In article >,
 says...
>
>I have heard that Hungary has a higher incidence of manic-depression/
>bipolar disorder than other countries. Perhaps this is related?

It is Soyka's thesis that the Foehn Wind is responsible for this, but
the question still remains as to why Hungarians in particular should
have the highest rate. Perhaps the Foehn Wind is strongest there? Perhaps
there are lots of reasons combined, including genetic and historical ones,
that make it so? BTW, I've always had an ionizer on in my bedroom and
indoor plants elsewhere around the flat since reading Soyka's book.

>>Before I forget, I'd like to mention a theory explaining that the
>>Hungarian suicidal tendency is due to physical factors, an imbalance
>>in the ionization (electrical fields) of the air; in other words, the
>>weather has an adverse effect on people. The MIT Review (Dec 1972)
>>published a paper connecting a *suicide belt* in Central Europe
>>(encompassing Hungary) with a meteorological phenomenon known as the
>>Foehn Wind. This phenomenon is not unique to Central Europe and plenty
>>of other cases world-wide, along with detailed discussion of the nature
>>of the Foehn Wind, are discussed in the book: *The Ion Effect* by Fred
>>Soyka.

--
George Szaszvari, DCPS Chess Club, 42 Alleyn Park, London SE21 7AA, UK
Planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy * ICPUG..C=64 * ARM Club..Acorn * NWLCC

In article >, # says...
>About 20 years ago, when I was studying migraine headaches, there were
>many studies regarding these winds (Santa Ana in California, Chinook
>in Canada, Shirav in Israel, Foehn in Central Europe) that were
>charged with positive ions. They were supposed to be cause of many
>ills (including migraines).

Yes, Soyka gives examples of negative ion therapy for migraine.

>There is this story I have heard many, many years ago, about a song
>that was played on radios in the 50s in Budapest. The title was (my
>memory is not what it used to be) something like "Sad Sunday." The
>story goes on to tell of dozens of Hungarians who committed suicide
>the day when the song was played. I wonder if it's a true story or is
>it one of those 'city myths."

This story has been around for as long as I can remember. There is an
extremely melancholic love song by the Greek singer Haris Alexiouy (f)
which used to have a devastating effect on me (untypical for Greek music
I've heard which usually has the unique charm of being both happy and sad
at the same time! But that Haris Alexiouy one...it's a killer :-))
Obviously *agapi* is in the title, but I can't remember the rest; I'd
like to obtain it on tape or CD if I can (it was in the Greek charts
around 1982...any Greeks out there who might know the title and can tell
me where I can get it???)

>As a behaviorist, I tend to reduce most behaviors to coping styles. As
>such, suicide would be a lack of ability to cope. The lack of
>resources, then, psychoanalytically, could be due to flawed ego
>strength. We don't disagree here, either.
>
>But a whole nation?

At the moment I tend to believe it has something to do with the make-up
of Hungarians...the Foehn effect exacerbating the problem out of control?

>I think that here, in the States, Seattle has the highest suicide rate
>among major cities (don't quote me on this). The pissy rain that has a
>penchant of being one's constant companion there, would, then, have
>something to do with the suicides.
>Other than being constantly cold (and hungry), I don't remember much
>else about the weather in Hungary. OK, in my case, Transylvania. It
>would be interesting to get some stats on whether more Hungarians kill
>themselves in Transylvania then, say, Romanians.

Soyka also dicusses various parts of the USA...

>The psychiatrist who wrote to great extend about survival in
>concentration camps was Victor E. Frankl. His book "Man's Search for
>Meaning" (original title: "From Death-Camp to Existentialism") is THE
>textbook on logotherapy. His wonderful thesis on how one could find
>life worth preserving, even under those incredible circumstances,
>ought to be required in all Hungarian schools. In the introduction,
>Gordon Allport, probably Harvard's best-known psychologists, wrote:
>
>"....for a writer who faces fully the ubiquity of suffering and the
>forces of evil, he [Victor Frankl] takes a surprisingly hopeful view
>of man's capacity to transcend his predicament and discover and
>adequate guiding truth."
>Thanks, George, for reminding me to re-read this stuff. It's
>wonderful.

Yes, I dug up what I have by Frankl and have been looking through it
again...it's even better than I remember...

>P.S. I do have a negative-ion generating air cleaner in my home
>office. :-)

Me too! :-)

--
--
George Szaszvari, DCPS Chess Club, 42 Alleyn Park, London SE21 7AA, UK
Planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy * ICPUG..C=64 * ARM Club..Acorn * NWLCC

At 1:45 AM 10/23/96, Sandor Fizli wrote:
>I am looking for material on the 1956 Hungarian revolution.  Do know of
>any sites where I can read information on the revoilution.  I enjoyed
>reading you message "40 years aog today", where can I find more
>information like this?
>Thank you
>Sandor Fizli
>--
>If you have time, check out my web site at
>http://home.istar.ca/~sandor/index.htm

Try Gyorgy Litvan ed. THE HUNGARIAN REVOLUTION OF 1956.  London and New
York: Longman. It also contains a selected bibliography.

sincerely,

Dr.P.I.Hidas

In the early morning hours the party and government delegation arrives from
Yugoslavia. An enlarged Politburo meets to discuss the political situation.

