CasparHauser,

first of all, I don't intend to 'improve' my posts, talking of the subject, as then they might lack some important pieces of info, so it would be degraded in content somehow...  As I have other fish to fry as well, next to write here, many times when here my posts seem to be some kind of flow of sentences, so there probably are some typing etc. mistakes there. It's shame on me, but the content there is clear, important to share. There is no need to hide things about content. But of course, keeping posts shorter has some benefits as well. Not always...

You make a point, when you bring up the splitting of issues. Here in this 'Hungary Protests' thread I deal with issues related to Hungary, Hungarians in the first place, so they are fine here, and quite relevant. It's strange that you didn't include Slovakia on 'your' list...When I mention the frightening, undemocratic situation in Slovakia, I come up with sad examples, facts, harms have been done for Hungarians there. I come from Hungary, so I can't ignore that. It's evident.It's related, we Hungarians protest against that disturbing situation.

About protest in Burma?  Yes, you are right, actually there should be a different thread about that. Did I use some irony by that I posted my related poem in this thread? Maybe... 

There should be related issues in threads, of course.    You come up with your fear about Poland, and I answer that if you think/feel that way, just open a thread about that. So act that way, and speak there. As for me, you won't see me to be the first to complain about the situation in Poland. I have friends in Poland, and I generally read the news. I won't complain. If you want to complain, do so in another thread in the Tow Lounge section, and people will hear and see what concerns you, what worries you. There is free speech, you know. Incidentally, your profile gives only limited info about you, so i don't even know who stands behind CasparHauser. I mean, my Christian name is Zoltan,( Zoli for short), but i can1t see you writing any name there. I have my artist name, but I don't think yours is the name you are using... I don't want to complain, just realized this interesting fact. If I spoke the way about issues you do, I guess I should use some more reference...  Also, you want topics in the news? Your profile given your country, which is Belgium, as i see. Before you talk about other countries the way you do, look around 'at home' first. As i hear in the news, Belgium hasn't had a goventment for over 3 months, and there is the news that Belgium would split into 2 parts. I have heard different people's opinions about that there, but it would be nice to hera yours on that. As the headquarters of EU are in Brussels, this topic is quite interesting, concerns many of us. I don't want to open a topic myself on that, i guess you probably have some more competence... , coming from Belgium.

wishing everyone a nice weekend. Hoping everyone will have!

best , Zoli      

About Belgium, this following sentence is taken from one of my previous replies to you: "you don't know the situation in the country I live in (or if you do, you wouldn't call it "perfect democracy")". So, as you see, I was far from considering Belgium is always a model of perfect running democracy.

I'm a little puzzled by you blaming me for "(talking) about other countries the way (I) do", since you're the one here speaking about politics. For your information, I find this so called rule according which one is only allowed to talk about his/her home country and not criticize others' government completely grotesque. But anyway, I don't think you can find anything in my previous posts (except maybe on Poland's Goverment) offensive to any other country. 

As for Poland, which is heading a political direction which is less and less in accordance with the principles of democracy as well as of the EU Treaty, I do see major concerns. Those two extremist brothers are putting one of the biggest EU country in a situation were they should be excluded from the EU. This is no acceptable solution though, as it remains wiser to have them inside the treaty rather than outside, just for the sake of the Polish people and not for those rubbish politicians.

I don't see the point in giving my real name here (though you can find my real first name at some places on this website) and I don't care about knowing yours.

Once again, I will not open any topic on political matters here, because I don't see why music forums have to be spoiled by that when there are already so many dedicated threads and forums on the web.

I just stated that I take anything you write here from a critic and free minded standpoint. So that other readers can have the benefit of a second opinion. 

Now, back to Suzanne's music. 

All of Zoli's posts about Hungary have been posted in the 'Tow Lounge, which by design is the place where off-topic posts are allowed. It's trivially easy for someone who's not interested in this stuff to simply not read them -- either skip over the Hungary entries, unsubscribe to the 'Tow Lounge messages or delete the Hungary ones when they show up in your inbox.

