H.R. No. 75
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution, an
epochal event in the history of the Cold War, is being commemorated
in 2006; and
WHEREAS, On October 23, 1956, hundreds of thousands of
Hungarians from all walks of life joined university students in a
peaceful call for democracy and an end to the brutal and oppressive
Soviet-dominated Hungarian communist government; and
WHEREAS, The Hungarian Security Police fired on the
protestors, killing hundreds and triggering a bloody fight for
freedom and democracy and the first tear in the Iron Curtain; in the
wake of that first bloodshed, millions of Hungarians--students,
workers, men, women, and children--rose up against impossible odds
and risked their lives to take part in the noble fight; and
WHEREAS, The Hungarian Freedom Fighters were able to
establish a revolutionary government under Prime Minister Imre
Nagy, who released political prisoners, including major church
leaders, took steps to establish a multiparty democracy, called for
the withdrawal of all Soviet troops from Hungary, announced
Hungary's withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact, and requested the
assistance of the United Nations in establishing Hungarian
neutrality; and
WHEREAS, In retaliation, the Soviet Union launched a massive
military counteroffensive on November 4, 1956, sending tens of
thousands of additional Soviet troops and unleashing air strikes,
artillery bombardments, and coordinated actions involving infantry
and some 6,000 tanks; notwithstanding the tremendous military
superiority enjoyed by the Soviets, the outnumbered and
underequipped Hungarian Army and Hungarian Freedom Fighters
succeeded in resisting for several days; and
WHEREAS, Prime Minister Nagy was seized by Soviet security
forces, despite assurances of safe passage, when he left the
Yugoslav Embassy in Budapest, where he had sought asylum; he was
taken to Romania, where he was subsequently tried and executed;
thousands of other Hungarians were also tortured, tried, and
executed by the post-1956 Hungarian government; and
WHEREAS, More than 200,000 Hungarians fled their country in
the aftermath of the uprising, and over 47,000 of them were
eventually able to settle in the United States, where they have
contributed greatly to the cultural diversity and economic strength
of their adopted home; and
WHEREAS, The American Hungarian Federation, founded in 1906,
played a key role in the resettlement of Hungarian refugees and in
illuminating the abuses of the post-1956 Hungarian government; the
members of the federation, many of whom are 1956 Freedom Fighters,
continue to work for the advancement of freedom and democracy; and
WHEREAS, The uprising of the Hungarian people in 1956
dramatically confirmed the widespread contempt in which the
Hungarians held the Soviet Union, while also demonstrating the
strength of popular support in Hungary for democratic principles
and the desire of Hungarian citizens to determine their own
destiny; and
WHEREAS, At the same time, the revolt pointed up the
underlying weakness of the communist system imposed by Soviet
authorities in Central and Eastern Europe; by unmasking the true
nature of that system, the Hungarian Revolution contributed to the
disintegration of communist parties in the West and across the
globe; and
WHEREAS, On October 23, 1989, the Republic of Hungary
proclaimed its independence, and in 1990 the Hungarian Parliament
officially designated October 23 as a Hungarian national holiday,
signaling that the legacy of the 1956 revolution continues to
inspire Hungarians to this day; and
WHEREAS, The Hungarian government, reflecting the will of the
Hungarian people, formally became a member of NATO on March 12,
1999, and on May 1, 2004, Hungary became a full member of the
European Union; and
WHEREAS, The Hungarian Revolution, though crushed within two
weeks, had long-term consequences, setting the stage for the
ultimate collapse of communism throughout Central and Eastern
Europe in 1989 and, two years later, in the Soviet Union itself;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby honor the people of Hungary
as they mark the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That this body recognize the Hungarian Freedom
Fighters for their bravery in the face of insurmountable odds, and
that it express appreciation to those refugees who brought their
talents, skills, and love of freedom to the United States and helped
to build a stronger America; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That this body express condolences, both to the
people of Hungary for the death of Prime Minister Imre Nagy and to
all Hungarians who lost loved ones, either to hostile action during
the revolution itself or to execution by Soviet and Hungarian
communist authorities during the five years that followed; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That this body congratulate the American Hungarian
Federation on its 100th anniversary; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That this body recognize the friendship that exists
between the governments of Hungary and the United States and
between the Hungarian and American people.
Woolley
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 75 was adopted by the House on April
27, 2006, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House