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On a crisp October morning in Brussels, history, memory, and the enduring fight for freedom were celebrated at the Freedom Breakfast, a commemorative event that honored the legacy of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Hosted by MCC Brussels, the event featured powerful speeches from prominent figures, each reflecting on the continued relevance of the revolution and the challenges facing Europe today.
Agnieszka Kollek welcomed attendees with a poignant reminder that freedom, often taken for granted, is never guaranteed. Standing before an evocative photo of a young girl in resistance, she warned the audience that freedom requires sacrifice and vigilance.The girl with a gun featured in famous photographs of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution is Erika Kornélia Szeles, a young Hungarian freedom fighter. Szeles became an iconic figure due to a striking photograph of her holding a rifle, symbolizing the courage and defiance of the revolutionaries during the uprising against Soviet control.
Ambassador Dr. Tamás Kovács followed with a speech underscoring the profound significance of tradition and the bonds of solidarity forged in times of struggle. He highlighted Belgium’s generosity in 1956, when it welcomed 6,000 Hungarian refugees, a gesture that Hungary has not forgotten. Each year, Hungarians and their friends in Brussels gather for commemorative ceremonies, keeping the spirit of 1956 alive.
The Ambassador’s speech connected the historical struggles of 1956 with contemporary issues in Europe. He emphasized that freedom is not only a national concern but a shared European value—one that transcends borders. The uprisings in Budapest, Berlin, Poznań, Prague, and beyond remind us that people across Central and Eastern Europe have fought against oppression with immense courage. But, he noted, freedom in today’s EU is under pressure from ideological movements, including what he called “woke” ideologies, which threaten to gloss over the true meaning of freedom.
Closing the morning’s speeches, Professor Füredi delivered a deeply personal and philosophical reflection on the meaning of 1956. He emphasized that the Hungarian Revolution was a moment when an entire nation, united in purpose, stood together in the fight for freedom. The lessons from this event are timeless, and they must be remembered and cultivated in collective memory to guard against the ease of forgetting.
Füredi recounted his own experience as a child of emigrants after 1956, returning to Hungary in 1979, only to find that people were afraid to speak about the revolution. The memory of 1956 was suppressed, and those who dared to speak of it risked reprisal. His personal story underscored the importance of remembering not just the victory of the revolution but also the cost of its suppression under Soviet rule.
Reflecting on contemporary Europe, Füredi warned that freedom is once again being challenged—not by foreign powers, but by ideological forces that dilute the true meaning of liberty. As he put it, "We invoke the memory of a people who, against all odds, stood for justice and demanded their right to shape their destiny."
The Freedom Breakfast was more than a commemoration—it was a rallying cry for the continued defense of liberty. As the speeches resounded through the room, the message was clear: the fight for freedom is far from over, and it is the responsibility of each generation to carry the torch forward. The spirit of 1956 remains alive in the hearts of those who value self-determination, tradition, and the right to live freely in Europe.
