The coolest thing about all this incessant babbling this blog has done about the Stephen Colbert Bridge is that I’ve seemed to have collected a rather sizable group of Hungarian readers. Which is incredibly fun. Today I received a very interesting comment from one of these Hungarian readers:
szutyok said:
August 24th, 2006 at 2:33 amWell folks, believe it or not Stephen is sturring up a large debate over here in Hungary. I just love it! A couple of days ago, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Transportation who organized the voting said, that he thought Colbert was pretty funny. Today our main opposition party, Fidesz gave out a statement, that it is unprecedented and shocking, that a high official thinks calling Zrinyi an asshole is funny, and they want him to resign.
In the meantime, Népszabadság, Hungary’s largest selling serious newspaper put out an article in support of naming the bridge after Stephen!!! Here’s the link: (Colbert bridge? – The perfect choice!)
I’m not gonna translate the whole thing, unless someone is really interested, but here’s is the last paragraph: “Returning to our bridge in Budapest, I think Stephen Colbert would be worthy to name a bridge after him. Of course we can ponder over our history and find a heroic godfather like Zrinyi or Saint Steven, but a modern bridge should have a modern name. Colbert reminds the entire western world how we got into this unending war against terrorism, and how we threw away our common sense in the face of danger. We, Hungarians have our share in both of these. I voted for the Colbert Bridge. Take a look at the videoclips and join me!”
I’m going to do my best to find out more information about this resignation issue, but if someone has an English link to a story that covers it (or is willing to translate a Hungarian story), please post in the comments. I’d *LOVE* to hear more about this one!
As you might have guessed, I'm Hungarian, my nickname means Grasshopper.
I'd like to give you guys some background on the resignation, but it will involve some contemporary history and politics.
There are two main, popular political forces with names and self-identification so contradictive to their actions that's not even funny:
The "socialist" party practises pro-big-business, screw-the-litlle-men policies, consists of ex-communists and rich businessmen. They form the current government.
The "conservative" party, called "Alliance of Young Democrats" started out liberal, but turned to the current nationalist image when that seemed more popular. Their policies are practically non-existent, when they govern, they make inconsistent steps to increase popularity, maintain the obviously fake nationalist image, and arrange blatant favors to their relatives. They ally and merge wiht whoever they think can bring votes.
With such complete lack of substance in the messages these parties have for the people, the only way they can distungish themselves is by making their fans genuinely hate everything and everyon related to the "other side". There is an ideological "trench" between the two halves of the population.
There is a sense of "permanent civil war" (you guys do know that "permanent revolution" was the ideology behind communist tirany, right?).
About ten years ago, the same time "Alliance of Young Democrats" assimilated the "Christian Democratic Party" of senile old men (They had over 80 year old MPs!) they allied with the Peasant Party, whose leader called Torgyan Jozsef was extremely popular among pesants, also an insufferable asshole. He talked extremely long and often, with circular breathing, and ended all of his speaches with an imperative for whoever he adressed his little show to to resign. He had a speech impediment, he said "Monnyon le!".
Such a person and such repetitive performances are necessary to maintain the heated emotions that prevent people from thinking.
Since Mr Torgyan has left the building (his party was assimilated), many politicians have tried to take his somewhat clownish, but extremely popular role.
So, there you have it, somebody telling government officials to resign over the silliest little things.
There. I hope it made some sense, and highlighted the hilarity of the situation. I'll go and translate the index.hu article unless someone else did so in the meantime.
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Bloody hell I mispelled so many things in that rant :-)
Please remember Hungary is in the Central European time zone, and it's almost midnight here.
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Couldn't find any English language article, but here's a translation:
Fidesz uncovered an "unprecedented and shocking case"
August 24, 2006 10:16
As Hírszerző has already reported an American comedian, Stephen Colbert has got the votes of millions of Americans :) to name the new beltway bridge after him. In a videoclip that's circulating on the net the comedian says "What an asshole!" to Miklós Zrinyi.
András Cser-Palkovics, the deputy spokesperson of Fidesz* in a press release states that "on his show the above mentioned person used obsene, abusive language against one of the most honorable hero of Hungarian history."
"Miklós Merényi, the communications manager of the Ministry of Economy and Transport made the following comment on the case on RTL Klub Nightly News**: 'He talked about Zrinyi. You can't get better publicity than this. Honestly we've never counted on anything like this. I liked it. I laughed a lot.' – writes Cser-Palkovics.
The deputy spokesperson adds: "After this unprecedented and shocking case we want to ask János Kóka, the Secretary of Economy and Transport whether this is the official opinion of the Ministry, and if not, what kind of actions is he planning to take against Miklós Merényi, who severely overstepped his authority."
* Fidesz is the main opposition party here. (Right wing, naturally.)
** RTL Klub is the major tv network here in Hungary.
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