tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post8785605664606197379..comments2023-11-22T09:11:01.567+00:00Comments on George Szirtes: In Berlin for DW Agenda programmeGeorge Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889600788146987089noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-74117927555151614222013-07-08T11:56:20.066+01:002013-07-08T11:56:20.066+01:00Thank you, Gwilym and Jeni. Berlin has a kind of m...Thank you, Gwilym and Jeni. Berlin has a kind of magic, a leftover of 20s glamour, 30s political struggle, then the war, the wall, and the development of a genuine, productive artistic milieu.<br /><br />Ernesto, I believe you are right and that is exactly where we are, that while Orbán and co continue to berate the repressiveness of the old system, including Kádárism, they are in fact precisely mirroring it. I hope to be something of a gadfly for them. The honour of the academy for me is not in its status as such as in knowing that so many people I admire voted for me. Whether the academy enjoys national prestige in a state such as Hungary is aspiring to be is beside the point. Nor do I imagine the state und,erstands that.<br /><br />I myself can't see how Tubor F, a man I rather liked, can keep repeating the party line, which is precisely the same party line on every occasion and yet another excuse for fomenting xenophobia.<br /><br />Enjoy Balaton!George Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889600788146987089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-71542846403931406222013-07-08T10:57:10.167+01:002013-07-08T10:57:10.167+01:00Hello George
Émigré Hungarians are again becoming...Hello George<br /><br />Émigré Hungarians are again becoming the custodians of the soul of Hungary. Again the local "party line" makes it difficult for Hungarians resident in Hungary to resist. Think about it, as under guylyás communism, it is easier and safer to just go along with things and keep quiet. Local Hungarians, such as journalists, artists, lawyers, businessmen, etc. are being careful about what they say and to whom, because of the possible consequence. <br /><br />As with Kádar's liberal communism, this liberal fascism will probably not kill or imprison people, but living again "a béka segge alatt" (under the frog's arse - more about Tibor Fisher below) will at the very least lead to a repeat the institutionalised mediocrity.<br /><br />As to your Academy membership (congrats!), enjoy it as long as you can. The tradition of dismissing/invalidating émigré Hungarians who do not follow the party line has been revived with a vengeance. There are few countries which openly revile a Nobel prize winner (Imre Kertész) <br />and I am not comfortable that, in this respect, Hungary is in the company of such countries as China and Iran.<br /> <br />Anybody who is worried about the soul of Hungary, is labelled un-patriotic (hey, Senator McCarthy has crawled out of his grave! I have a Hammer horror movie in my mind's eye and think Béla Lugosi would be ideal for the part ... but I digress). An émigré is made into an outsider or worse (Pál Lendvai). I despise Tibor Fisher for cuddling up to the regime and accuse him openly of opportunism to improve on his status (he is but a one-hit-wonder desperately trying for more).<br /><br />There you go, I am off to Budapest and the Balaton soon, I am determined not to let things grind me down. Moreover, I shall positively use my status as an "outsider" (even though I am a Hungarian citizen) to say and do things local residents nowadays might think twice about ...<br /><br />Tarka a Magyar! (lit.: the Hungarian is variegated!)<br /><br />Ernesto Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-47654712751174978362013-07-06T12:17:03.493+01:002013-07-06T12:17:03.493+01:00Long time since I was in Berlin - 1966 to be exact...Long time since I was in Berlin - 1966 to be exact. The Wall, the checkpoints - then on to Poland by a train. One of carriages's wheels was cracked. Out of that carriage and standing room only for self and colleagues.<br /><br />Compartment door opens. 'English?' <br /><br />'World Cup? It is Final!'<br /><br />We packed into compartment with many Poles, all offering apricot brandy. We had to drink the health of every England player. Then for each goal scored.<br /><br />I think England won -eventually! But I don't really remember.<br /><br />Memories of Berlin - and after!havantaclunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-83103120700830886172013-07-05T08:49:42.334+01:002013-07-05T08:49:42.334+01:00Watched and enjoyed the first two sections. I thin...Watched and enjoyed the first two sections. I think I would have placed you in one of the end seats and the drone expert in the middle. <br /><br />Many thanks for sharing. <br /><br />I was reminded of my own trip to Berlin some years ago. My telephone wouldn't work in the East where I stumbled into a brightly lit bar. It was like being inside a slot machine. There were photos of Lennon and Stalin on the same wall. Football was on the fuzzy TV and a faded plastic carnation on each table. Hertha playing. I believe they won. Gwil Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03305768121713053837noreply@blogger.com