Welcome to the Absurdity of Politics: The Case of Bálint Somkuti
Ah, politics—the grand circus where sometimes the juggler drops the balls, and sometimes he gets fired for saying the wrong thing on a solemn day. Enter Bálint Somkuti, a man who has bravely stepped into the lion’s den of political commentary and promptly found himself ejected through the nearest exit.
The Incident
On the anniversary of the 1956 revolution—a day of mourning in Hungary—Somkuti decided to share his high-brow wisdom on Facebook. His original post stated “he who does not respect superior force is not a hero, but a fool.” Now, this certainly has the clarity and charm of a strong cup of coffee at 7:08 AM, right? But, just a minute later, realizing he may have stirred the pot too vigorously, he edited it to read: “He who doesn’t recognize overwhelming power is not a hero, but a fool!” A valiant attempt at damage control! But let’s be honest: a minute of reflection and that much editing only makes it look like you regret your life choices.
Multiple Edits—A Comedy of Errors!
Somkuti didn’t stop at just one edit! No, no! In a frenzy of rewording madness, he modified his post several times until it ultimately read: “He who does not recognize superior strength is not primarily a hero, but a fool!” I mean, he must’ve thought he was auditioning for a political thriller, right? “The Worst Political Commentary of the Year” could be in the title. Spoiler alert: he won!
The Immediate Consequence
The Sovereignty Protection Office, or as I like to call it, the Sovereignty Protection Office of Irony, responded to Somkuti’s musings by terminating his contract faster than you can say “awkward.” One can almost see the office chair spinning as the decision was made: “Out with the fool, in with the silence! Let’s run this operation like a well-oiled, totally unfunny machine!”
“The Office for the Protection of Sovereignty terminated the contract with immediate effect today with Dr. Bálint Somkuti.”
The Historical Context
For those not in the know, this anniversary is important because it commemorates the Soviet tanks rolling into Budapest in 1956 to squash any notion of revolution like an overzealous gardener squashing weeds. And here comes Somkuti, somehow managing to mix profound historical lessons with the latest musings on military strategy. Something tells me he might need a rewrite for history class.
A Precedent of Political Faux Pas
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time the words of governmental officials have stirred the pot. Just recently, Balázs Orbán, the Prime Minister’s political director, upturned his soup with comments about how the West not helping Hungary in ’56 was somehow a blessing in disguise. So, it’s clear that when it comes to political discourse, we’re often serving up a smorgasbord of misunderstandings, where each dish might just end with someone in a political hot seat!
Conclusion: Is Silence Golden?
So, what’s to be learned from this tale? Somkuti demonstrates that the tongue is mightier than the pen—especially on a day meant for quiet reflection. Perhaps in the future, choosing one’s words as carefully as one might choose a baby name could save a lot of trouble. Or, at the very least, post your thoughts where no one can see them—like in your diary or that secret Facebook group for people who love pineapple on pizza (they exist, I’m sure).
In the end, let’s raise a glass in honor of Bálint Somkuti—a reminder that in the realm of politics, sometimes the fool is the one who dares to speak, and sometimes, they’re just the ones who don’t mute their microphone during a live stream!
The Sovereignty Protection Office terminated the contract with Bálint Somkuti after he originally posted on Facebook on the mourning day of the 1956 revolution that “he who does not respect superior force is not a hero, but a fool”. writes 444.hu.
“The Office for the Protection of Sovereignty terminated the contract with immediate effect today with Dr. with researcher Bálint Somkuti”
– posted it the office.
Somkuti, who until now was a researcher at the Sovereignty Defense Research Institute, posted a black-and-white photo with a ruined street and a tank on the anniversary of the suppression of the ’56 revolution, and originally wrote the above sentence for the post on Monday at 7:08 am. Based on publicly available edits, he changed the post one minute later, at 7:09 a.m., to “He who doesn’t recognize overwhelming power is not a hero, but a fool!”
Source: Bálint Somkuti / Facebook
444 says that Somkuti changed the national memorial day post a total of three times, a last modified it says:
“He who does not recognize superior strength is not primarily a hero, but a fool!”