The morning paper SZABAD NEP welcomes the demands of the university
students. The Writers' Union agrees with the changes in Poland but
disapproves the planned demonstration in Budapest.

There are non-stop meetings at all the universities. Imre Nagy meets his
followers at the apartment of Geza Losonczy. The participants suggests that
the political crisis can be resolved if Imre Nagy is made prime minister
and Janos Kadar is appointed first secretary of the communist party. Imre
Nagy wants the party to act first and disapproves the planned
demonstrations. The group disperses without resolution.

Delegation after delegation arrives at the Mininstry of Interior and the
headquarters of the party. They demand permit for the demonstration and the
fulfilment of their political demands.

At one o'clock in the afternoon the Hungarian radio announces that the
Minister of Interior forbade all street-demonstrations. Ninety minutes
later  the decision is reversed.

At three o'clock the demonstrations begin at the Petofi statue. In the
presence of about 10,000 students Petofi's poem ON YOUR FEET, HUNGARIANS!
THE TIME IS NOW OR NEVER! recited and a students read out the 16-point
manifesto of the engineering students. The students who are now joined by
more and more people march along one of the the main thoroughfares of
Budapest, the small circle, towards the Margaret Bridge. The road is
decorated with red-white-green flags. The students sing patriotic songs and
shout anti-Stalinist slogans. The engineering students march on the right
bank of the Danube. The two groups meet at Bem Square. At the statue of the
Polish general speeches are made but in the absence of loudspeakers the
crowd is not aware of the celebration near the statue. The first flag with
a whole in the centre appears. Motorcyclist policemen lead the crowd back
to Pest to Kossuth Square, a large area in front of the parliament
building. There are about 200,000 people at the square.

Red Army units leave for Budapest from Szekesfehervar and Cegled. Tanks are
rolling towards the capital.

Trucks appear at the Kossuth Square. They move people to the Radio station
building. Another demonstration takes place in front of the Stalin statue.
They begin the knocking down of the statue, the crowd in front of the radio
building demands the publication of the 16-point manifesto and the
appointment of Imre Nagy as premier. Imre Nagy appears at the balcony of
the parliament but disappoints the crowd because he addresses them as
comrades and asks them to go home.

Erno Gero, the leader of the party, addresses the nation on Radio Budapest.
Radios appear in windows; the demonstrators take offence when they are
called chauvinists and nationalists.  The newspaper SZABAD NEP and the
radio are under siege. Shooting starts about nine o'oclock. The army unit
which is sent to brake the siege hands over their weapons to the crowd.
Other Hungarian units either join the defenders or the attackers. Mostly
the latters. There are casulties; cars and streetcars are on fire on
Museum-Circle. Crowds attack telephone centres, arms deposts and police
stations in search of weapons

The Politburo of the party is in session. Imre Nagy is invited to join
them. The Russian are invited to put down the uprising. The document was
later signed by the prime minister, Andras Hegedus. A military committee is
formed to coordinate the counterrevolution.

Midnight.

Dear Listers:

Has anyone read or re-read recently James A. Michener's
"The Bridge at Andau," a splendid little book on the
Hungarian Revolution of 1956 originally published in
March, 1957. I find the book to be remarkably accurate.
More or less everything in it coincides with the way
I myself remember things.

I remember October 23, 1956 very well indeed. I was
15 years old, in the second year of "gimnazium." I
attended the Eotvos gimnazium at the time. What is
interesting about the day in question is that my
memory only goes back to the moment when it became
apparent that something extraordinary was about to
happen. The whole school was called to the courtyard.
The president of the school made a speech. We were
told about the demonstrations which we were encouraged
to join. We did join it, in fact, just a block away
from Eotvos gimnazium. I walked with the crowd over
to the Buda side of Margit Bridge, to Bem's statue.
Then back to the parliament. I was in the crowd until
Imre Nagy spoke. Only after that did I get home
from school . . . All this, and so much more of the
following days, live vividly in my memory . . .

Today is just a regular working day . . . I wish I
were near some city where there are lots of Hungarians.
Oh well . . . Sometimes I miss Hungarians a lot . . .

Sincerely,
Steven C. Scheer

23 October 1956
Part One


MOSCOW

 "Note on the October 23 meeting

     On the situation in Budapest and in the whole of Hungary.

     (Comrades Zhukov, Bulganin and Khrushchev)

     Report by - Zhukov

     Hundred-thousand-strong demonstration in Budapest.

     The Radio building on fire.

     The headquarters of the county party committee building and the
     county chief department of the Ministry of the Interior occupied
     in Debrecen.

     According to Com. Khrushchev troops should move into Budapest.

     Com. Bulganin agrees with Khrushchev's proposal - troops should
     move in.

     Com. Mikoyan: Without Nagy, the movement cannot be controlled. In
     that way it will be cheaper for us, too.

     He has doubts about the use of troops. What can we lose? Let the
     Hungarians themselves do the job of restoring order. If our troops
     intervene, we will only make things worse for ourselves. Let us
     make an attempt at political action first, and have the troops
     move in only afterwards.

     Com. Molotov: By relying on Nagy, we will only undermine Hungary.
     Supports intervention.

