Isn’t it curious how the MAGA Republicans have become so enamored with Hungary lately? Hungary’s proto- fascist strongman Viktor Orban has been invited to speak at C-PAC, been hosted at Mar-a-Lago and lavishly lauded by Donald Trump. Why?

The unfortunate history of Hungary has been rife with centuries of fire and sword inflicted upon its people by sultans, emperors, kings, Communists and Nazis.

In 1526, Hungary’s king was killed while the flower of his nobility was exterminated by the Ottoman Turks at the Battle of Mohacs. A century and a half later, the Turks were crushed by the Austrians.

The United States declared war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I. When peace came, Hungary finally became a nation on its own. Yet the Hungarians were so inured to despots and domination that they quickly became subverted by Adolph Hitler. During World War II, Hungary was again the foe of the United States, but Nazi influence led them to send an entire army into Russia, which vanished in the snow west of Stalingrad. The Communist Red Army then extinguished Hungarian freedom for going on 50 years.

Finally, along comes Orban, who neutered his political opposition, muzzled the press and strung razor wire along his borders to keep out refugees and immigrants.

Only MAGA extremists could ever imagine that a Hungarian dictator could teach Americans a lesson in how to enhance our democracy. The very conception is insipid, unhinged and as unpatriotic as it can possibly be. Orban is nothing but a thug.

Jim Harger

New Kensington

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