“Those who expect the advancement of the Hungarian nation from others are unwittingly damaging their own homeland, because we Hungarians are alone; we can only count on ourselves”, János Lázár said at an event held at the Castle Garden Bazaar, where he presented state awards on the occasion of the 15 March national holiday.
In the words of the Minister in Charge of the Prime Minister’s Office, the exemplary bravery of the Hungarian soldiers during the War of Independence is also important because there are few people “or perhaps none”, to whom the Hungarians living in the Carpathian Basin are important; nobody wants to persevere instead of us or to lend a hand so that we can live according to our performance and capabilities.
As an example, Minister Lázár spoke about Hungarian martyr and Prime Minister Lajos Batthyány, who stood up for the nation, which is why we must commemorate him. Batthyány, whom the selfish domination of Hungary’s Austrian overlords first made into a revolutionary and freedom fighter, then into a martyr, became a symbol who long outlived the empire against which he fought, Mr. Lázár declared. His example shows that “it is not stubbornness and obstinacy for a nation to put its foot down and stand up for what it thinks is right”.
Mr. Lázár praised the award-winners, who have achieved change through their work, have left their mark and who provide an example to the youth of today of knowledge, industry, perseverance, sacrifice and experience at a time when the value of performance is inflating at a never before seen rate.
It is common memory that carves a nation out of a simple group of people, the Minister stressed, adding that it is important to protect national heritage and that the award-winners of today receive prizes named after our great forefathers.
According to the Minister, room must be made for debates on memorial policy, for instance with regard to whether the old Kossuth statue in front of Parliament should be renovated, where and what kind of memorial should be erected in memory of Hungarians who were victims of genocide, and in some instances fratricide, during the Holocaust, or whether there is a need for a school named after Endre Ságvári (a member of the illegal communist movement killed in a shootout with police during WW2) in the 21st century.
Every element of national memory is important, he added, even if some of them cause serious social conflicts. Who the country’s leaders put forward as examples is important, as is the social debate that surrounds such decisions because, unless the debate degenerates into an argument between religious fanatics, all sides have a chance to further detail and expand the image that the Hungarians of today have of themselves. All debates should draw to a close eventually, however, he noted.
The fact that the change of regime of 2010 also led to a change in cultural regime is proven by the fact that these debates have become more heated and more exciting since then, he added, declaring that March of 1848 and what ensured represent an era that we can all relate to without social divisions.
The awards presented by János Lázár were bestowed by President of the Republic János Áder on the recommendation of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to mark the anniversary of the Revolution and War of Independence of 1848-49, including the civil divisions of the Knight's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit, the Gold Cross of Merit of Hungary, the Silver Cross of Merit of Hungary and the Bronze Cross of Merit of Hungary.
Mr. Lázár also presented ministerial awards: the Lajos Batthyány Award (for a lifetime of public service), the Miklós Ybl Award (for architecture) and the Zoltán Magyary Award (for public service).
(Prime Minister's Office/MTI)