     Com. Kaganovich: The government is being overthrown. This cannot
     be compared to Poland. Supports intervention.

     Com. Pervukhin: We must intervene.

     Com. Zhukov: This is different from Poland. We must move in.

     A member of the Presidium of the CC should go there.

     A state of emergency should be declared in the country. A curfew
     must be imposed.

     Com. Suslov: The situation is different from what happened in
     Poland. There must be intervention.

     Com. Saburov: Intervention must be carried out in order to
     maintain order.

     Com. Kirichenko: Supports intervention.

     Coms Malinin and Serov should be sent to Budapest.

     Com. Khrushchev: Let us involve Nagy in political action. But for
     the time being, let us not make him Prime Minister. Let us have
     Comrades Mikoyan and Suslov fly to Budapest."

 "Com. Khrushchev: We are responsible for many things.

     The facts [must be] faced. The question is whether there will be a
     government that is with us or one that is not with us, and will
     ask for the withdrawal of troops.

     What is going to happen then?

     Nagy said that if we take action, he will resign.

     Then the coalition will disintegrate.

     There is no firm leadership there either in the party or in the
     government.

     The (uprising) may spread to the provinces.

     The military may go over to the rebels.

     Let us not insist too much on Heged=FCs.

     Two variants.

     The government acts, we help.

     That may end the whole thing fast.

     Or Nagy turns against us.

     He will demand a ceasefire and the withdrawal of troops, next
     there will be capitulation.

     What are the possible variants?

     1) The formation of a committee which takes over (that is the
     worst variant) when we [=8A]

     2) To keep this government.

     Send officials of the government to the provinces.

     A platform is needed.

     Perhaps [to issue] an appeal to the population, the workers,
     peasants and the intelligentsia - because [without this] we are
     only shooting.

     3) Ought not the Chinese, the Bulgarians, Poles, Czechs and
     Yugoslavs send an appeal to the Hungarians?

     4) Let us firmly put down the rebels. Let us persuade the
     fraternal parties to turn with an appeal to the Hungarians. The
     documents should be drafted by Comrades Brezhnev, Pospielov,
     Shepilov and Furtseva. Should we support the present government
     when it issues declarations like this?

     Yes, we should. There is no other way out."

[...]

     Com. Shepilov: Developments have shown that our relations with the
     people's democracies are in a crisis.

     There is now a widespread mood of anti-Sovietism.

     The deeper causes must be disclosed.

     The fundamentals must remain unchanged.

     There must be no ordering about of others.

     Let us not allow that the present situation be taken advantage of.

     A whole set of measures must be worked out concerning our
     relations.

     The Statement - the first step.

     It is not necessary to make an appeal to the Hungarians.

     On the armed forces: we profess the principle of non-intervention.

     We are ready to pull out with the agreement of the Hungarian
     government.

     An ongoing struggle must be fought against national communism.

     Com. Zhukov: Agrees with what was said by Com. Shepilov.

     Most important: to resolve [the situation] in Hungary.

     There is a widespread anti-Soviet mood.

     The troops should be withdrawn from Budapest; if necessary, from
     all of Hungary.

     This is a military and political lesson for us.

     The problem of the troops in the GDR and Poland is much more
     serious.

     It has to be discussed in the [Political] Discussion Panel. The
     Discussion Panel must be convened. If we go on being stubborn, who
     knows what might happen?

     A brief resolution must be passed; already today a statement must
     be made concerning the most important matters.

     Com. Furtseva: A general statement should be accepted rather than
     an appeal to the Hungarians. It must not be long. The second:

     important from the point of view of the internal situation. The
     relations maintained with the people's democracies should be
     investigated from other aspects as well.

     On meetings with the leaders of the people's democracies (on the
     issue of relations).

     A meeting of the CC must be convened (i.e. to inform the members
     of the CC).

     Com. Saburov: Agrees on the issues of the Statement and the troop
     withdrawal.

     We did a good job at the 20th Congress but afterwards we failed to
     take the lead in mass initiatives. We did not change over to the
     genuine Leninist principles of leadership.

     We may find ourselves overtaken by events.

     I agree with Com. Furtseva. Ministers, CC members are asking
     questions.

     As for Romania: they owe us 5 billion roubles for property which
     was created by the people.

     Relations should be reviewed.

     Relations must be based on equality.

     Com. Khruschev: [You spoke] unanimously.

     The first step: to issue the Statement."

J=E1nos M. Rainer's


> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Hungarian Quarterly, Volume XXXVII No. 142 Summer 1996 -

Just in case someone did not see this. Any Comments?
<>><<>
Dow Jones Business News --  October 21, 1996
Hungary Won't See E.U. Membership Before 2002

BUDAPEST -- The European Union's ambassador to Hungary said  it's
an 'illusion' to expect the central European countries  to join the E.U.
before the year 2002, the daily Magyar  Hirlap reported Saturday.
The ambassador, Hans Beck, said Hungary's membership
negotiations will likely begin in early 1998, could take as  long as
two years to complete and will then be followed by  the ratification
process, the paper said. Earlier this year, the Hungarian press had
two years to complete and will then be followed by  the ratification
process, the paper said. Earlier this year, the Hungarian press had
quoted Beck as  saying that the central European countries of Poland,
Hungary and the Czech Republic could obtain full membership  by
2002 at the latest, the paper said.

