Revolutionary

Big, big day on Monday here in Hungary. Oktober 23 (that's October, if you don't speaky the Hungarian) will mark 50 years since the Hungarian uprising began. To paraphrase what I have read about it, students gathered to demand reforms in Hungary and were joined by thousands of workers. One group pulled down a statue of Stalin, and another group assembled at a radio station to try to broadcast their demands. The secret police, or the AVH, started shooting at the radio station group from the roof, and then the police and some soldiers started fighting against the secret police. A reformist was reinstated as Prime Minister, but five days later he had to flee as Soviet troops reentered Hungary and started arresting many, including the Army General and the new Prime Minister (who first fled to Yugoslavia but was later handed over to the Soviets).

Civilians did their best to defend the city, including students who slicked the streets with oil in Buda, then dragged grenades on a string underneath the Soviet tanks when they stalled in the oil. But all in all, 200,000 people had to flee from Hungary.

Wednesday night I walked near Parliament, and I'll be John Brown if they don't already have tents pitched out there on the lawn. The tents range from tiny, kid-sized tents (for what, I'm not sure) to a gigantic party tent that houses a small candlelight memorial and is decorated on the outside as a memorial to a 25-year-old woman who died in 1957 (which I assume was related somehow to the revolution).

There's a colorful crowd hanging around the place, including many people that I suspect have no idea where they are or what is going on. I'm sure it won't be long until something else gets burned down and the water cannons, tear gas, and riot gear are brought out once again. In fact, probably this will occur Friday night and all weekend long.