Reader’s letter from a disappointed Canadian Hungarian: Orbán is in bed with Putin
Reader’s letter
We publish the letter we received unchanged below.
“I was 9 months old when we came to Canada. I have sympathy for the Ukrainian refugees and thank Hungary for helping the very few that choose Hungary. Although I can understand why more choose Poland since your government has leanings towards allegiance to Russia.
This is much to my dismay. Before W.W.II my father’s family owned the town blacksmith shop in Budaors. He got his degree from the University in Budapest. He and people like him were kept out of the war so they could help rebuild Hungary after the war. But he had a small problem, in the 1700’s German speaking people were sent to Eastern Europe to help resist incursion by the Ottoman Empire. He had some German blood in his family. When the Russians came in my dad’s family had to flee under threat of death. They left with just a few suitcases.
My mother was Romanian. She lived in Cenad. She had the same small problem – some German ancestry from the 1700’s. She and her family fled much the same as my dad’s. Except her 16 year old brother was taken back to Russia to a work camp and was never heard from again. My mother and grandmother were refugees and in the next few years they basically walked to France.
My parents met in France, got married and went to Canada because they were not welcome in Europe. They were Hungarian and Romanian, not German, not French and weren’t welcome back in their home countries. I was born in France and a Canadian citizen. I have 2 sisters born here. My father’s education in Hungary taught him the importance of higher learning. I and my sisters went to University. One sister worked in a high position in a government ministry. My other sister became a department head in a few hospitals. I became a medical physicist. My last job was to start up a new cancer clinic in the Niagara region of the country. I was the first medical physicist in the region. I hired many ethnicities for my department. The diversity made us, I felt, very adaptable. I supervised several Ph.D. physicists from various backgrounds (India, Romania, England, Germany and Jordan) and I had a technical staff that included a Russian. I hold no grudges and feel we are all just people. We worked very well together and got the clinic going in record time.
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My parents took us to visit, in 1967, the relatives that managed to survive in Hungary and Romania. It was quite something to see the soldiers come on the train with machine guns to check our papers and check the train under the seats and everywhere for, I don’t know what. We smuggled blue jeans to our family there so they could sell them on the black market because they were so poor. The people in Romania were so destitute. They had no fridges or screens on their windows. Shelves in stores were virtually empty. When we ate, flies covered our food so that all meals looked black. Hungary was a bit better. But I marvelled at the bullet holes in the Budapest buildings from 1956. I and my sisters got very sick several times on the trip.
I returned to visit while on a conference in Vienna in 2014. I was looking at a new breast cancer treatment methodology which I took back to Niagara where it was the first implementation of it in Canada. I was glad to see the huge improvement in Hungary. Budaors even had an IKEA. When walking around Budapest we talked to several locals about how bad it was last time I visited. One conversation I will never forget. Some younger people in the street said the Russians took everything good from Hungary and sent it to Russia.
Most of my life people asked me why I didn’t change my name from Szabo to Sabo to anglicize it and make it easier to spell and pronounce. My reply was always that I was proud of my heritage. One time I gave a speech in front of thousands of people, surrounded by dignitaries – mayors and University presidents, about our new cancer clinic. I was so proud when they introduced Joe Szabo.
But now, with the Russians invading Ukraine, and with Hungary in NATO with Canada, Hungary will not allow weapons through to Ukraine! I am disgusted. Are all the people from 1956 dead? The people seem to be duped by the propaganda from your leader who is in bed with Putin. I am glad my father left Hungary. I would leave if I lived there now. The z in my name is now embarrassing, especially since it is a symbol of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Joe Sabo (until recently Szabo)
Niagara Falls, Canada”
A new way of providing propaganda…
Is Ukraine a part of NATO? No, it is not. Then why NATO should provide any assistance to that country? Every country may go further, but that is only its decision, neither merit, nor obligation. That war is not NATO war, and if it happens, then it will be a world collapse.
Joe Szabo or Sabo, you do state that you have a higher education, yet you have very little knowledge about Hungary and Hungarian history. You have not “educated” yourself about your own heritage and try to condemn the country and government about its present political stance.
Unfortunately, Hungary is located in the Carpathian Basin. Yes, it was much larger, was a great kingdom and eventually part of an empire.
Geographically, that central location, was also a bane or a curse. Constantly fighting off invaders from the east, west and south and along with a tragic peace treaty, Hungary has a legitimate fear of involvement in any war.
