I'm going to do something risky. I'm going to repeat the word on the street. These statements do not represent the entire Hungarian population, or even all of the Hungarian people we know. They are simply sentiments that have been shared with us that I feel could add some depth to the news coverage you may be getting about Hungary and the conflict in Ukraine.
1."They are all the same."
Some Hungarians see Russians and Ukrainians as the same people group. The idea of ethno-nationalism, that people of the same ethnic heritage belong together under one government, is one of the ways Vladimir Putin has tried to justify the Russian army's presence in Ukraine. For some Hungarians the fighting between Russia and Ukraine seems like a particularly nasty family feud. Pitiable, but we certainly aren't going to get involved.
Interestingly, ethno-nationalism pops up in Hungarian rhetoric as well. Back in 1920 at the Treaty of Trianon the borders of Hungary were redrawn and Hungary lost 2/3rds of it's land, stranding roughly 1/3rd of ethnic Hungarians (Magyar) outside of the political boundaries of Hungary. Ever since, the Treaty of Trianon is considered a national tragedy and attempts have been made to extend rights and representation to ethnic Hungarians living in Romania, Croatia, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
Here is an example of common "Greater Hungary" Pre-Trianon bumper sticker:
2. "We just got rid of them, and now they are streaming back in."
You might think that they mean the flood of middle-eastern refugees that entered Hungary in 2015, but no, they mean the Russians, or more specifically, the Soviets. (Remember Ukrainian = Russian in some minds.) The last of the Soviet troops left Hungary in 1991, but in a country as old as Hungary, 21 years is just the blink of an eye. In fact, some Hungarians are still actively prejudiced against all Muslims because the Muslim Ottoman empire invaded and occupied parts of Hungary about 500 years ago.
3. "They are just so rude and dirty."
You could insert any group of immigrants entering any country in large numbers and they are often described this way by the locals. There is some truth to it in that refugees are often desperate, traumatized, and/or don't have access to their usual hygiene routines. In other ways it is just basic Us vs. Them prejudice.
Now, let me emphasize that most Hungarians are generous, kind, and courteous. Their expressed prejudices are based on a shared narrative of cultural oppression, even it if is sometimes inaccurate. But it has not stopped Hungarians from opening their homeland to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees. Actually, when the Hungarian government set up a website to help match those willing to host with refugees, the site crashed within minutes because so many Hungarians signed up to host people in their homes. In our own community, some of the people who have expressed the above sentiments have been extremely energetic and compassionate in their response to refugees.
Isn't that how Christians are called to live? To choose to serve those people that your prejudices invite you to ignore? To put your hands to the Gospel? The Good News is that God incarnate came to save ALL people! The people groups we approve of, and those that we are uncomfortable with, are all included in his plan for redemption. As we subordinate our prejudices to the preeminence of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit can change our hearts in ways that the news never can.
Ephesians 2:13-22
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
We would love to hear from you! What have you heard or read about Hungary in the news lately?
Praise God for his faithfulness! In the midst of a hurricane of needs, God has steadied us and enabled us to minister with clear purpose and (mostly) calm assurance. Dave has had to make difficult decisions and lead with boldness in this unprecedented double-crisis of ongoing pandemic and war. God has given the grace needed to move his team forward.
Please pray the Ukrainian families will continue to adjust to life in Hungary. Ukrainian families who joined ICSB last month are still adjusting to cultural differences and a new school system. Pray the children will continue to acclimate, process trauma healthily, and grow academically.
Pray for healthy bodies and minds. Please pray for supernatural protection from all illnesses and spiritual, mental, and emotional endurance for our family and all the teachers as we seek to serve diligently.
Pray for the A-Team. Annora and Annalise's oldest friends have moved away. Pray that God will comfort their hearts and help them to grieve in a healthy way.
Pray for staffing needs in the 22-23 school year. Dave's offered teaching positions to five new staff members living on three different continents; pray their funding will come in time for them to join us in August. Since we last wrote, two more teachers told Dave they will not be returning for at least part of next year. Pray God will call godly teachers to come to ICSB to fill the following roles: 3-8 technology, K-8 art, and K-8 music teachers! See the full list here.
