Magyar News, 1998. szeptember-1999. augusztus (9. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1998-10-01 / 2. szám
UM: A POTENT FORCE During the night of November 5, 1956 a few of us, mostly students from the nearby Technical University kept vigil in a third floor apartment facing one of Budapest's major thoroughfares, the Móricz Zsigmond Square. The weather was mild. All windows were open with "Molotov cocktails" lined up on the windowsills, ready to be thrown to the street when the Soviet tanks would arrive. And we waited... We were waiting for the Russians and waiting for the Americans, for Russian tanks and American diplomats. While watching the street, our ears were glued to the shortwave radio broadcast of the Voice of America transmitting directly from the U.N. headquarters in New York. The debate of the "Hungarian situation" was going on. We were convinced that if we can delay the “final solution” for a few days the international community will prevent the destruction of our just achieved freedom. We had important historical experiences to think of. Such as the Korean War: we did not want to be a site for East-West military confrontation. Austria: the great powers let them become independent and neutral, the Soviet Army left the country. Why not Hungary? Historically, geographically and socially we had a lot in common with Austria. Hungarian neutrality could not possibly hurt Soviet interests. The Congo: the Secretary General of the U.N. went there with a large delegation of diplomats to stop confrontation and bloodshed. Yes, we knew these people would come in a few days time. They would stand between us and the Russians, would shield us from the bloody hands of the agressors and then tire Russians would let us go free. For this it was worth to face the mighty Red Army, to let them shoot most of our city to ruins, and even to die... I am still in awe to think of those people who lived in that apartment. They let us set up our post there even though they must have known that their home would be a target of Russian shells. As it indeed was... History of course did not follow our expected scenario. Our hopes were betrayed. The world failed to help and years of darkness, terror and retribution followed. Finally, the Soviet system collapsed under the weight of its own brutality, ineffectiveness and stupidity. The erosion that started in Budapest was completed in Berlin with Hungarian assistance. Looking back after over 40 years to these tragic but heroic days, it is clear that the Revolution was a spontaneous eruption of the Hungarian people's desire to identify themselves with the West and to live in an independent, free and democratic society. They expressed this twice before, during the free elections of 1945 and 1947. Since they could not obtain their goals through legal and peaceful means, they resorted to demonstrations and fight. Within three days the dictatorial system collapsed. Even many of the privileged party members sided with the Revolution The entire nation was united and social differences disappeared. The Hungarian people regained their national identity and pride. This was indeed a revolutionary process because it went beyond reforms. It wanted radical structural social and political changes. In the spontaneously formed revolutionary workers’ councils and national committees, people started to develop the process of democratic selfdetermination. When the American Hungarian Student Association (EMEFESZ) polled its members in 1958 about their desires during the Revolution, 70% agreed : "Our aim was threefold: national indeperdence instead of Soviet servitude, a Hungarian social structure instead of an alien Communist system and democracy instead of dictatorship." The twelve short days of the Revolution were obviously not enough for the Hungarian people to create a new world. Certain aspects of a planned new society, however, were clearly identified: □ Indepencence not Soviet satellite status; □ Neutrality not a bumper state position. in the cold (or hot) war; □ Western orientation - fulfillment of 1000 years of aspiration; □ Local control, home rule - through the elected workers councils; □ Reintroduction of private ownership; □ National pride; □ Multiparty political system, free parliamentary elections; □ Civil society - winning two centuries' struggle between advanced industrial and backward social order. The defeat of the Revolution had tragic long term consequences for the Hungarian nation. The "deal” which was forced by the Kádár regime upon the beaten society created the often quoted “gulyás communism": "we let you live a little if you stop mass resistance and opposition". Living standards improved somewhat but society became powerless. Many community organizations became extinct and a hierarchical dependence developed. Youth were prevented from experiencing national pride and cohesion. Instead it was thought to relate to a strange and alien abstract Soviet system. Instead of national solidarity, some parts of society began to show signs of alienation, disorientation, corruption and sefishness. Failed revolutions can, however, become historically potent forces. Weakening of the Soviet Union, deepening economic crisis and increasing pressure by reformist qroups demanding freedom, democracy and national autonomy induced the ruling communist party to gradually surrender its monopoly of power. On June 16, 1989 huge crowds gathered to witness the solemn public reburial of Imre Nagy and other martyrs of the 1956 Revolution. On October 23, Hungary was again proclaimed a republic. The last occupying Soviet troops left Hungary on June 19, 1991. In November 1990, Hungary became the first East Central European country to receive full membership in the Council of Europe and, in 1992 Hungary signed a treaty of association with the European Communities. Struggling to overcome the grave problems caused by the tragic decades of Soviet and Communist domination, the people of Hungary continue the development of their pluralist democracy and the transformation to a freemarket economy. What about the idealistic students who came to America after the Revolution for a "study tour so they could take home all they learned"? From refugees they became immigrants, Americans with a Hungarian heart, speaking of "double loyalty”. As a result of tire mass exodus, Hungary gained a group of “Ambassadors” she never had before. They organized, lobby, wrote books and tried to eliminate the mountains of misinformation that was spread about Hungary through the century. For them the legacy of the Revolution is still a living reality, the "raison d'etre" of their life. László Papp is the American President of the Hungarian World Federation Page 1 László Papp
