A Hungarian Musician Writes About His Country

[amateur51]

I would say that if she had ever been serious about going back, she would have already gone back. Don't know why people feel the need for excuses, conscience I suppose.

I have no knowledge of her motivations whatsoever, anymore than anyone else does from the statement attributed to her.

Best to stay schtum then.

[Beef Oven!]

Best to stay schtum then.

"anymore than anyone else does from the statement attributed to her"


Thanks, that was indeed my point.

[amateur51]

Our colleagues are asking for help? What can we, as a bunch of middle-class prats, loitering on a radio station discussion forum, do?

I mean, I know we can make all the right noises, but what do you suppose we should do? Lead the way and tell us, discounting the chest-beating and 'look at me, I'm a caring trendy socialist' stuff. Where do the fundraising donations go? Lead the way and tell us how much you've put up front. Or is it about manpower? When do we go over there and get stuck in?

I can see you must find it tough addressing issues of internationalism from a UKipper perspective and so it helps to distract with attacks on others.

It must also be tough trying to work out how to respond to atrocities in another EU country when you say that we shouldn't attack Russia for its racist and homophobic policies.

The Franz Liszt Music Academy which has countless world-class musicians amongst its alumni and staff has been the subject of a $40m refurbishment which must be a positive thing. London has a substantial Hungarian population so we can hope (and encourage) artistic exchanges while prompting our government to use its EU influence (as long as UKIP does not get its way) to put pressure on the Hungarian government over its racist and homophobic policies.

http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2013/10/22/hungarys-franz-liszt-music-academy-reopens/

There is some evidence that Hungary is open to change as a result of external pressure from EU countries.

http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2013/08/29/hungary-to-amend-constitution-to-quell-eu-criticism/

Where does UKIP stand on such issues, I wonder?

[Beef Oven!]

I can see you must find it tough addressing issues of internationalism from a UKipper perspective and so it helps to distract with attacks on others.

It must also be tough trying to work out how to respond to atrocities in another EU country when you say that we shouldn't attack Russia for its racist and homophobic policies.

The Franz Liszt Music Academy which has countless world-class musicians amongst its alumni and staff has been the subject of a $40m refurbishment which must be a positive thing. London has a substantial Hungarian population so we can hope (and encourage) artistic exchanges while prompting our government to use its EU influence (as long as UKIP does not get its way) to put pressure on the Hungarian government over its racist and homophobic policies.

http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2013/10/22/hungarys-franz-liszt-music-academy-reopens/

There is some evidence that Hungary is open to change as a result of external pressure from EU countries.

http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2013/08/29/hungary-to-amend-constitution-to-quell-eu-criticism/

Where does UKIP stand on such issues, I wonder?

Meanwhile, the question to MrGG was 'what must we do'. It remains to be answered.

[amateur51]

Meanwhile, the question to MrGG was 'what must we do'. It remains to be answered.

This was my suggestion ...

London has a substantial Hungarian population so we can hope (and encourage) artistic exchanges while prompting our government to use its EU influence (as long as UKIP does not get its way) to put pressure on the Hungarian government over its racist and homophobic policies.

... aux e-petitions, citoyennes!

[Beef Oven!]

This was my suggestion ...London has a substantial Hungarian population so we can hope (and encourage) artistic exchanges while prompting our government to use its EU influence (as long as UKIP does not get its way) to put pressure on the Hungarian government over its racist and homophobic policies.




... aux e-petitions, citoyennes!

Oh, for Heaven's sake. Another load of glib claptrap. Just noise. Using other people's misery, to project a certain self-image.

[amateur51]

Oh, for Heaven's sake. Another load of glib claptrap. Just noise. Using other people's misery, to project a certain self-image.

How do you think that things get done then? - you in your Che Guevara t-shirt waving CD-art at them, chanting obscure football slogans?

Still no suggestions from you, just petulance as you try to bolster your cred. More eyes on the prize and less gawping in the mirror please.

[MrGongGong]

Our colleagues are asking for help? What can we, as a bunch of middle-class prats, loitering on a radio station discussion forum, do?