For the record, Hungary also denied Nazi Germany transit. Hungary also kept out of the Nazi invasion of Poland and instead gave shelter and an access to the west for thousands of Polish. Politically, if Hungary allows the transfer of weapons through its border with Ukraine, Hungary becomes involved in a war.
Now let me ask you a question. How has the Ukraine protected the rights of the Hungarian minority? Ever read about the poor economic conditions in the Hungarian area of Ukraine. What about violence against the Hungarian minority and destruction of Hungarian artefacts?
You ask why so many Ukrainians seek shelter in Poland? Firstly, both are slavic nations and the language has some similarities. Hungarian/magyar has no relationship with the slavic tongue, so more difficult for refugees.
Second, the Polish Ukraine border is over 600kms long and not mountainous.
Remember I earlier mention the tragic peace treaty and how Hungary used to be a kingdom? That small south western part of Ukraine was Hungarian. It also contains a part of the Carpathian mountain range. It does not make travel so easy. Not the governments fault.
Never be ashamed of your name or heritage!
You educated yourself in science, try history.
I too am of Hungarian ancestry, 3rd generation.
Eljen a magyart!
dear Edward, sorry for my ignorance but i was never good at history, didn’t Hungary fought next to Nazis in WW2? i like all the remaining parts your comment.
Hungarians have a never ending victim complex. Coupled with an arrogance which surpasses that of any other nationality, it is a poisonous cocktail. Just look at the main non-religious public holidays – all commemorate FAILURES. The Hungarians have not got anything to commemorate as a success. Now, as a result of this election (which was not fought on a level playing field because for instance the state paid for the ruling party’s advertising but not for the opposition’s), Hungary is once again hurtling at full speed to to be on the wrong side of history. They never learn from their mistakes. Arrogance and stupidity is what has been Hungary’s downfall many times.
Holy boy, this Hungarian-Canadian sounds very privileged. They are writing from Canada which is protected by its neighbour who has the largest military force on the planet, aka the US. They do not have to worry about a war on its borders. Meanwhile, there are ethnic Hungarians in Western Ukraine as the Hungarian government’s concern is about them. Now a person can disagree with the Hungarian government and the increased state-controlled media. To have the author say they were proud of their Hungarian heritage but now feel embarrassed that they have a “z” in their last name. They should just come out and admit that they never had any pride, to begin with. If they think a government can take away their pride then they never really had any, to begin with.
@Edward, go and look at the shoes memorial on the bank of the Danube near our parliament in Budapest. Then go and look at the memorial tree in the garden of the synagogue on Dohány utca, Budapest. Then tell me how (to our shame) Hungary was not complicit in the horrors of WW2.
Go to Netflix, look up Age of Tanks, skip to Episode 3 featuring the 1956 Revolution and the Prague Spring, and watch the entire episode, saying to yourself “we are doing all we can”.
Give it a go – and do please let us know how you get on!
Commentators in there jostling some of which have valid contribution others that are of no fact nor validness to what we should be focused and concentrating on being the FUTURE of Hungary moving forward in the 21st century.
History – never Lies.
Hungary – will pay for there ERROR in the re-election of Fidesz at the recent national Elections.
Hungary – the “forces” of NATO, European Union plus Great Britain and America – having had Hungary, over the past (4) four years under a MASSIVE microscope – then the adapted position Hungary has continues to take in this Russian War against the Ukraine – continues to expose and place Hungary as though they are being dealt major opposition – through there relationship with Russia and China.
Hungary – placed in this WEDGED position it finds it-self, through the Political ideas & philosophy of Fidesz under the leadership of the Prime Minister – Victor Orban, the challnges and future of Hungary is one of great Vulnerability and Uncertainty.
Hungary – its 9.6 million citizens, lifestyle – quality of life will not improve through the position Hungary finds inself “locked” or “wedged” in.
The citizens of Hungary – by the process of Democracy – voted in the return to office of Fidesz.
Citizens of Hungary – have ownership of this election result and must take the Responsibility – for there DECISION – for Better or for what I beleive WORSE.
The Canadian Prime Minister’s fascist behavior toward peaceful protests should be more concerning for a Canadian citizen than Hungary’s leadership trying to avoid a war.
FV, yes, correct, Hungary did fight alongside Germany. They were put into the position by the Versailles Treaty which destroyed Hungary’s borders and infrastructure. Horthy did try to keep Hungary out of the war and also tried to settle for peace in 1941.