A note of thanks to all the courageous hearts that took up against all that
was wrong so many years ago, and ultimately gave their lives. As well as to
those who survived ...tho' I was but a baby when we left the homeland,my
admiration for the actions of my father and the many like him who stood
up,has always been unmatched.Also the bravery of my mother as she made her
way out with me (in her arms) has never failed to mist my eyes...on this day
it is a proud thing to be Magyar.
  May we and the world never forget them...
************************************
 "Did Voltaire REALLY say that..?"

   FERENC (Frank) ISTVAN VASKI
   e-mail to 
     Kelowna B.C.  Canada
************************************

At 07:57 AM 10/23/96 -0700, Ferenc Vaski wrote:
>A note of thanks to all the courageous hearts that took up against all that
>was wrong so many years ago, and ultimately gave their lives. As well as to
>those who survived ...tho' I was but a baby when we left the homeland,my
>admiration for the actions of my father and the many like him who stood
>up,has always been unmatched.Also the bravery of my mother as she made her
>way out with me (in her arms) has never failed to mist my eyes...on this day
>it is a proud thing to be Magyar.
>  May we and the world never forget them...
>************************************

        Thank you. This was lovely.

        Eva Balogh

At 11:13 AM 10/23/96 GMT, Steven Scheer wrote:

We did join it, in fact, just a block away
>from Eotvos gimnazium. I walked with the crowd over
>to the Buda side of Margit Bridge, to Bem's statue.
>Then back to the parliament. I was in the crowd until
>Imre Nagy spoke. Only after that did I get home
>from school . . . All this, and so much more of the
>following days, live vividly in my memory . . .
>
>Today is just a regular working day . . . I wish I
>were near some city where there are lots of Hungarians.
>Oh well . . . Sometimes I miss Hungarians a lot . . .

        You and I must have been in the same crowd--crossing the Margit
Bridge, going to the Bem Statue and then going to the Parliament building.
Do you remember the army barracks at Bem Square, where the soldiers were
hanging out the windows and the crowd yelled: Take off the "gimnastiorka"?
And they did. Do you remember the first tricolor from which the communist
emblem was cut out? It appeared before we got to the square. It was on the
left hand side of the street. Unfortunately, I don't quite remember the
itiniary. Lipthay street? People standing on the balcony waiving the flag.
Everybody cheered, of course. Or in front of the parliament when they turned
off the lights hoping that we would disperse and instead issues of Szabad
Nep, the party paper, were lighted--it was quite a sight. On that square
even if you wanted to leave you couldn't: we were like sardines.

        Two years ago I was so pleased when I discovered a picture, found
lately, taken from the ELTE building, just before the demonstration began. I
discovered myself and my best friends, standing together in the crowd. I was
elated and wrote to the weekly (168 ora) which published it. One of the
editors of the paper was also in the crowd. In fact, it was him who
discovered the old photo and he was very kind: he sent me an enlarged photo
of it. It is now framed, next to my desk. What a treasure!

        Eva Balogh

National Song by Peto"fi Sa'ndor

Talpra Magyar, your country calls!
the time for now or never falls!
Are we live as slaves or free?
Choose one! this is your destiny!
Bu the God of all the Magyars,
we swear,
we swear never again the chains
to bear!

Remember.                (Sz.Z)

In article >,  (Andrew
J. Rozsa) writes:

>There is this story I have heard many, many years ago, about a song
>that was played on radios in the 50s in Budapest. The title was (my
>memory is not what it used to be) something like "Sad Sunday." The
>story goes on to tell of dozens of Hungarians who committed suicide
>the day when the song was played. I wonder if it's a true story or is
>it one of those 'city myths."

Bandi, I think it may be an urban legend. The version I've heard is that
Billie Holiday recorded a song in the late 40s called "Blue Monday" which
then figured as an element in suicides across the U.S. and Europe.
Goethe's novel "The Sorrows of Young Werther" supposedly had the same
impact when it was first published.
Sam Stowe

"Up next on NBC Nightly News, they're highly
prized by both parties -- soccer moms. Who are
they? And what do they want?"
-- NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw, Oct.
15, making an ill-considered attempt to practice
relevant journalism.

In article
>, Lynn
Mcintosh > writes:

>Are there any Hungarians in the Seattle area who would like
>to correspond with a native Hungarian?  Especially Hungarians with
>ferrets?  No kidding, I have eight of the loveable little critters.
>
>Thank you,
>
>Janos Laboda

We have a couple of them here, too, Janos. They just aren't posting a
whole lot right now.
Sam Stowe

"Up next on NBC Nightly News, they're highly
prized by both parties -- soccer moms. Who are
they? And what do they want?"
-- NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw, Oct.
15, making an ill-considered attempt to practice
relevant journalism.

First of all, I want to thank everyone who has been providing the
fascinating information regarding the events of 1956.  For someone
who was a two-year-old American not of Hungarian (or even Central
European) descent, this has been wonderfully enlightening and
enjoyable.  I would truly relish the opportunity to sit with all of
you in one room and listen as you discuss your first-person accounts
of the events of that time!