Not everyone here is going to write about things that everyone else cares about. Nobody's forcing anyone else to read them. So let's just let people be, OK?
 

bobking:

All of Zoli's posts about Hungary have been posted in the 'Tow Lounge, which by design is the place where off-topic posts are allowed. It's trivially easy for someone who's not interested in this stuff to simply not read them -- either skip over the Hungary entries, unsubscribe to the 'Tow Lounge messages or delete the Hungary ones when they show up in your inbox.

Not everyone here is going to write about things that everyone else cares about. Nobody's forcing anyone else to read them. So let's just let people be, OK?
 

Let me reassure you: the world keeps turning around, even when I state my opinion (which is only what I'm doing here. As I wrote above: I'm no moderator here, nor administrator).

My opinion is that it would be a shame that Suzanne's forum is used for propaganda and stating unverifiable statements on political issues. That's where all the discussion above came from and ended up with more substance. We exchanged opinions on the basis of our respective rights of expression. 

If you're not interested in such discussion, as you very rightly pointed out yourself, you're not forced to read it.

Just let it be...

Some days ago Hungary had the honour to host a respected, great politician, Bill Clinton, who made a great speech here. Among many issues Clinton called for the importance of securing minority rights as well. Interestingly, now Slovakian head of state, Ivan Gasparovic criticized Clinton, using the words 'being ignorant' for him. Gasparovic probably doesn't like the fact that there are people in the world, like Bill Clinton, who keep their eyes open, and prefer if certain basic norms are universally kept!

best wishes, Zoli 

I agree Bill Clinton is certainly one of the greatest US Presidents of the second half of XX Century (actually, apart from Kennedy, there hasn't been a major politician at the top of the world...).

However, I must admit that, after reading his autobiography, I'm still puzzled and disappointed by a man who speaks most of the time as a humanist but justifies death penalty with religious arguments...

It's not surprising, even for someone remarkable as Clinton.I've read his autobiagraphy as well, but the most interesting part in that autobiblebiography (it's a huge book..) was his suave irony towards a Scalia-pal, an interesting figure that is now on my wall for dart practice.I'd say politicians have several brain functions working independently and in clash with one another. I still even don't understand the connection between religious conservatism (or let's say, christian activism in politics in the "West") and neo-liberalism...  how can both be conciliated when the essence is so incompatible?(i mean, not in a party...i'm saying in the head...) but let's never discuss this, my brain is too small for it, and so is theirs.Welcome to the logic of chaos - the only thing in order is disorder itself.

and thanks Zoli for some good information u post here. I'd never be able to dig it up myself.and i assume my current ignorance towards Central Europe's political spectrum

---

- Are you serious?
- Yes, i am. I'm your guardian angel.
- Amazing!I've never believed in that.Am i dead?
- No. You're just hallucinating.

Paulo, thanks for the support!

This afternoon I was at Fidesz commemoration of the 1956 revolution anniversary at Astoria, Budapest. It was all peaceful. There were quarter million people there commemorating peacefully. Unlike last year,  there was no police terror started there this year, and no extreme, radical groups disturbed the event! everythijng was peaceful!

Yesterday, however, there were about 1500 radical people ,  no peaceful people, who went to Andrassy road, towards Opera house, where among others infamous liar PM Gyurcsany made a commemoration speech. The police even in the morning, absolutely closed the area and neighbouring streets. The 1500 protesters clashed with the police, molotov coctails were thrown, and cars were set to fire. There are radical ,disillusioned people, but as I see these, these relatively small number radical groups want to get more attention, and just like last year, the fights ,paradoxically,are in the interest of the government, whose popularity is really down, due to its corruption cases, and bad ways of economy treatment. A recent scandal is the finance minister Veres Janos, turned out to have committed tax fraud several years ago , but cvannot be punished, as the 'deadline is over'. PM Gyurcsany (socialist,MSZP) thinks everything is ok. How would you feel when the financial issues of a country is managed by a person who made tax fraud with his company in the mid 1990s? Not little, 55 million HUF, and in the 1990s, when its worth was even more. he first said he didn't do anything (lied), but then the tax office report unfolded his company was made to pay it back to the state (he , after his 'lie' was caught said t5hey had paid it back, but then it was clear 'socialist' (translates: pseudo socialist) finance minister Veres did it only willy-nilly, as they were made to do so...) It's like a lawyer who spent much time in prison, in a way. Other parallel ideas?    However, the violent protests are not in the interest of the opposition, at least the biggest party, Fidesz. Latest polls show centre right wing Fidesz could win if an election was held now, with comfortable  majority, even if the 2 smaller parties next to 'big' MSZP, that is SZDSZ of the government, and MDF, from the opposition, could get into the parliament or not. So we are looking forward to the referendum, which is not election, but a 'signal' from people for the government, especially Gyurcsany.

