Pete Foley
More Reflections on Budapest
Dichotomy of reflections. Budapest was the most beautiful, but also the most poignant of all of the cities we visited on this recent trip. It's beauty stood in stark contrast to the suffering it has faced in recent (and not so recent) history. In particular the horror of what the Nazis inflicted on its Jewish population, and the massacre of the innocents by the Russian Army in 1956 remains visceral there. Facing that dark side of history is uncomfortable. But just because we find something uncomfortable doesn't mean we should hide from it. Quite the opposite. Our judgement is inevitably deeply flawed without context and comparisons. Personally, Budapest helped reinforce how lucky I am to have been born when and where I was. I may dislike some aspects of our world today, but they pale in comparison to what past generations have suffered.
More Reflections on Budapest
Dichotomy of reflections. Budapest was the most beautiful, but also the most poignant of all of the cities we visited on this recent trip. It's beauty stood in stark contrast to the suffering it has faced in recent (and not so recent) history. In particular the horror of what the Nazis inflicted on its Jewish population, and the massacre of the innocents by the Russian Army in 1956 remains visceral there. Facing that dark side of history is uncomfortable. But just because we find something uncomfortable doesn't mean we should hide from it. Quite the opposite. Our judgement is inevitably deeply flawed without context and comparisons. Personally, Budapest helped reinforce how lucky I am to have been born when and where I was. I may dislike some aspects of our world today, but they pale in comparison to what past generations have suffered.