Now, as I do at times, he is a report from OMRI Daily Report that
came today (Wed., 10/23).  What do you know about it, if anything?
is it true?  Can you substantiate the report?  Were you involved?
Could you talk about it if you were involved at the time?  Does it
surprise you?  How else were Western organizations involved?

Thank you.  It is an honor for me to be able to listen to all of you
this way.






WAS BRITISH INTELLIGENCE INVOLVED IN 1956 HUNGARIAN UPRISING? On the
eve of the 40th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian uprising, The
Independent, citing a British book about to be published, reported
that some of those who took part in the uprising were trained by
British military intelligence. A British agent is quoted as saying
that Hungarian rebels were taken to the British-occupied zone of
Austria in 1954 for a "crash course" in explosives and weapons
training and were then returned to Hungary with the "intention to
cause an uprising." -- Sharon Fisher
Frank A. Aycock, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Communication
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608 U.S.A.
Fax: (704) 262-2543
E-Mail: 

The intent is fine Zoltan....but the translation needs a bit of work!
Care to try again (or someone else??)

On Wed, 23 Oct 1996, Zoltan Szekely wrote:

> National Song by Peto"fi Sa'ndor
>
> Talpra Magyar, your country calls!
> the time for now or never falls!
> Are we live as slaves or free?
> Choose one! this is your destiny!
> Bu the God of all the Magyars,
> we swear,
> we swear never again the chains
> to bear!
>
> Remember.                (Sz.Z)
>

At 2:17 PM 10/23/96, Frank A. Aycock, Ph.D. wrote:
>First of all, I want to thank everyone who has been providing the
>fascinating information regarding the events of 1956.  For someone
>who was a two-year-old American not of Hungarian (or even Central
>European) descent, this has been wonderfully enlightening and
>enjoyable.  I would truly relish the opportunity to sit with all of
>you in one room and listen as you discuss your first-person accounts
>of the events of that time!
>
>Now, as I do at times, he is a report from OMRI Daily Report that
>came today (Wed., 10/23).  What do you know about it, if anything?
>is it true?  Can you substantiate the report?  Were you involved?
>Could you talk about it if you were involved at the time?  Does it
>surprise you?  How else were Western organizations involved?
>
>Thank you.  It is an honor for me to be able to listen to all of you
>this way.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>WAS BRITISH INTELLIGENCE INVOLVED IN 1956 HUNGARIAN UPRISING? On the
>eve of the 40th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian uprising, The
>Independent, citing a British book about to be published, reported
>that some of those who took part in the uprising were trained by
>British military intelligence. A British agent is quoted as saying
>that Hungarian rebels were taken to the British-occupied zone of
>Austria in 1954 for a "crash course" in explosives and weapons
>training and were then returned to Hungary with the "intention to
>cause an uprising." -- Sharon Fisher
>Frank A. Aycock, Ph.D.
>Associate Professor of Communication
>Appalachian State University
>Boone, NC 28608 U.S.A.
>Fax: (704) 262-2543
>E-Mail: 


Dear Frank!

Even if the story is true, its historical significance is minimal. We did
not need Western military training. Every university student went through
office training during the school year and boot camp during the summer.
Every 18 year-old Hungarian was drafted and trained by the armed forces.
Most young people received special para-military training (Ready for Work
and War!). We knew how to handle guns, machine guns etc. The serious
fighting was done by soldiers or people who have served their terms in the
armed forces.

Sincerely,

Peter

Peter I. Hidas Ph.D.
historian

23 October 1956

I was a fourth year law student just a month away from my 22nd birthday
when the Revolution broke out.

At the Kossuth Square I got tired of waiting for Imre Nagy so I climbed on
the back of a truck with a group of young people. The driver promised to
take us to the Sandor Brody Street headquarters of Radio Hungary. A
teenager suggested that we first knock down the red star from the top of a
nearby buiding.  I told him to shut up because such action was not part of
our program. We were deposited at the Museum Circle entrance of the street
where the Radio was situated. I walked up the street and positioned myself
near the entrance of the Radio. Near the old fashioned heavy oak door
entrance of the building parked a radio sound-truck. It was rumoured that
there was a student delegation inside negotiating the reading of the
16-point manifesto of the engineering students and demanding a broadcast by
Imre Nagy.

The street was full of people by eight o'clock when a first-floor tenant
across the Radio put out his radio set on his window sill and let us listen
to Gero's speech. The speech was ignored. Suddenly a group a people began
to drag the truck to the door and used it as a battering-ram to bust open
the oak doors of the Radio. The doors gave but now the truck blocked the
entrance.

We climbed over the truck and landed inside the building. I was facing a
wall of state security  (AVH) soldiers who were pointing their
submachine-guns at us. I was scared. I could not move forward, our retreat
was blocked by the truck - I ran sideway into the glass corridor of the
building. We opened the windows to the courtyard behind the soldiers facing
the entrance. We began to speak with an officer in the yard pleading for
the liberation of the first delegation and asked to be lead to the director
of the Radio. The officer allowed a few of us into the courtyard and lead
upstairs to a room.