Skysaw, the victim complex? Who brought about the victim complex? It wasn’t Hungarians, but the result of poorly thought out actions against Hungary and Hungarians.
So you feel Hungary celebrates nothing but failures? How many countries in Europe have existed as a country for over 1000 years? Saint Stevens Day Aug. 19th commemorates the first Christian king of the country.
1848 Revolution? Sure Hungary lost at the expense of Russia, yet what happened in 1867 because of it? It became part of a dual Empire and won the right to govern its own people and part of the monarchy, which never existed under Austrian rule.
It doesn’t matter how a country celebrates, commemorates or marks tragic events, it is how that country learns to overcome those tragedies and succeeds.
As for politics, Hungary, sadly, has not had much success.
Kiraly, I do not have to look at anything. My father, as a boy and his parents were grilled by the Germans in 1939 going from Budapest to Vienna by train. A Jewish family was escorted from that train and the man asked my grandfather to take care of his Tanakh. He did so until he died. The family, we learned, died at Auschwitz. My family had the Tanakh sent to Isreal.
Canada, England, U.S, Romania etc. were all complicit. Even Jews were complicit. Reading is good for the mind, try it sometime.
The Realist, don’t condemn the man, as he does not know that much about his own history and culture. Canada is a different place than Hungary and until internet, it was very difficult to read about Hungary and it’s history. Very limited resources and if you are fortunate to have a Hungarian cultural center near you, most books are in Hungarian. In that way, frustrating.
@Edward. How many countries? A few. Let’s start with England.
Skysaw, Hungary is older, 896.
@Edward. Wrong. King Athelstan, 895 in England. You really don’t know the history.
@Skysaw, Egland wasn’t even a country before 1000. In fact, it was constantly invaded by the Danes although they were held back somewhat by Alfred the Great. Although England would become united under Cnut, the Danish Christian Prince, who would bring prosperity to the Saxons. Development in Saxon society increased under his leadership and that external threats during his reign were none existent.
Long story short, Hungary is older than England.
Seems like a very long story (I don’t mean this article), and quite a few readers did bother to voice their many and varied opinions.
To ME, the gist of Mr Sabo/Szabó’s message is the fact that Hungary will not (directly) send any weapons to Ukraine, and will not let weapons be sent across it’s border with Ukraine. Furthermore, PM Orbán will not condemn Putin for his military’s actions (WAR, and atrocities) in Ukraine.
To the best of my knowledge, Hungary is NOT compelled (by law) to do any of the above, yet people are decrying the lack thereof.
To the best of my knowledge, those neighbour countries which DO send weapons/arms to Ukraine, do so as individual nations, NOT as a NATO member commitment.
To the best of MY knowledge Hungary itself lacks spare weapons/arms to send. In fact, I’m led to believe that it has a severe shortage. If that’s the case, and if I were PM Orbán, I would not be foolish enough to make that public knowledge – lest I severely embarrass myself in front of my fellow NATO member States, and the people who just voted me in, as well as reinforce Putin’s view that Hungary might be NATO’s soft underbelly (and an easy target).
Personally, It saddens (greatly) me that PM Orbán is not PUBLICLY expressing what most of the world is expressing – especially, knowing that he loves being in the limelight, and that he loves to be “one of the boys”.
I can understand PM Orban’s point of view on not sending weapons, and not letting weapons cross Hungary’s border with Ukraine, I can understand him not doing that in order not to sacrifice Hungary’s supply of Russian energy, but Hungary is NOT the only EU Nation that gets it’s supply of energy from Russia, yet, those other EU States have severely condemned Putin for his army’s actions (and atrocities).
PM Orbán represents ALL Hungarians (love him – and FiDeSZ – or hate him), and he should keep that in mind every single time he thinks about his actions, and MORAL obligations.
…Incidentally, one other country that represents much much more people is India, and India has NOT condemned Putin, and his army’s actions, NOR the atrocities they’re committing, and yet NO-ONE is criticizing India, NOT even any of it’s Quad alliance members (USA, Japan and Australia).
Honestly, I’m NOT a fan of PM Orbán, nor his highly corrupt ILLEBERAL government, but let’s try and be realistic when we criticize him on his stance.
HE (and all the media the government controls) MISLED his people into believing that if the opposition is elected, then there WILL BE WAR for Hungary! – Memories of Trump come flooding back.
