Lurie column- oct 25- freedom is not free

This is, apparently, my last TDN column.

I will be a monthly contributor to Tourgreatmiami.com  - the premier arts magazine for the Miami Valley.  

and, If the mood strikes, I will post comments to my blog.

thanks for reading.

Leib

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Celebrating Freedom and democracy 50 years later

Maria is eighty one years old and now barely five feet tall. Her dyed red hair is in a tight bun, and her great granddaughter at her side. Her daughter Marika was just six when Maria and her husband trudged through the forest leading from the Russian troops chasing them in Hungary to the freedom of Austria. Like a vision from “The Sound of Music”, only Maria had a machine pistol and bazooka around her neck; a six year old hanging on to her belt being dragged through the thick woods; and grenades clipped to her waistcoat. Maria claimed to have killed 20 Russian soldiers in the past 2 weeks, and would kill more if it would protect Marika and her three younger siblings.

The 50^th anniversary of the Hungarian revolution of October 1956 was commemorated this weekend at the Hungarian church in Dayton. In October 1956, 20,000 students and citizens of Budapest marched peacefully through the streets demanding freedom of the press, the right to vote and seeking a level of independence after 10 years of Russian rule. The Russian soldiers stationed in Hungary started shooting; but the Hungarian Freedom fighters, fought back, and won the battle against machine gins and tanks. The huge statue of Stalin was toppled. The Russians withdrew on Halloween and headed for the border.

Hungarians and the world celebrated. In less than a week, 20 newspapers sprung up with news and opinions of all stripes. The censored and politically correct Russian papers were still available, but now all but ignored. Thousands of political prisoners were freed, the vilified secret police were arrested themselves and their records and offices burned. Freedom was in the air. One party rule was abolished, elections scheduled,

Farmers drove into Budapest giving away food, as after the battle there was little in the city. Jewelry stores, with their windows smashed by gunfire lay open with valuables undisturbed inside; because stealing from Hungarians would be a sin. Releasing József Cardinal Mindszenty, he urged the people to work together for freedom and to protect the lives and safety of the Russians in Hungary.

But immediate freedom was not in the cards this time. On November 4^th, Two hundred thousand Russian soldiers invaded Hungary, killing 2,600 Freedom Fighters, and imprisoning thousands more. The US and NATO stood by – because to counter attack would have triggered world war III. Russia crushed the revolution and re-installed a puppet government that ruled Hungary with an iron fist for thirty two more years.

At the commemorative event Sunday, twelve of the quarter million Hungarians who subsequently fled across the borders, bribed guards, or in Maria’s case, shot approaching troops; listened to speeches, looked at pictures, and watched their children and grandchildren perform Hungarian folk dances.

Lorant Pap, the Troy Rotary Club’s foreign exchange student, from a small town near Budapest, who is living with us, was able to help put things into stark perspective. Although just sixteen, he is steeped in the history, politics and culture of his country. Over centuries, the country was invaded and occupied dozens of times; yet Hungarians maintain a universal feeling of unity, independence and optimism that allowed them to persevere.

Today, the country is a fast growing vibrant democratic culture at the crossroads of Europe. Their diverse and outspoken leaders form a rainbow across the political spectrum. They waited for Freedom and the ability to once again speak and print their opinions freely. Opinions may differ, but they cannot remain stifled. Freedom is not free. They, more than most, recognize this truism.

Leib Lurie, an active community supporter has enjoyed writing about the works of First Night, Troy Civic Theatre, Optimist Club, Boy Scouts, Destination Imagination, Waco Museum, Our Schools and other groups in Troy focusing on youth and the arts. He is CEO of phone message service OneCallNow.com. You can reach him at Leib@Lurie.net Or see his commentary at www.llurie.blogspot.com