabolcs Kerék-Bárczy gave an inspiring speech, poetry and music enriched the occasion, pastors said prayers for the Hungarian nation. Representatives of the Hungarian churches and civic organizations placed wreaths at the Memorial, a column with a soaring eagle representing Freedom, in a corner of L.A.’s MacArthur Park. - j -San Diego Union 1956. Dr. Andrew Szabó:

What Can the Free World Offer Hungary?

The writer is the head of the reference department at San Diego State and a native of Hungary.

THE REVOLUTION in Hungary is defeated by Soviet tanks, bombing planes and Soviet bayonets. But throughout the country the great majority of the workers defy their conquerors. The factories stand idle. Offices are shut.

COULD ANYTHING speak more eloquently of the unity of the overwhelming mass of the Hungarian people against the foreign oppressors? This passive resistance has driven the Soviet despots furious. They resorted to the old Stalinist method of mass deportations of men, women and children to Siberia.

The line of the Hungarian Communist Party, which was ruling Hungary, had failed to make any contact with the workers and people. The Communists had no support in the grass roots of the country as the party did in Poland. Gerő and his predecessor, Rákosi, were Moscow educated leaders, products of the Stalinist era who followed anything the Kremlin dictated. Neither had contact with the people.

Imre Nagy took over Gero’s place too late to stop the revolution. He represented the nationalist communist line, which was convinced that unless the ruthless exploitation by the Kremlin stopped, it would mean only sheer stagnation and economic breakdown for the country. But the Soviet line communists were in power too long, and the ideology of communism was used to impose Russian rule and exploit the people.

The outlook now is grim for Hungary. Bloody treatment of the freedom fighters has shown the world the horrifying spectacle of soviet savagery. The free world now perceives, as never so clearly before the outlines of this inhuman tyrannical system, which has oppressed half of Europe for a decade.

It is good that the effort is being made to get United Nation’s condemnation of Soviet genocide tactics, but will that prevent the massacre of the Hungarians? In this tragic hour of need the West has nothing to offer to these peoples but propaganda and charity.

THE FREE WORLD has lost an opportunity to undermine the communist empire when it failed to help the Hungarian patriots. It seems clear that the Western powers faced the Soviet crisis without a prepared policy, even though they had long proclaimed the eventual liberation of the enslaved peoples as one of their long-term objectives.

The martyrs of Hungary in their anguish ask why the United States does not come to their aid. Why did not Gen. Alfred M. Gruenther remind the Soviet Union of the grim reality when the Hungarian government was begging for help and rescue? Why is the freedom of Hungary less important than the freedom of the West?

These Hungarian patriots, although defeated by overwhelming Soviet military power, have done

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Angel from Hernien

Translated by Susan Jancso. Performed by Tom Örményi at MacArthur Park, L.A., on the 50th Anniversary of the Glorious Hungarian Revolution of 1956

Angel from Heaven, double your steps,

Go to the frozen, charred Budapest.

Go where the church bells no longer toll,

Amid Russian tanks silent they fall.

Go where Christmas has no festive luster,

No golden nuggets hung in a cluster;

There’s nothing but hunger and bone-chilling cold. Tell them clearly what needs to be told.

Raise your voice to them out of the night:

Angel, trumpet your tidings tonight!

Clap your wings, make speed, swoop as you fly, They have been waiting for such a long time.

Don’t tell them stories of candlelit rooms,

Of worlds immersed in holiday moods,

Of richly set tables in well-heated homes,

Of soft-spoken priests bringing peace to the souls, The rustle of tissue as presents are opened,

Where intent is wise and words are well spoken, Sparklers are shining, the trees are laden:

Of the Miracle tell them, O Angel!

Tell them, for this is the ultimate wonder:

A poor people’s Christmas tree starts to smolder, Across the Silent Night bursting aflame - And many cross themselves in shame.

Whole continents look on flabbergasted,

Some understand and some don’t understand. They shake their heads, they can take no more, Some pray, others are gripped by horror.

For it’s not candy that hangs on the tree:

It is the Christ of peoples, Hungary.

One after the other, they walk past:

The Soldier who had pierced His heart,

And the Pharisee who had sold Him,

The one who three times had disowned Him. They dipped hands in the bowl together;

He wanted thirty coins of silver,

And while abusing Him with words and deeds, Drank His blood and on His flesh did feast. Now the multitude stops and stares,

But to address Him nobody dares.

Neither does He speak or accuse,

Just looks down like Christ from the cross. This Christmas tree gets even stranger - Brought by a devil or an Angel?

And those who draw lots for His clothing, They just don’t know what they’re doing. Maybe they sniff and whine and sigh The secret of this winter night;

A strange Christmas this is indeed:

The Magyar nation hangs from the trees.

Of the miracle the world sings praises,

And preachers preach about great courage, The statesman bemoans the uprising,

And the Holy Pope gives his blessing;

All sorts and ranks of people wonder To what end did all this happen?

Why did they not die as requested,

Waiting quietly for their sad demise?

Why did the heavens split apart When a people said: “That’s enough!”

People stare with no comprehension,

What tide is rising like the ocean?

Why was so shaken the world order?

A people cried out. Then the silence.

But now many would know what happened, Of flesh and bones who made new statutes? And many more ask, stupefied,

For they can’t get it in their minds,- Those who inherited it as such: - Does Freedom really mean as much?...

Angel, spread the word from the skies That blood will always breed new lives.

It’s not the first time they have met- the child, the donkey, the shepherd - On the fresh straw, next to the manger, When Life has born a living Wonder;

The Miracle still now they shelter,

With their breaths they stand as sentry,

For the Star burns bright to greet the dawn.- Angel from Heaven, tell them all.

Hungarian Journaf

November 3,2006 • ^0