As a moral obligation PM Orbán SHOULD denounce Putin for what his army (and his foreign collaborators) are doing in Ukraine, but realistically he is not obliged/compelled to send weapons (directly) across Hungary’s border with Ukraine. His decision is a personal one, not one that is a legal obligation – as was the decision of the majority of countries when they decided not to directly help Hungary back in 1956.
Consequently, the West welcomed all Hungarian refugees fleeing in 1956, and that’s MOSTLY what PM Orbán’s government is doing right now. I wonder, if in his mind, that’s his payback for what most of the West did in ’56?
The time will come (hopefully soon) when Both Pres. Zelensky and PM Orbán decide to meet face to face, and PM Orbán takes just as much time to talk to Pres. Zelensky as he takes to talk to Putin, and that they BOTH admit that there are issues that must be addressed with regards to the Hungarian minorities in Transcarpathia. Surely, those issues will have to be ironed out before the EU considers Ukraine for membership.
The Realist, WRONG. You are mixing up a Kingdom with a Country. The Roman Conquest occupied England in AD 43. Huns were still further east, a tribe not yet arrived in what is now modern Hungary.. England was called Britannia, as in the island name.. The Hungarian name for postal letters/parcels going to England says ‘Nagy Britannia’. Learn some history! The Danes did not tow a land mass oversea to where England is now, the COUNTRY was already there!
Gentlemen (above) – I presume that you are both gents – being a young woman, history isn’t my forté, but I feel that the two of you are mixing ” Great Britain” (the island) and “England” (the country), and thereby confusing each other (and anybody else who reads this). Is that not so?
May I just insert an excerpt from Wikipedia:
“The Kingdom of England (Latin: Regnum Anglorum, “Kingdom of the English”) was a sovereign state on the island of Great Britain from 12 July 927, when it emerged from various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, until 1 May 1707, when it united with Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain.”, whilst the Principality of Hungary was formed cca 895. To me, that reads, “Hungary” cca 895, and “England” 927.
May I suggest that you two meet, and sort this out for YOURSELVES over a L-O-N-G lunch, or something. 😀
P.s. I withdraw PART of my criticism of PM Orbán about not condemning the atrocities being committed in Ukraine. Apparently, he condemned the ACT, but NOT Putin, nor his army, VIA his press secretary’s statement to the media. (see) https://magyarnemzet.hu/belfold/2022/04/orban-viktor-eliteli-a-bucsai-tomegmeszarlast-tamogatja-a-nemzetkozi-vizsgalatot. (If some of you can’t read (and understand) Hungarian, then this very site has the story too (see) https://dailynewshungary.com/orban-condemned-bucha-massacre-supports-international-investigation/ .
Bucha was not the only place where atrocities were committed, but condemning could be a start.
Dkysaw, you know zilch and can not read.
From the British Library. The kingdom of England – with roughly the same borders as exist today – originated in the 10th century. It was created when the West Saxon kings extended their power over southern Britain.
The first king of England
It was Edward’s son, Æthelstan, who first controlled the whole area that would form the kingdom of England. Æthelstan’s sister had married Sihtric, the Viking ruler of the Northumbrians. When Sihtric died in 927, Æthelstan succeeded to that kingdom.
@Edward, scroll up the comments. I said King Athelstan, 895. It is you, my friend that has reading issues.
Men! 😀
Gentlemen:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86thelstan
Are we now going to see the end of this “stoush”? 😀
Please draw your weapons, turn back to back and take 10 steps away from each other. 😀
I have read comments here including some that imply a lack of knowledge of history. For instance:
“Dkysaw, you know zilch and can not read.”
In my opinion, that implies to me that the those who write such comments would benefit from a lesson in civility–a character trait that seems to be lacking in the current epoch.
That said, does the writer quoted above (or anyone) know all of history, or all of Hungarian history, and in particular here, that which is relevant to the significance of what is happening now? How, for example, does a debate about King Athelstan, 895 have relevancy to today? If so, please explain–thank you..
les français le disent le mieux : c’est une histoire : s’il vous plaît, ce n’est qu’une histoire
In my opinion, It’s all story:: the story we get from our ancestors; that’s all what we get!
This is mine: l’hl’histoire de ma famille,: I have in my hand, as I write this, an original document, my grandfather’s military record book as a Hussar in the army of the Austro-Hungarian empire before WW I.