Anyway, my good Polish friend Wojtek voted for Polish election winner civic platform, centre-right wing liberal PO, which will be able to form a government with centre Peasant's party. Interestingly, last year, PO in press articles and interviews supported Fidesz in Hungary:)

 best wishes to all, Zoli  

Now the situation in Hungary is really interesting. Tomorrow, on Wewdnesday there is a country-wide general strike, first started by the railway company workers, and unions joined, and now mushrooming social organizations are joining. Between 6 and 12am, trains won't go, and at many places buses won't go either. Teachers won't teach at schools. Yesterday Budapest transport company bus drivers went on a 2 hour warning strike. Unified froint against the pseudo left wing MSZP ('socialist') and SZDSZ ('liberal') government. Interestingly, the former MSZP health minister(till 2006) headed  hospital in Veszprem is going on strike, just like many hospital workers too in the whole country. There is some unified front against the madmen of the ruling elite class of MSZP and SZDSZ government.

 Tomorrow is declared the Day of Solidarity. Fidesz, the biggest opposition party, (which has just taken Budapest at latest opinion polls from MSZP), didn't want to be the organizer of the strikes and events of the day, but is completely supporting the Day of Solidarity and the strikes, giving moral and political support.

 Tomorrow is a very special day,as a big nationwide strike wave has never been in the country against a government, since 1990.

 At the weekend anyway, some radicals demontrated at Batthyany forever candle, and the police arrested several people, strangely, two journalist too, who were doing their normal work there- one from index.hu, the other from hvg.hu. They were handcuffed, put into prisoner's car , taken to police station, and kept in captivity for 4 hours-absolutely regime like attitude. Today 100 journalists demonstrated againt their undemocratic, and treatment by the police. Signs of lack of freedom of speech. 

 Anyway, at the weekend, the governmnet parties held an emergency meeting, we can hear that their coalition may collapse soon. SZDSZ is at 1 percent at latest polls, while MSZP is 14 percent , taking the whole population. They have never been so down. there are disagreements about heathcare issues between the two parties, but the most surpriseing thing is that there are resistent socialist(MSZP) MPs, who opöenly criticise Gyurcsany and the governmnet's false deeds in the past years, especially now.

As for SZDSZ in turn, after another prominent member, Bauer Tamas left the party last month, there si news of a possible, normal new liberal party lauch, formed by former SZDSZ members against the current one, which would be void of the currently prevailing extreme tendencies. I also heard, they would be open to a coalition with Fidesz. I wonder if Fidesz wants any coalition now though with any possible new party lauched, when they could have absolute majority at the next election. By the way, the referendum, (which infamous liar PM Gyurcsany and the government is so much afraid of,)  was started by Fidesz, and is called by Fidesz 'Social Referendum' against the 'socialist-liberal' government anti-social deeds, incompetent steps, and bad economy treatment. Polls show the referendum will be very successful, against the government-due in spring!    

as the saying goes, 'the pie is getting hot'. 

best wishes to all,

Zoli

 

Today I saw and read about a really disgusting video piece, which turned out to have been put on the internet last year, -interestingly, exactly on the first anniversary of the beating of Malina Hedvig! the unfortunate Hungarian girl in Slovakia who was beaten by two Slovaks,extreme nationalists there, -why she 'dared to speak in Hungarian', in her mother tongue there. The 'anniversary' video shows armed men wearing 'polizia'(police) T-shirts and uniforms in an open air shooting range, wildely shooting at a wooden figure whose name is 'Hedvig', (there is the inscription on that, and they are shouting the name too) using very bad words in Slovakian for her, like '  how do you like this? You ***!' ('ez hogy tetszik neked? Te mocsok!') Quite evident!... And really sad -again!

The shooting range turned out to be an official Police shooting range in Slovakia!    Another example of extreme slovakian nationalism against Hungarians- with official Slovakian assistance...

Zoli