We have to create an atmosphere together, Hungarians and Romanians, in which ethnic conflicts are ridiculous. But it won’t be tomorrow, because we have not yet talked about our common history with great silence and distortion – says Csaba Székely, a well-known writer from Târgu-Mureş, from whom I asked about the last 100 years of Romania and about the relationship between the majority and the minority.

I am very curious how would a Hungarian writer from Romania, from my generation, look at the last 100 years of Romanian statehood. But, as you see the present, how is the “pulse” of the Romanian-Hungarian relationship? Here I am thinking of a broader perspective than the relationship that is influenced by current politics, but of course it can not dissociate itself from it.

I believe that current politics will always determine the way we look at the past, because power usually considers history as a toy. In other words, there is always a higher level of decision, such as history and the past. For example, the fact that Romania is 100 years, not 98, is also the result of such a decision.

I think that Romania is still minor and a hundred years was not enough for many things. For example, citizens have not been able to feel the whole country that it is theirs. There are millions of people here – and I am one of them – who do not regard Romania as their country, but the region in which they live. This is also true because mergers are always arbitrary and forced, not as a result of a natural process. In this regard, the united states need a long time to unite not only the borders but also the labor forces inside the borders. In some situations, this union of force is never accomplished. But it is certain that while there are conflicts between the regions, it is unexpected from the citizens that these conflicts do not define their own country. It is precisely this situation that defines the Romanian-Hungarian relationship. About history, the borders are the theme of the 100-year debate and the longest possible will continue for a long time. Somewhere is obvious because we have not solved and we are not talking about some situations, but there are great silences and distortions in this area.

Let me mention that not only Romania does not find itself in this sense, nor the older brothers have a much better situation, for example, Italian Risorgimento is older than the Romanian union, Italy can not be called united, it feels the borders of states.

It is clear to me that we need to think of a common future. Because we have a common idea, from all perspectives. What is the direction in which this country could evolve? It is not known why, but it is very little affected, as the intellectuals think, but I feel that they have something to communicate … What is your opinion about this situation?

Nowadays anyone can communicate their opinions and influence the people, the intelligentsia in this sense has lost his role in society. This is not necessarily a problem, but the situation, that their place is occupied by propaganda weapons is a problem. That’s why it has become the most crucial question: who can we believe? The people chose to believe for those who say what they want to hear, not for those who want their good. This is a disaster. In this situation across the world, it highlights the negative qualities, increases social tensions, increases hatred among societies, and irresponsible people reach responsible positions. Although I am neither a historian nor a political scientist, I believe that this aspect will define the direction we are taking. And this is the stake of responsible cooperation. Let us fight together against brainwashing, populism, preserving the independence of democratic institutions, and controlling people who can make a decision with positive consequences.

What kind of attributes should those on both sides escape to achieve a common path?

I can not think of a path that is not common, all roads are common. The ethnic homogeneity that the current Hungarian government is dealing with is anachronistic, and if the Romanian government were to try such a thing would be very dangerous for us. We are different and it is natural for those who live here to have a common destiny and share common work. I think that regardless of origin, we must all work to create an atmosphere in which ethnic conflicts make no sense and become ridiculous . Because of mutual fear there are these misunderstandings, and especially for this reason we should get rid of this fear. And with this I want to do with my pieces, because where laughing there is no fear.

It would be ideal if positive reciprocal gestures were born. First, power has to make gestures because it is in a dominant position. Do not be afraid of flags, multilingualism, traditions of minorities, not punish, but on the contrary, should support these matters! The minority should stop the mentality of Csíki beer, which means that if the power stops us, he is sure he wants to suppress us, he intends to forbid. Instead, let’s be friendly, watch football together, drink together, celebrate together.

On the Hungarian side it is often said that there is nothing to celebrate, and is always argued with history. But slowly, our children do not even know why they should be sad. It’s also part of the fact that some of us have failed to send complaints. What will you tell your children if they ask you?

History is used by many people to create hatred, I want to avoid it. I want my children to love the Romanians and have a friend from several cultures, even if different past events shock them when they meet with them, not “Romanians”, “Frenchmen” or “boşimani” also blame the events past will be treated as history.

Now I’m going to pray you to a pathetic thing. Please summarize those positive things that our minority community has. I give you an example: the adaptability capacity that no community in the majority can learn. Well understood, it also has negative aspects, if we adapt too much we become part of other communities. But for example we have not lost our uniqueness, but we also have Romanian friends, whom we love, recognize and do not let us be with them. So how is this?

Learn a language and a culture that you have not learned in other situations – for example, this is a positive thing. The Romanian culture is filled with treasures that we should know. I would like to point out that even if Hungarian, if I were a minister of education, I would have done everything possible for the majority of people to know the culture of minorities. How good it would be if every child after gymnasium school could buy a bread using several languages, such as Romanian, Hungarian, German, “And three more small.” It would mean that every urban legend, where communities are against each other, would lose meaning.

As far as fusion is concerned, it is a change of identity, which I think is a conscious choice. I have no argument to change my identity because I feel good as a Hungarian. But there are some, especially in the case of aggressors who do not feel good because they have no friends and are excluded from better jobs, they do not have so many opportunities. Therefore, they are convinced that it is easier if they live as Romanians, especially their children, because in this way they avoid the problems. I understand them, too, because, unfortunately, this is a natural process, and the minorities living in the sporadum will disappear sooner or later. Even in the old Babylon they were scattered, the Sumerians melted, their tongues replaced by Akkad, then Akkadian in Aramaic, and so on. But we should not give up! Well, this is a positive aspect of the minority: we will give up later.

I also saw in Târgu Mureş – as an author and myself as a theater marketing man – that it is not true that he does not care about the Hungarian audience of the Romanian-Hungarian relationship. In the drama “Bányavakság”, a Hungarian mayor of the Seks and a Romanian policeman, the main characters, each with his truth and injustice. Then there is also the MaRo, in which you describe the same theme in several real-life situations. Both performances were full of music throughout the country, both in Hungarian and Romanian language performances. Can our world be changed by focusing on this through theater? Of course, politics has countless ways to target messages, but not positive in this area, which also has a cathartic effect …

Theater can not change the world, but, as I said, it can help create an atmosphere where we should live. That’s what I’m working on.

Source: Maszol