Hungarian Revolution must not be forgotten
Its slogan — Freedom for All — must remain alive, writes Jeromy Farkas
Today marks the 62nd anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Sixty-two years ago, a peaceful student demonstration in Budapest turned to a bloodbath in a single, explosive moment. The Communist secret police fired on the ranks of the students, slaying many on the spot.
As Tom Kennedy wrote marking the 25th anniversary, their only crime was asking for what all people should have: a decent life, without fear. In other words, the kind of existence that many Canadians today take for granted.
The student demonstration in pursuit of liberty and democratic reforms ignited a nationwide revolt against the harsh policies and control embodied in the Communist government of the time.
It is no exaggeration to say that this uprising captured the attention and imagination of the world. For good reason, it is widely known as the first major threat to Soviet control in Central Europe.
Despite the shining promise and rallying cry for a “Free Hungary,” that ideal was not to be realized for at least another generation. The Soviets responded quickly and cruelly. On Nov. 4, the Soviet Red Army, acting in breach of promises and international law, attacked Hungary. The rest, so they say, is history.
But let us never forget what happened in the days following. Let us never forget the students and soldiers, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, who attempted the impossible.
Even in the face of death, they resisted the countless tanks and guns of the most supreme military force in Europe. Still more lost their lives facing the gallows, firing squads and secret police in the days, months and years to come.
Although the revolution failed, its consequences have been felt ever since, particularly in what is now considered the democratic transition in Central Europe, and in the lives of diaspora communities around the world.
Throughout and following the uprising, more than 200,000 refugees left the country and 37,000 of them were admitted to Canada. My father was among the 3,000 who settled in Alberta.
Today, Hungarian immigrants and their descendants have contributed to every corner and part of Canadian life. To my grandparents, and to my father who was just a child when he arrived in Canada, our country was more than just a land of opportunity — it was a beacon of opportunity.
It was a place where if you worked hard and tried your very best, you had a chance to make something out of your life.
The Hungarian story of 1956 is one that cannot, and must not, be forgotten. But it also should not remain solely the story of Hungarians. For us who mark the significance of today, it is an essential part of what it means to be Calgarian, and Canadian.
The ideal of Freedom for All — the slogan of the revolution — must remain alive. As we remember the events of the past, let us reflect on what comes next: building home, speaking out against injustice and honouring the sacrifices of those who came before.
We work to build what all people should have, but proves rare throughout the world: a decent life, without fear. In other words, the great Canadian life that we must never take for granted.