Missing Sarmale

Budapest by night

I knew it. Hungary is not only full of evil banks, it's full of evil happenings too. Maybe that is the punishment for having evil banks. Or is it for having the attitude to restrict workers mobility for Romanians after accession? Who do they think they are, the UK? :-)

Since I was out of the office yesterday, I didn't actually get the chance to read the news. One of the people at the external meeting I was in (a Sweed happy that for the 4th time in a hundred years the socialists do not hold power anymore - I told him "hey, you're finally a democracy") asked if I knew what happened in Hungary. I imagined, oh, more dead people at a rock concert. But no, Hungarians decided to hold a mutiny against their evil rulers. Yes, these things still happen. I thought, a bit late, we had that in '89 and then a bit in the '90s, not as a respectable EU Member State. Ok, ok, we're not a respectable EU state yet, but getting there.

Clearly, you can feel my totally politically incorrect thoughts in this. Sometimes being Romanian is not that easy with the neighbours (maybe a reason to be in Brussels? :-) Romanian-Hungarian disputes have been going on for centuries. They led to wars and jokes. Even worse jokes than the Dutch-Belgian ones, trust me.

However, I cannot but be amazed at the hot blood of Hungarians. I mean, ok, it is really bad to lie to your people as a Prime Minister; showting it out loud doesn't help either. But that is everyday political life, in all countries around the world. There lots of other people who say or do stupid things, even out in the open. But I respect the courage to go out and set the town on fire for political lies. Questionable understanding of democracy? Taking for granted EU membership? A moment of fury? A planned coup? Craziness? Too much palinka?

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A Romanian and a Hungarian in the train:
H: Could you tell me what's written on this sticker?
R: Well, it's written in Romanian "Don't lean over the window, mortal danger".
H: And lower?
R: It's the same thing in English.
H: And lower?...
R: The same thing again in French.
H: Why is there nothing written in Hungarian?
R: Because you are allowed to lean over!

:-)

posted by Dana @ 1:54 pm