In the room there was a telephone. I phoned my mother and told her where I
was and that I am not in any danger. Soon our delegation, a group of
students who did not know each other before that day, were lead to the
director's (Mrs. Benke) conference room. We heard shooting from outside.
Somebody knocked over the big table in the centre of the room and we all
ducked behind it. The meeting was cancelled. We could not deliver the
16-points and our demands for an Imre Nagy broadcast. We returned to our
comfortable (prison) room.

Soon a well-known sports-caster entered the room (Szepesi) and asked for a
volunteer who would go to the balcony to reassure the people outside that
we have not been harmed. I volunteered. From the balcony I could not see a
soul. A cloud of teargas was hanging over the street.

Then suddenly we were told to leave the building. A soldier let us out at
the back entrance of the Radio, which faced the National Museum garden. I
saw an ambulance on fire. When I crossed the Museum Circle I walked by the
dead and wounded lying beside two burning street cars. As a passed Kossuth
Street in my effort to walk home I noticed the arrival of Hungarian tanks.
An officer in one of them yelled at the people on the sidewalk who cursed
them that they he was on his way to besiege the Radio.

By now I was dismayed. I did not have fighting in mind when I began
marching for freedom earlier in the afternoon. We wanted to reform the
system. I fled to a friend's apartment at Madach Square. I watched events
unfolding from the window. Before midnight I witnessed small group of
civilians, I presume that they were detectives or AVH men, rounding up
young men, beating them and escorting them to the nearby headquarters of
the police (Franciscan Square).

Midnight.

Peter I. Hidas

23 October 1956

I was a fourth year law student just a month away from my 22nd birthday
when the Revolution broke out.

At the Kossuth Square I got tired of waiting for Imre Nagy so I climbed on
the back of a truck with a group of young people. The driver promised to
take us to the Sandor Brody Street headquarters of Radio Hungary. A
teenager suggested that we first knock down the red star from the top of a
nearby buiding.  I told him to shut up because such action was not part of
our program. We were deposited at the Museum Circle entrance of the street
where the Radio was situated. I walked up the street and positioned myself
near the entrance of the Radio. Near the old fashioned heavy oak door
entrance of the building parked a radio sound-truck. It was rumoured that
there was a student delegation inside negotiating the reading of the
16-point manifesto of the engineering students and demanding a broadcast by
Imre Nagy.

The street was full of people by eight o'clock when a first-floor tenant
across the Radio put out his radio set on his window sill and let us listen
to Gero's speech. The speech was ignored. Suddenly a group a people began
to drag the truck to the door and used it as a battering-ram to bust open
the oak doors of the Radio. The doors gave but now the truck blocked the
entrance.

We climbed over the truck and landed inside the building. I was facing a
wall of state security  (AVH) soldiers who were pointing their
submachine-guns at us. I was scared. I could not move forward, our retreat
was blocked by the truck - I ran sideway into the glass corridor of the
building. We opened the windows to the courtyard behind the soldiers facing
the entrance. We began to speak with an officer in the yard pleading for
the liberation of the first delegation and asked to be lead to the director
of the Radio. The officer allowed a few of us into the courtyard and lead
upstairs to a room.

>In the room there was a telephone. I phoned my mother and told her where I
>was and that I am not in any danger. Soon our delegation, a group of
>students who did not know each other before that day, were lead to the
>director's (Mrs. Benke) conference room. We heard shooting from outside.
>Somebody knocked over the big table in the centre of the room and we all
>ducked behind it. The meeting was cancelled. We could not deliver the
>16-points and our demands for an Imre Nagy broadcast. We returned to our
>comfortable (prison) room.

Soon a well-known sports-caster entered the room (Szepesi) and asked for a
volunteer who would go to the balcony to reassure the people outside that
we have not been harmed. I volunteered. From the balcony I could not see a
soul. A cloud of teargas was hanging over the street.

Then suddenly we were told to leave the building. A soldier let us out at
the back entrance of the Radio, which faced the National Museum garden. I
saw an ambulance on fire. When I crossed the Museum Circle I walked by the
dead and wounded lying beside two burning street cars. As a passed Kossuth
Street in my effort to walk home I noticed the arrival of Hungarian tanks.
An officer in one of them yelled at the people on the sidewalk who cursed
them that they he was on his way to besiege the Radio.

By now I was dismayed. I did not have fighting in mind when I began
marching for freedom earlier in the afternoon. We wanted to reform the
system. I fled to a friend's apartment at Madach Square. I watched events
unfolding from the window. Before midnight I witnessed small group of
civilians, I presume that they were detectives or AVH men, rounding up
young men, beating them and escorting them to the nearby headquarters of
the police (Franciscan Square).

Midnight.

Peter I. Hidas

Everybody who wants to relive 1956--look for a book called "Cry Hungary!"
which is filled with photos.  It's written by Reg Gadney, published (U.S.
edition) by Atheneum, and there's even an intro by the ubiquitous George
Mikes.  I doubt it's still in print, so check your library.  It's worth
it.

