Articles about the migration issue posted on our website – budapesttimes-archiv.bzt.hu – and our Facebook page – facebook.com/BudapestTimes – are receiving more comments than any other topic. Here’s a selection of what you had to say about the controversial situation of Hungary.
I applaud the Hungarian leadership for resisting the irrational and counter-productive indignation of western European opinion. I believe Hungary, along with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland are destined to become the last redoubt of western civilization. – tito perdue
Hungary is an example of the past of Europe, a place where we should never ever go back to. A pathetic country, they have nothing to be proud of, only Budapest. – Berni
Shame on you Hungary, your lack of humanity is sickening. – John
Shame not on Hungary, but shame on the USA. How silent they are on this mess that they created. Hungary should be applauded not condemned. – Me
Keep up the good work! There are Europeans who are behind you all the way. – Sussie
This stone-cold comment shows us why we have to be super-vigilante against intolerance and hate, sneaking in everywhere in our common space. The world is full of small, twisted, hateful minds, such as “Sussie” – Caveat Emptor! – Carin
I am British and … I don’t know what is going on with these European leaders but it appears to me that they are seriously lacking in brain cells. Giving aid and helping genuine refugees is something we ought to do, but to open your borders to everyone claiming asylum is just downright stupid. Even if they do sort out the real refugees from the economic migrants, how will they deport them? They are already in the country and they will just ‘disappear’ if they know they will be deported. Your PM is the only one showing common sense and the others are just brainless sheeps behind Merkel. – Anon
It is sad that some people choose to raise “civilizational”, cultural or religious differences and turn a blind eye to human suffering. I wonder what makes these people feel that the fact that we come from one continent necessarily makes us one culture that produced a higher civilization. – arcenciel
Well, Orbán said it very clearly – Hungary doesn`t want Muslim immigrants as they feel it should stay a solely Christian country. Although being an atheist I probably know much more about what the Christian religion tries to teach than this self-declared bigots like Orbán and co: humanity – chris
It is absolutely disgusting what Hungary is doing to refugees. These bastards must have forgotten that North America opened its doors to thousands of Hungarian refugees. – Ralph
I was one of those ungrateful people in 1956… I was only 5 years old and didn’t know I was ungrateful. We registered as refugees, and were very grateful for what followed. We were not economic migrants, the Russian army had just destroyed our home and lives with heavy artillery. We were not heading for a country with a wiz-bang social security system like this current mob are… We were simply glad to be out of the war zone. – peter
I have been watching the headlines from the US and it is really sad that Hungary is getting a bad wrap here. It is not your problem that suddenly all these people show up and I agree that you should be careful with people who have no documentation, especially in a time of terrorists that come out of nowhere. Your country is the size of Indiana, which is pretty darn tiny. To expect you to suddenly be the leader of the world’s problems is ridiculous. – J Vegh
Hungary is doing the right thing in securing its border with Serbia. Every country in the world has a right to secure its borders from invaders. What is being called the migrant crisis in Europe is actually an invasion by people from many different countries and backgrounds. No one actually knows who these people are while they travel freely across Europe. No doubt some of them wish to do harm to European countries. Orbán is 100% correct in wanting to keep Europe safe and strong. Angela Merkel has made a terrible mistake in throwing the doors of Germany wide open. – Rick
Shame on Hungary and on people who support the position against those in so desperate situation! It’s unbelievable to see such lack of compassion for hopeless people. It seems that feelings like puritanism of race is already praised by some Hungarians. – Vagner
Hungary is not a terrible place at all. I am a Romanian (not of Hungarian origin) and I testify to this fact. I own my career to my training in Hungary and I will be forever grateful for it. Hungary is just a very small country dealing with a huge crisis. They do what they can. Stop drinking the sugary kool aid and try to evaluate the situation logically. – KJ
Bravo Hungary! We in Norway support the way you deal with endless stream of people that try to force their way to Europe and Scandinavia. If the UN did more in Turkey and Lebanon for those who come from Syria maybe we would not be in this mess. So thank you Hungary. Stay firm, and don’t give in. – Arnfinn Kristensen
I’m an American of Greek descent. I wanted the Hungarian people to know that it is NOT wrong to enforce the law and keep the migrants out. What the imbecile Merkel did, by announcing to the whole of the Middle East that Germany is welcoming migrants was insane. She must be suffering from dementia. If Germany wanted all those migrants, she should have chartered planes and flown them over, instead of imposing on her neighbors by the unending hordes that were sure to follow. – bob karp
Disgraceful lines of argument from a historically uninformed leader. No surprise though, Hungary – both the state and the church – collaborated with the Nazis during World War II, something they (along with Austria) never came to terms with as they pleaded guilty of being victims themselves! – Robie Ashton
For goodness sake, how did a place as physically beautiful as Hungary, with one of the best capital cities in all of Europe allow its stupid government to turn Hungary into the shame of Europe? – Debbie
These people are economic tourists. They want Germany because of their welfare system. Hungary has enough problems with its own entitlements. – bill
Very well said. Media likes to show crying children and mothers, but they represent a very very small % of those demanding asylum. Same happens here in USA. – CT
Hungary and its government have the hero status here in Czechia. You may check e.g. the center-right top news website idnes.cz and translate it by Google Translate. Hungary is the only one that works hard to enforce the rules and help everyone else in Europe, and soon.
