Sunday, 21 October 2012

I'm Still Laughing

I watched a T.V. commercail for the America Republican candidate for President yesterday.
I'd seen it before.
It triggered a memory that makes me laugh all over again. 
In 1956, at the height of the  Cold War, Hungarians staged a short- lived  but successful revolution against their socialist government.
For a few days, the  borders were open and thousands of people flooded out of the country. 
They  probably  hoped  to  be able to make their way to the U.S.
Europe was a grim and austere place twelve years after the war .
Nowhere more so than the U.K. Debt after six years of war waged  mostly on our own with the Commonwealth countries.
The American economy benefited substantially. 
The Germans had the Marshall Plan to assist in their recovery. No doubt. the Germans would have managed  fine on their own. It just made things faster. 
America was the  Promised Land. 
Many Hungarian refugees from  the revolution against socialism  were directed  to Scotland.  Where there were jobs in  institutionand hostel accommodations. 
They didn't stay long. 
A few weeks of  Scottish weather, porridge, vegetable soup and humour only  Scots can appreciate, sent Hungarians flooding home as fast as they left, Back to  balalaikas, zithers, passionate love songs , savoury entrees and delightful desserts.
The weather is a lot nicer  in the Balkans as well. Hungary is farther from the North Pole.  
This Republican  commercial reminded me of something else I've noticed; emigrants from socialist countries speak English competently and have  professional skills to fill  jobs not enough Canadians are qualified to fill.
Particularly women .
It has to be about educational opportunity. 
What do we have to learn from socialism?       

2 comments:

  1. Mr Harper has declared 3 by-elections to fill empty seats. I don't knew about Bev Oda's riding but the other 2 could possible go NDP. The elections are in November which seems lovely and swift compared tot that blasted thing in the States which has dragged on far too long. They are always campaigning there. And nothing else gets done.

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  2. I still think of Scotland from MacBeth. That playwright taught us all about a world we would never know.

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