Regds,
Burian

No, it is called "Gloomy Sunday." Sinead O'Connor and Billie Holliday both
do beautiful versions of it. I've heard the same myth about Hungarians
committing suicide when it is performed.
>In article >,  (Andrew
>J. Rozsa) writes:
>
>>There is this story I have heard many, many years ago, about a song
>>that was played on radios in the 50s in Budapest. The title was (my
>>memory is not what it used to be) something like "Sad Sunday." The
>>story goes on to tell of dozens of Hungarians who committed suicide
>>the day when the song was played. I wonder if it's a true story or is
>>it one of those 'city myths."
>
>Bandi, I think it may be an urban legend. The version I've heard is that
>Billie Holiday recorded a song in the late 40s called "Blue Monday" which
>then figured as an element in suicides across the U.S. and Europe.
>Goethe's novel "The Sorrows of Young Werther" supposedly had the same
>impact when it was first published.
>Sam Stowe
>
>"Up next on NBC Nightly News, they're highly
>prized by both parties -- soccer moms. Who are
>they? And what do they want?"
>-- NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw, Oct.
>15, making an ill-considered attempt to practice
>relevant journalism.
>
>

I have been following the exchange between Jeliko and Eva Balogh at first
with acute interest, and later with quiet desperation.  What had started out
as an exchange of opinions quickly became a verbal foodfight thanks to Eva
Balogh's demonstrated inability to withstand contradiction where her pet
theories and/or prejudices are questioned.  Her obsession with her pet theory
of backwardness reminds one of someone who, not so long ago, used to bore the
readers of this list by repeating ad nauseam the same refrain (about Eva
Balogh's shortcomings).  It is a pity that Eva Balogh does not feel secure
enough to forego such practices.  She would surely enhance her stature if she
would, just once in a while, admit to being wrong, or at least acknowledge
inconsistencies in her reasoning.

A case in point: while bemoaning the backwardness of eastern
(actually:central) Europe, she comments on the "flowering East European
universities" of Cracow and Prague.  (And neglects to mention the University
of Pecs, founded in the 14. century by Lajos the Great.)  Her pro-Habsburg
bias is impervious to reason, and she wraps herself in the mantle of academic
credentials whenever challenged.  Jeliko deserves recognition for maintaining
a polite tone in the face of Eva's increasingly personal tauntings.  I hope
that, when he returns, he will continue his valuable contribution to this
list.

Ferenc

PS. As an exercise for Eva:  Now that you are so certain of the validity of
your thesis of backwardness, how about telling us the reasons for it.  Feel
free to expound on the possible extent of physical and mental retardation,
moral decay, genetic defects, primitivism, and general all-around inferiority
of the so-called East Europeans (of whom you are one).

In article >,  says...
>
>>At 2:39 PM 10/20/96, Zoltan Szekely wrote:
>>>As I promised I show a sermon, given by the Rev. Joe Wright, pastor
>>>of a Wichita church in Kansas (Bob Dole's home state!!). It was
>>>given as an opening prayer for the work day of Congress members in
>>>the Kansas state legislation at the state capitol.
>>>
>>>The sermon has a strong social message, which makes the brains of
>>>most liberals blow up.
>>>
>>>Enjoy it!                                                Sz. Zoli
>>>
>>> -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
>>>
>>>Heavenly Father,
>>>
>>>we came before You today to ask your forgiveness and seek your
>>>direction and guidance. We know your word says: 'Woe to those
>>>who call evil good,' but that's exactly what we've done. We have
>>>lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.
>>>
>>>We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of your word
>>>and called it moral pluralism. We have worshipped other gods and
>>>called it multiculturalism. We have endorsed perversion and called
>>>it an alternative lifestyle.
>>>
>>>We have exploited the poor and called it lottery. We have
>>>neglegted the needy and called it self-preservation. We have
>>>rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
>>>
>>>We heve killed our unborn and called it a choice. We have shot
>>>abortionists and called it justifiable.
>>>
>>>We have neglected to discipline our children and called it
>>>building esteem. We have abused power and called it political
>>>savvy. We have coveted our neighbor' possessions and called it
>>>ambition.  We have polluted the air with profanity and
>>>pornography and called it freedom of expression.
>>
>>Now if you make a few substitutions the whole passage would become
familiar
>>to Hungarians.
>>
>>Comrade Stalin,
>>
>>we came before You today to ask your forgiveness and seek your
>>direction and guidance. We know your word says: 'Woe to those
>>who call evil good,' but that's exactly what we've done. We have
>>lost our spiritual equilibrium [Leninism] and inverted our values [to
>>Trotskyism].
>>
>>We confess [self-criticism] that we have ridiculed the absolute truth
of
>>your word
>>and called it moral pluralism [democracy]...
>>
>>Comrade Rakosi
>>
>> I leave the rest to your fertile imagination...
>>
>>God save us from the good pastor's imaginary America.
>>
>>Peter I. Hidas
>>
>
>Congratulations Peter! I think there is no big difference between
religions
>and communism - communism is a religion: same dogmas, same saints (call
them
>Apostols,  or Marx-Engels-Lenin triumvirate). And both mainly about
power
>and mind-control.
>
I fully second your motion.  Agnes.

>BTW, I wonder how tovarish Szekely will react.
>
>L. Monoki
>
>If in the Catholic religion God can do anything, then
>can God create a weight that God cannot lift?