On the other hand, outside post-socialist Europe, the PC attitudes are shockingly uniformly negative. Even the readers on my English-language blog, The Reference Frame, whom I considered largely “conservative” are fanatically stating that Hungary is a pariah and similar nonsense.
I agree
We had 50000 storm our country largely from the Middle East illegally by boat and it was ‘ unstoppable’ thanks to our weak leftist government here in Australia.
It cost us $11 billion plus and is still ongoing. As a result of this and our muslim Lebanese migration in the 1970’s were have shooting almost weekly, large gang running our drug trade and violence towards police. And they master the ‘victim’ status.
Hungary keep strong….I thought a Germany had brains…obviously not!
Hungary is the only country in EU -who shown a common sense response to the immigrant invasion. This is the beginning of the muslim invasion of Europe in the 21st Centruy. Each country has the right to preserve its identity , its culture, its way of life and above all its borders. Hungry is calling a “Spade” a “Spade” and dealing with this correctly. The rest of Europe is stupidly and blindly following Angela Merkel who will destroy the European Culture and Society. Shame on Merkel!!
It seems to me that Austria and Germany are indebted to Hungary. If Orban hadn’t closed the border, refugees would have continued to be flood their countries, and they are out of room too. He slowed down the flow to their borders & also discouraged more people from making the trip. He bought them time to re-group.
He may have been the most vocal & visible, but it seems to me the majority of the EU leaders silently are in agreement with what he did….or they would have agreed to the quotas. Seems to me their lack of criticism has been tacit support. He’s been the lightening rod in this whole mess, but people that disagree with him are really in the minority.
I read the proposed laws Germany has written up that makes a huge change to how they are going to handle the refugees. I don’t know if it will get the votes to pass, but if it does, Orban will be in good company. People will be furious with Germany too.
American media reports were very short on details…thus so were all Americans. The media would say Hungary shut their borders with the fence. They left out the details about the standard checkpoints being open. They also hadn’t been reporting on the months prior. So they didn’t know how he’d been fighting this mess for months, that he had warned about the fence if he didn’t get help, and that the rest of the EU wasn’t paying attention…that Hungary was carrying the load alone.
Also, Americans weren’t following this until very recently, don’t understand how the EU works, and so don’t be too surprised about their reactions. They also didn’t see the pictures from Calais or know that the majority of refugees are men. Those are not the pics they were shown. I only know b/c I follow European papers. If I had just relied on what I was being spoon fed by American media outlets, I may have been appalled also.
Believe me, if the refugees were flooding their state, many Americans would be freaking out. I’m an American and I love my brothers and sisters, but they aren’t always swift on being well-informed on world affairs, and still stick to American outlets for information.
However, there is a whole other segment of our enormous population that has been paying attention, and I’ve been heartened to see them siding with the EU citizens who are feeling invaded, and saying this is insane. They don’t really distinguish between the various countries…don’t know if they could tell you who Orban is…but they side with what he is doing.
Despite the best efforts of the American media, they have not been able to whip people into a frenzy demanding that America takes in thousands of refugees. That tells me a lot. And that also means that they do not think Europeans should be made to either.
This whole thing is such a mess. I feel bad for the true refugees, I feel awful for Europe, and I feel dread for everyone. I applaud Orban for using both his whole head and whole heart. I was moved by his words to his police in telling them to use their heart too.
By the way, I was watching when Merkel made her statement welcoming in everyone, and my jaw dropped. I thought, she must be drunk! Is it Oktoberfest already? I was left stunned. No one with an ounce of knowledge about what was going on in Syria, or the millions displaced & in the camps, would have made such a dangerous statement. And then she repeated it a number of times!
I also think the Queen of Jordan’s speech backfired. Telling people to take in refugees so that the men don’t become disillusioned and terrorists is not a good selling point. At all.
We have a word in the U.S. to describe things like this, but I doubt it would be allowed here. Instead I will just say….God help us, protect us, bless us, and give us wisdom. We really, really need it here on planet Earth. Things are a mess.
Not all of us americans are ignorant,,we have the coming here too an don’t want them either
I would like the thank Hungary for the courage and protecting our European borders! I hope more countries will join the Hungarians’ effort soon – I hope it won’t be too late! I would also love that more countries had such a leader as Viktor Orban, who can stand by his rights – protecting European inhabitants’ rights! Once again – BIG THANK YOU HUNGARY!!!!!
Dorota
The Hungarian borders are not closed, I repeat not closed. What is not tolerated is the illegal
crossing of borders, just like it is not tolerated in the United States or anywhere in North America for that matter. Try to enter the US without proper documentations, see what will happen to You. You will be immediately labeled a criminal and/or a terrorist. A danger to national security.
Why should Hungary be different. Why should Europe be different. Why should they let their guard down in face of mass invasion that is sure to drastically effect their life in a negative way.