I mean, I know we can make all the right noises, but what do you suppose we should do? Lead the way and tell us, discounting the chest-beating and 'look at me, I'm a caring trendy socialist' stuff. Where do the fundraising donations go? Lead the way and tell us how much you've put up front. Or is it about manpower? When do we go over there and get stuck in?

Don't be a total dick (I know it's hard at times)
WHY do people think that everything has to be tackled in the same way ? I guess that's what those involved in politics , both 'real' and fantasy.
What 'we' can do is to support those involved in music in Hungary by going to their gigs, commissioning them to write pieces and inviting them to our own festivals and events.
Nothing to do with your daft 1980's idea of left/right nonsense.
So next time you go, as well as soaking in the baths and getting tanked up on Unicum why not seek out some of the interesting underground musics that are happening , the things that used to go on at Trafo for example ?

[amateur51]

Challenged by Oxo's contempt, I decided to go lookinmg for notable living British people of Hubngarian descent and the first one I found was ... Stephen Fry (his maternal grandparents were Hungarian Jews).

Is this a good augury?

Or should I stop now?

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

oxo has a certain measure of truth in his otherwise quite barbed aside, protest can seem futile and self indulgent

BUT 1 Mandela and his friends listened for it and felt support and encouragement, i would say the same logic applies to Hungary ....

BUT 2 recall just who Dave and his toff boys and skinheads aligned with in the European Parl;iament .... the Polish and Hungarian right wing parties amongst others ...

[Beef Oven!]

How do you think that things get done then? - you in your Che Guevara t-shirt waving CD-art at them, chanting obscure football slogans?

Still no suggestions from you, just petulance as you try to bolster your cred. More eyes on the prize and less gawping in the mirror please.

Don't ask me, it's you, MrGG, et al that are beating your chests. I'm looking to you guys, looking to be led on this one. I don't actually care enough about the situation to do anything, but listening to you guys, I wondered whether, at the end of the day, despite all your noise, you guys are going to do anything more than me.

I'll make an allowance this time and offer a suggestion. If you think lobbying with petitions is a good idea, why don't you initiate a petition? Don't wait for someone else to do it, you do it. Lest it's all noise.

[Beef Oven!]

Don't be a total dick (I know it's hard at times)
WHY do people think that everything has to be tackled in the same way ? I guess that's what those involved in politics , both 'real' and fantasy.
What 'we' can do is to support those involved in music in Hungary by going to their gigs, commissioning them to write pieces and inviting them to our own festivals and events.
Nothing to do with your daft 1980's idea of left/right nonsense.
So next time you go, as well as soaking in the baths and getting tanked up on Unicum why not seek out some of the interesting underground musics that are happening , the things that used to go on at Trafo for example ?

Just stop mouthing, and do something.

[MrGongGong]

oxo has a certain measure of truth in his otherwise quite barbed aside, protest can seem futile and self indulgent

BUT 1 Mandela and his friends listened for it and felt support and encouragement, i would say the same logic applies to Hungary ....

BUT 2 recall just who Dave and his toff boys and skinheads aligned with in the European Parl;iament .... the Polish and Hungarian right wing parties amongst others ...

Spot on
Those who would seek to use art to 'normalise' the unacceptable (a more extreme example being the Suharto regime in Indonesia .... 'How can we be so bad when we have such beautiful dance and music?' ) need to be challenged and those living and working in difficult places need our support.

[MrGongGong]

Just stop mouthing, and do something.

Funny thing is OXO boy that many of us DO
not by writing to daft politicians who don't give a toss about culture NOR by aligning ourselves with dangerous extremists in the name of fantasy politics
BUT
by engaging with those who make work in Hungary

Merzbow at Trafo was one of the great gigs i've been to
as were the Arditti's playing Xenakis at the same venue
and many others

[Beef Oven!]

Spot on
Those who would seek to use art to 'normalise' the unacceptable (a more extreme example being the Suharto regime in Indonesia .... 'How can we be so bad when we have such beautiful dance and music?' ) need to be challenged and those living and working in difficult places need our support.

Spot on = "Thank F~*k for that, I needed a 'justification' for doing dick-all, other than mouth on a radio station chat forum". Some people are easily pleased.