In article >, 
says...
>
>According to the research I have done, it appears possible that the
forbears of
>my HEYDUCK ancestors came from Hungary.  Are there many Heyducks (by
some
>spelling of the name) in Hungary today?  Are there any good books
available in
>English (or even German) on the Heyducks as a people group?
>
>Richard Heyduck
>Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Hooks, TX
>http://gbgm-umc.org/churches/FirstTX001

Look for the name Hajdu (the "j" is pronounced az the y, and the "k"is
plural).  Agnes

In article >,
 says...
>
>First of all, I want to thank everyone who has been providing the
>fascinating information regarding the events of 1956.  For someone
>who was a two-year-old American not of Hungarian (or even Central
>European) descent, this has been wonderfully enlightening and
>enjoyable.  I would truly relish the opportunity to sit with all of
>you in one room and listen as you discuss your first-person accounts
>of the events of that time!
>
>Now, as I do at times, he is a report from OMRI Daily Report that
>came today (Wed., 10/23).  What do you know about it, if anything?
>is it true?  Can you substantiate the report?  Were you involved?
>Could you talk about it if you were involved at the time?  Does it
>surprise you?  How else were Western organizations involved?
>
>Thank you.  It is an honor for me to be able to listen to all of you
>this way.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>WAS BRITISH INTELLIGENCE INVOLVED IN 1956 HUNGARIAN UPRISING? On the
>eve of the 40th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian uprising, The
>Independent, citing a British book about to be published, reported
>that some of those who took part in the uprising were trained by
>British military intelligence. A British agent is quoted as saying
>that Hungarian rebels were taken to the British-occupied zone of
>Austria in 1954 for a "crash course" in explosives and weapons
>training and were then returned to Hungary with the "intention to
>cause an uprising." -- Sharon Fisher
>Frank A. Aycock, Ph.D.
>Associate Professor of Communication
>Appalachian State University
>Boone, NC 28608 U.S.A.
>Fax: (704) 262-2543
>E-Mail: 

This is what the communists spread.  The Hungarian revolution was
absolutely spontaneous.  It started with a peaceful march.  When one
group demonstrated at the radio, the AVO shot into the crowd.  The
regular army as well as the regular police supported the demonstrator -
that how they got their weapons in the beginning.  The intellectual
preparation was done by disillusioned, former communist writers and
journalists.

Agnes

In article >,
 says...
>
>At 11:13 AM 10/23/96 GMT, Steven Scheer wrote:
>
>We did join it, in fact, just a block away
>>from Eotvos gimnazium. I walked with the crowd over
>>to the Buda side of Margit Bridge, to Bem's statue.
>>Then back to the parliament. I was in the crowd until
>>Imre Nagy spoke. Only after that did I get home
>>from school . . . All this, and so much more of the
>>following days, live vividly in my memory . . .
>>
>>Today is just a regular working day . . . I wish I
>>were near some city where there are lots of Hungarians.
>>Oh well . . . Sometimes I miss Hungarians a lot . . .
>
>        You and I must have been in the same crowd--crossing the Margit
>Bridge, going to the Bem Statue and then going to the Parliament
building.
>Do you remember the army barracks at Bem Square, where the soldiers were
>hanging out the windows and the crowd yelled: Take off the
"gimnastiorka"?
>And they did. Do you remember the first tricolor from which the
communist
>emblem was cut out? It appeared before we got to the square. It was on
the
>left hand side of the street. Unfortunately, I don't quite remember the
>itiniary. Lipthay street? People standing on the balcony waiving the
flag.
>Everybody cheered, of course. Or in front of the parliament when they
turned
>off the lights hoping that we would disperse and instead issues of
Szabad
>Nep, the party paper, were lighted--it was quite a sight. On that square
>even if you wanted to leave you couldn't: we were like sardines.
>
>        Two years ago I was so pleased when I discovered a picture,
found
>lately, taken from the ELTE building, just before the demonstration
began. I
>discovered myself and my best friends, standing together in the crowd. I
was
>elated and wrote to the weekly (168 ora) which published it. One of the
>editors of the paper was also in the crowd. In fact, it was him who
>discovered the old photo and he was very kind: he sent me an enlarged
photo
>of it. It is now framed, next to my desk. What a treasure!
>
>        Eva Balogh

Hi guys! I was there too!  I was working regular office hours, after
which I went to my evening courses at the Idegen Nyelvek Foiskolajan
(Institute for foregin languages).  Only, there were no classes.  Looking
out of the window, I saw the students march.  I joined them - they were
from the Muegyetem.  Eva, don't you remember Sinkovits reciting the
Talpra Magyar?  And everybody reciting the chorus: eskuszunk, eskuszunk,
hogy rabok tovabb nem leszunk?  I still get goose pimps (is that the
right word?) when I think of it!  After Nagy Imre spoke, I went home too.
 My mother was not worried that I came home late - she assumed I was out
demonstrating.

I am very sorry that there - to my knowledge - is no reunion or
memorial service in Toronto to remember and talk about it.

Re: Bridge of Andau.  Yes, I have the book.  I read it quite a wule ago,
but I remember that some of the stories I didn't find  quite authentic.

Agnes