Here is why…The ruling elites have long planned to to eliminate the individual states of Europe as a stepping stone to eliminating all individual states in the entire world. This process will continue if unopposed. The purpose is the creation of a global “Superstate” if you like, that will centralize control of the world in a very few hands.
No amount of death, no amount of hardship, no amount of suffering is too great for the elite to reconsider their plan of action, simply because they themselves will not be the ones effected. They will only benefit. Bussiness as usual…
I agree
Stay strong Hungary!
We here in America have been saying the same thing,,its to control power, take away individual states and country’s,,half of americans anyway know this,,the other half are leftist idiots.
Forgot to add,,we also have Mexicans coming in an they are sucking off our welfare too,,and they are not deported,,our govt wants to give them citizenship, we have been fighting that for years..
Be strong. People will realize in time that Hungary did the right thing. And if Europe will survive, who would you rather have to defend the borders? The Croatians?
Many of us in the US applaud what Hungary is doing. If you leave the border open there will be a continual flood of illegal aliens all wanting you to take care of them and it will bankrupt your country, cause all sorts of crime from desperate people and ruin a culture that took thousands of years to build. If they stay in their own countries and fight for their own freedoms as many of the rest of us have done they can build a better life there. They cannot just run away from their own problems.
Congratulations to Hungary for having the courage to say no!
Yesterday (19 September 2015) a hundreds-strong march against illegal immigrants (invaders) was held here in Wroclaw, Poland. One of the public chants was “Orban is a hero!” Another one was, of course “European Union leaders are traitors”. In short, we love you, Hungarian people, for your stand and for obeying the EU law. If needed, we will travel to your borders to fight alongside with you, to defend our Europe.
I lived in Poland for 2 years. Poland keep these ‘refugees’ out and keep it Christian. As an Australian I am disgusted by the Germans who have this ‘open door policy’ and can’t control the avalanche of people (as happened too in Australia too but by boat). Then the Germans expect everyone else to accomondate their stupidity. Keep Poland free!
Keep Europe together..Blessings from the UK.
Dear neighbors, in Croatia there are many people who like your brave and determined Prime Minister Mr Orban. Throughout history we have together fought against the invasion from the east. Today, unfortunately, is not so, we have become cowards and betrayed . But, im sure, things will be changed as soon as fool man, our pm loose elections.
Regards from Croatia.
I apologise for Polish government. On 25 october will be election and everything will change.
I was always proud to be Polish but today I am very sad & ashamed, Polish government betrayed V4 and also many Polish people. I am so sorry
Dorota
I think several governments will fall due to their deafness or disregard of what their people are telling them..Hungarian/Polish friendship endures.
Enough is enough. Hungary is correct to close it’s border and impose closer scrutiny of refugees arriving uninvited. Why are so many military age young men fleeing their country instead of remaining to fight and resist the ISIS cancer. One would have thought saving ones homeland, families and lifestyle was much more important that expecting a free leg-up in another country with it’s own set of economic problems. Good on the Hungarian Government for taking an appropriate and sensible position on this issue.
Frank
Don’t worry Hungary about all the negative responses to the migrant crisis from countries whose governments are spineless and ineffective. Your steadfast stance in defending European and Christian values and security is admirable, and shall be vindicated. For all those who criticize your actions, your irresponsibility in applauding these mindless hordes will be your ultimate demise. God bless Hungary.
“Recently I visited refugee camps in Turkey and Jordan and I heard only one message: we are determined to get to Europe. It is clear that the greatest tide of refugees and migrants is yet to come. Therefore we need to correct the policy of open doors and windows. Now the focus should be on the proper protection of our external borders and on external assistance to refugees and the countries in our neighborhood.”
Donald Tusk
EU Council
Hmmmm…who else was talking about securing external borders? That’s right….Orban! Donald Tusk is taking a stand against Junker & Merkel. I read some other comments from him along these lines, and if I find them I’ll post them.
Very interesting.
“Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, warned the EU was now facing a “critical point” and that the migrant crisis hadn’t even reached its peak.
As he chaired an emergency meeting of EU leaders in Brussels last night Mr Tusk painted a bleak picture of the EU’s future, saying the 28-member bloc was on the verge of breakdown with “recriminations and misunderstanding” pitting nations against one another.
The future of free movement was at stake, he said, as the continent had lost control of its borders as well as a “sense of order”.
He added: “The most urgent question we should ask ourselves…is how to regain control of our external borders.
“Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense to even speak about common migration policy.”
He appeared to lay much of the blame with Germany, accusing Chancellor Angela Merkel of exacerbating the problem by sending the signal to desperate Syrians fleeing their war-torn homeland that Germany had no limit on the number of migrants it would accept.
He added: “We need to correct our policy of open doors and windows.
“Today we are talking about millions of potential refugees trying to reach Europe, not thousands.
“It is likely that more refugees will flow towards Europe, not less. Especially as almost all of them feel invited to Europe.”
But Ms Merkel responded: “Setting up fences between members states is not the solution.
“Faced with a great challenge, it can not be that Europe says we can’t handle this…”
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/607595/Migrant-crisis-EU-lost-control-borders-danger-collapse