I'm only a student of life, and not one of history (while the latter should be part of the former), so this is an overwhelming cornucopia of information that's practically all new to me. Names, and events alike. I grew up on the soundbite that the Hungarian revolution was a courageous, people-driven attempt to topple the Russian dominance and failed when Russians tanks violently crushed it. You just've filled in the colours to a black and white sketch.
I have one question after reading this: You've already described the role of the West in your previous "Fighting" diary and your thoughts on the backstabbing theories. In this diary, you show how the 1956 event still reveberates through the current political parties. Is the perceived western/USA backstabbing still an influence in the outlook of political parties to cooperating with the USA, or even with nations in Europe?
...though, as main right-wing party Fidesz has assimilated part of the far-right, it is not alien to lower-ranked in that party, either. Regarding the far-right in Fidesz, there just has been a scandal of the photo of a Budapest district's deputy party secretary in SS uniform:
(The guy was excluded from Fidesz the very next day, though.)
Now this is the parties. However, among common people, the backstabbing theory is much more widespread.
There is however another way 1956 international relationships come up. There is a view that 1956 failed because of seeking non-alignment, that is, a small country is better off as the vassal of one or another superpower, even if superpowers are treasonous assholes. There are adherents of this 'theory' both Left and Right, and currently, they argue for a US alignment.
Final anecdote, moving back to common people: a (conservative) uncle who died a few years ago used to argue from the middle of the nineties that Hungary again picks the wrong superpower; he claimed the USA is dead and we should look toward China. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Sorry, this photo was from 23 October. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