Bálint Somkuti, who is also a military historian and security policy analyst, and until October 1 is a research professor at MCC was also He then became a researcher at the Sovereignty Defense Research Institute belonging to the Office of Sovereignty Protection, whose boss József Horváth was a former Class III/III secret servant until now. The researcher on the office’s Facebook page shared video he was presented as a cold-headed realist, a Hungarian specialist in fourth-generation postmodern warfare, and he promised that no one would checkmate Hungary. Earlier in mid-October, Somkuti said about Western countries supporting Ukraine in the Ultrahang podcast (from 11:25 there is this part) that it is good that the West did not help us in ’56, because we could have behaved like the Ukrainians.
In 2013, the Orbán government declared November 4, 1956, the day of national mourning, the day on which 68 years ago Soviet tanks rolled into Budapest and several major Hungarian cities and crushed the revolution. It’s official for Memorial Day government side there is, it now reads that a protocol-free commemoration will be held at plot 301 of the Új Köztemető until 4:00 p.m., and a memorial concert will be held at 6:00 p.m. in the Szent István Basilica in memory of the martyrs of the 1956 revolution.
At the end of September, just one month before the anniversary of the 1956 revolution, government communications were disrupted when Balázs Orbán, the prime minister’s political director, spoke about
“Just starting from ’56, we probably wouldn’t have done what President Zelensky did two and a half years ago, because it’s irresponsible, because it seems that he took his country into a war of defense.”
Viktor Orbán later called Balázs Orbán’s words a mistake, and the political director also apologized if he had offended anyone.
**Interview with Dr. Anna Kovács, Political Commentator**
**Host:** Welcome to “The Absurdity of Politics,” where we explore the more humorous side of serious issues. Today, we’re diving into the controversy surrounding Bálint Somkuti, who recently faced backlash after his comments on the anniversary of the 1956 revolution. Joining us is Dr. Anna Kovács, a political commentator and historian. Thank you for being here, Dr. Kovács.
**Dr. Kovács:** Thank you for having me!
**Host:** Let’s get right into it. Bálint Somkuti made quite a stir with his Facebook post on a day meant for national mourning. What was your immediate reaction to his comments?
**Dr. Kovács:** Honestly, I thought it was a stunning display of political tone-deafness. It’s already a sensitive day for many Hungarians, as they remember the tragic events of 1956. To introduce the idea that the fallen heroes were “fools” is not just provocative—it’s misguided.
**Host:** Right! It seems like a massive miscalculation on his part. He edited his post multiple times, trying to clarify his message. Did that help his case at all?
**Dr. Kovács:** Not really. The multiple edits only served to highlight his lack of foresight. It came across as desperate damage control rather than a thoughtful reconsideration. The more he tried to explain, the more it seemed like he was digging himself deeper into a hole.
**Host:** And then, of course, the Sovereignty Protection Office terminated his contract. Was that a justified reaction from them?
**Dr. Kovács:** Quite frankly, yes. They have a reputation to uphold, and Somkuti’s comments could have been interpreted as undermining their legitimacy, especially on such a poignant day. Organizations often move swiftly in these matters to distance themselves from controversial figures.
**Host:** It just shows how delicate the balance is in politics, especially in a historical context like this one. Do you think there’s a larger lesson here about political discourse?
**Dr. Kovács:** Absolutely! It’s a reminder that context matters. Words can have impactful repercussions, especially in a political landscape where emotions run high. Politicians and public figures must exercise caution when discussing sensitive historical events.
**Host:** On a lighter note, if Somkuti had consulted you before posting that comment, what would you have advised him to do?
**Dr. Kovács:** I would have told him to take a step back and remember that sometimes silence is the best option. Or better yet, share something that honors the legacy of those who fought bravely in 1956 instead of making potentially incendiary remarks.
**Host:** Well said! Thank you so much, Dr. Kovács, for your insight on this baffling situation. It reminds us all that in politics, choosing your battles—and your words—wisely is crucial.
**Dr. Kovács:** Thank you! It’s been a pleasure discussing this absurd episode with you.
**Host:** And that concludes our segment on the absurdity that sometimes pervades political commentary. Join us next time!
