Free Republic

Gary Aldrich (archive)(printer-friendly version)January 31, 2003One man who understood what liberty meantIn the summer of 1996 I traveled to San Diego, California, to speak to a group of Conservatives who were attending the Republican National Convention. There I met people who were considered to be true-blue, totally committed Conservatives. Among the group were Balint and Barbara Vazsonyi. Balint and Barbara were very polite, classy people, but if you engaged Balint in a conversation about Communism, his eyes would come alive with fire. He spoke with a passion that betrayed his first-hand experience of living in a land where liberty was...

"Balint Vazsonyi's memorial service will be Wednesday January 22, 11 AM at Western Presbyterian Church, 2401 Virginia Avenue, (parking at Columbia Plaza or on the street or at Watergate hotel). Reception to follow at Watergate Hotel, Chesapeake Room, from 12:00-1:00pm. If you wish to send flowers, please do so to the church. Barbara Vazsonyi" ...rto

Balint Vazsonyi, a columnist for The Washington Times who survived Nazi conquest and escaped communist rule in his native Hungary to become an outspoken advocate of American liberty, died of cancer yesterday at his home. He was 66. Mr. Vazsonyi was also an international concert pianist and the director of the Virginia-based Center for the American Founding (CAF). "By the time I got my citizenship in 1964, I was grateful and immensely proud to be told by the judge in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that I would not be a Hungarian-American, nor any other hyphenated American," Mr. Vazsonyi wrote in "America's...

One of the endearing qualities of Americans is the desire to be liked. Citizens of past great powers sought to be respected and feared. Americans will go a long way to earn the affection of individuals, as well as of nations. From dropping food parcels for the people who harbor our enemies to the endless hours of public discussion trying to understand those who are sworn to kill us, the effort is unending. A typical example was presented by Thomas L. Friedman in The New York Times (Dec. 9), listing a lengthy roster of steps to make us “the best...