I have In my mind one of the stories about my grandfather (who died two years before I was born) that my Dad (my grandfather’s father), told me about his Dad (my grandfather)
My Dad was a disabled US Vet from US WW II invasion of the battle of Luzon in the Philippines Islands.
This is what my Dad said to me in 1956, October 1956, with tears in his eyes, when I was eight years old (the only time I ever saw tears in my Dad’s eyes): the Russians are going to wipe out the Hungarian freedom fighters (which they did) unless we stop them (which of course we did not). My Dad also said, your (my) grandfather said: that every so often, you have to kick the Russians back in their place, they are bullies; if you don’t, they will run over you!
So now it seems we are not doing enough to kick the Russians back into their place, and sadly, the greatest tragedy of the moment is that the Hungarian people by re-electing their Putin-supporting leader, Victor Orban have lost their will to resist the Russian Bear.
I can only guess that if my grandfather (and his son, my father) were alive today, they would be crushed by this disheartening indiscretion, and desecration of the legacy of Imre Nagy ,and all those freedom fighters who throughout history resisted the Czars and the czarist successors, and kept the Russian Bear at bay.
Joseph, I will show some quotes from Skysaw
“Hungarians have a never ending victim complex. Coupled with an arrogance which surpasses that of any other nationality, it is a poisonous cocktail.”
“Hungarians have not got anything to commemorate as a success.”
“Learn some history!”
At least I backed my statement with references from actual sources.
And civility from me? Read the aforementioned quotes from Skysaw. Where is the civility in his statements?
And, no, Aethelstan, has no bearing on the report whatsoever. I merely stated, that Hungary was founded before England was and someone objected, without proof I may add. Cartography can also back up historical fact ei. Saxon Britain 600-900 does not show “England” anywhere on the map.
Nin, I will thank, brought further proof about the matter.
Yes, I have very good knowledge of Hungarian history. I have visited Hungary several times, taught there for a year, participated in cultural activities both there and in Canada. Now ask Skysaw his connection to Hungary and why he chooses to insult all Hungarians with ignorant accusations.
You seem to not grasp the geo-poltical position Hungary is in. If Hungary had its pre-wwI borders there would be more choices and ways to block Russia’s aggression.
Orban or not, aside from helping the refugees, nothing much more can be done.
Finally, if your grandfather was in the Hungarian military branch of cavalry, he belonged to the huszar not hussar.
@Edward – you ask my connection to Hungary? Both of my parents were born in Hungary (my mother in Pest my father in the countryside): I was born in Buda (District 2) and live in Pest (District 5). Does that help you to understand my connection? It is a bit more than someone living in Canada….
Since Edward seems to be into reading and into the subject of huszar or hussar, he might find this interesting:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gay_Hussar
Holy cow! :-O
Are most respondents here Canadians with some Hungarian heritage? “Freedom fighters” (or their children). Wow! 🙂
Maybe it’s time everyone got together and sat down to a talkfest to iron out all our different points of view (just like Pm Orbán did with Putin) 🙂 ? N’est pas?
P.s. Just last week I was in Toronto and London (ONT), and for all I know, I could have been in the very same place as you all. Wow! 😀
Sorry Skysaw, but Britianna is referring to the island and not just England (yes I understand that England is a country within a country). So yeah, England wasn’t a thing. Also, if we are going to talk about the inhabitants of Britianna, the original inhabitants would be the Welsh who are the descendants of the Celts and the Romans. It was the Anglo-Saxons who came over and conquered the area known as England. For Wales, the problem is that it didn’t really become a country as it was divided between kingdoms, which left itself open to English invasion by Edward the 1st.
Skysaw doubt it. Grandparents on both sides from Hungary.
Not Canadian, never been to London but would like to hear how you enjoyed it.
Nin, I avoid big cities like the plague. Do enjoy your travels, though.
@Edward,
Thank you.
It’s not (all) pleasure, it’s work-related (c. 90 pc of the time). At any rate, being a young female I enjoy the hustle and bustle of the big smoke – but NOT the likes of Beijing! 😀
My last city (Guelph ONT) was not so big (pop. approx. 144K), and my next one (Bergerac, Dordogne FR) is even smaller.
May you (and @Skysaw) enjoy commenting. 🙂
When tyranny comes it will be wrapped in the Hungarian flag and carrying a bible. Sound familiar? Remember Trump’s bible moment? Do you think he is a Christian? I remember when Victor ran as an athiest. Yes, I am that old. By siding with Putin, Victor is pissing on everyone who died in 1956.