There is no other nation on the continent that has historically been more reliant on a common Europe than Hungary —a country that has lost many of its citizens to fighting, world conflagrations, and many who have been stranded outside its own borders. The people of Brassó, Pozsony, the Highlands, and those of Voivodina and the Szeklers — which are all former Hungarian territories now belonging to neighboring countries — can only experience their Hungarian cultural identity within the European Union.
Who are those that fail to comprehend this? In the West today, second- and third-generation political decision-makers and media opinion-mongers sit in leadership positions who have not fought for but inherited their freedom. In contrast, the leaders of the former eastern bloc countries themselves seized the opportunity to uphold the rule of law. On this eastern side of the Iron Curtain, it was taboo to define and live a national affiliation under communism for decades. The international repression forced on Hungary by the Soviet Union existed only from Hanoi to Havana, in that so-called second world. It is therefore natural for the Hungarian soul to dislike the system in which they are told what is good and bad from a very distant capital — a system that features subjective rule along with censorship and border closures instead of the rule of law.
The difference in the perception of migration
The global financial crisis, symbolized by the downfall of Lehman Brothers, made it clear where the greedy intoxication that followed capitalism’s victory over socialism led to casino capitalism. Even when stock markets decline, brokers still stand to profit.
However, Hungary has taken a different response to the global economic crisis: a work-oriented society, a return to a social market economy, and eco-conscious development. This, of course, contrasts with casino capitalism, where money produces money faster than decent work.
These are two different worldviews. This also explains why the migration crisis has become such a conflict. Proponents of unrestricted and uncontrolled immigration are in the vast majority in the German parliament. In the Hungarian parliament, the situation is quite the opposite. Both legislatures were democratically elected. Hungarians do not want to have a say in how the German state works. It would be equally liberating if German politicians chose not to interfere in Hungarian affairs either.
However, the conflict did not start with the issue of migration. Due to the different value preferences of both Hungary and the West, and their decision to embark on alternate paths, stark differences have emerged. These differences have already manifested themselves in the past as well, such Hungary’s effort to oust the IMF from the country as well as Monsanto when the Hungarians made it clear that they had no desire for genetically modified grain production , but there were also disputes over utility bill reductions, which led to smaller profits for western companies present in Hungary.
Consensus is extremely important, especially on issues like migration. The European lesson following the break-up of civilization caused by the Nazis is that all anti-Semitic tendencies must be rejected and all European societies must guarantee that their Jewish citizens are not in danger. Their protection is not the task of the armed forces, but of society as a whole. It should be natural for someone to be able to go out on the streets wearing a kippah without being insulted. Budapest can be a positive role model for living Jewish culture for Brussels, Paris and Berlin.
Title image: Hungarian-bornn pop star Leslie (László) Mándoki. (source: mannafm.hu)
