Field Excursion #5: Riot Gear, Power Points, Armored tanks, and Free water!

             On our latest adventure the JSBP program visited the Riot Police Headquarters in Budapest. Personally I was unsure upon arrival whether or not it would be a worthwhile trip. Our previous trips have been entertaining, fun, and educational, so there was no reason to believe this one would be any different. However, I don’t personally find the idea of visiting a riot team that entertaining, nor do I enjoy learning about the different aspects of a job that essentially revolves around subduing the citizens. With that being said I am not naïve enough to think that a country shouldn’t have riot polices and other agencies designed to subdue angry and unruly crowds. They are clearly important officers who carry out invaluable tasks, but the idea about learning how their station works and the different techniques in crowd control they use was not something I’m too interested in. As far as our trip to the station goes, it was not without its moments but it was certainly not one of the take-away points of our trip so far either.

             One of the reasons the trip was not up to par with the previous ones was that upon our arrival we were given a presentation that was more than slightly on the boring side. One of the problems was that the lady who spoke to us only spoke Hungarian, and I think our translator had trouble trying to properly convey what she was saying to us. She showed us a PowerPoint with facts all about the station and the riot police, but I found the information to be somewhat obvious and not very interesting. Essentially there are a lot of branches of the riot police and they have many other jobs besides breaking up unruly mobs. They have counter-terrorism responsibilities, and they also have subordinates that deal with things specific things such as bomb scares. Yet for the most part everything we learned about the Hungarian Riot Police and the overall police system were things that would be true for almost all countries, with maybe some minor exceptions. I hate to sound like a snobby college student but I just honestly didn’t feel that anything in the meeting was interesting at all. Yet in defense of the presentation I’m not someone extremely interested in police work, but someone who is might have found it informative (If they spoke Hungarian).

          

                                            This picture Pretty much speaks for itself

             After our presentation we were shown the different equipment the riot team uses including weaponry and armored vehicles. They showed us different types of grenade launchers that were used to deploy teargas and were actually all designed after the AK-47. They also had several handguns to be used only in extreme situations when the lives of citizens or the officers were in grave danger. They had a shield that looked really cool but the tour guide said it was too big and inconvenient to be put to everyday use by the riot squads. After the tour of the weapons they showed us the different types of armored vehicles they use to get into the heart of large crowds. They were very big, elaborate, and intimidating upon first glance. One was a former Russian tank and another was a pickup truck with a turret on the back used to shoot teargas at protestors.

              

                   This is a teargas grenade launcher similar to the one we were shown, As you can see the butt of the gun resembles an AK-47

                   As a ten year-old I would have found this stuff really cool and been exited to climb on the tank, but as a twenty year-old I couldn’t help but feel uneasy about the whole thing. These massive machines and their accompanying weaponry were to be used against living-breathing human beings. I understand they may be necessary sometimes, but when I saw those machines the only image popping through my head was people protesting and in return getting teargas fired at them. When one thinks of protesting (In both America and around the world) often times the people taking a stand together get physically punished for doing so. At Kent State in 1969 soldiers fired upon innocent protestors who were doing nothing illegal. In Tiananmen Square in 1989 the government killed many of its own citizens who were peacefully asking for a guarantee of basic human rights. In both those cases and many more throughout history the “aggressors” were essentially riot police sent out to subdue the crowds. This may seem like an unfair generalization about all Riot Squads, but I can’t help the fact that when I saw their equipment I thought about defenseless people being fired upon. I guess in a different place or time I may have been one of the people in the crowd.

               This is the song Ohio By CSNY. This song was written about the Kent State massacre and the tragic death of four defenseless college-aged protestors.

Field Excursion #4: A Trip to the House of Terror and Monument Park

         I know I normally like to take an informal tone with my blog posts and throw in some humor, but there are some experiences in life that cannot be joked about. Yesterday we went on our fourth and perhaps most “historically significant” field excursion to the infamous House of Terror followed by Monument Park. These two places serve as a constant reminder to Hungary of its past and perhaps its darkest days. Before I go into detail about the trip and my feelings about it I feel that it is important that I first give a brief description as what exactly these places are. The House of Terror is located down the street from us on Andrassy Utca (Hungarian for street for you back in the states), and it is the former headquarters of the Hungarian Nazi party during the end of World War II and the Hungarian/Soviet Union Communist party after the war. The building also served as a prison and was part of the “secret police” that terrorized the people of Hungary during the Soviet occupation. In 2002 the Prime Minister and his staff decided to renovate this old building of “terror” and turn into a museum honoring all those who suffered from these brutal regimes. In contrast, Monument Park is not a museum but rather and outdoor display of statues and other forms of “physical” artwork from the Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union collapsed the people of Budapest were unsure of what to do with all the statues the USSR had bestowed upon them. Some felt they should be destroyed and others wanted them preserved, but they all agreed that they should have no place on the streets of the city. They decided to take the major statues from around the city and move them to a place on the outskirts of the city. This was done as an attempt to acknowledge and commemorate what occurred in the Soviet years, not to celebrate it.

      

      This is the outside of the House of Terror. As shown in this photo, the building is cleverly designed with a roof facade that spells out Terror both to one looking up at the building and in the shadows of the building itself.

     

      I personally was very excited to see the House of Terror because I am someone who enjoys history and I had heard from several native Hungarians that it was the best museum in all of Budapest. I was well aware of the tragic nature of the building we were about to enter and felt I was prepared for everything about to be thrown at me, but I was wildly incorrect. The building takes you chronologically through the period of the Nazi takeover in 1944 from the eventual exit of the USSR, and it spares no detail. Displays include exact replicas of the offices of the “terror” officials and pictures and videos of the substantial damage that Budapest took during the Second World War. There is sworn video testimony of people who lived through this awful time period, and many of their stories were absolutely gut-wrenching. One that especially struck a chord with me was the testimony of an older gentleman who had been interred in a Soviet Labor camp in his younger years. He described that out of the about five thousand people he entered the camp with; only about two hundred and fifty of them came out alive. He struggled to say those words, and when he finally did he began to sob uncontrollably. Its one thing to hear about a dark point in human history, but seeing the damage done first hand is a whole other experience.

               

                       This is a picture of the famous Chain Bridge that connects Buda and Pest after it was destroyed by the Nazis during World War II. Having seen the re-built  bridge in person  this photo sends chills down my spine.

          

             The section of the museum that was the most hard to stomach was the basement floor, where the former Nazi/Soviet prisons have been restored to give people a sense of the “terror” that these people were put through. The cells and the surrounding areas looked like something out of a horror movie. It was so sad and so inhumane that I had trouble trying to fully comprehend what I was seeing. I tried to put into perspective the fact that I was standing in a place that literally represents the worst of mankind, a place where innocent people were imprisoned, tortured, or put to death based on their political and personal beliefs and convictions. These are obviously not the  happiest thoughts one could have flowing through their head, but one cannot ignore the historical significance of this prison to both the history of the World War/Cold War era and more importantly humankind itself. When we ignore our darkest hours and push them aside we tarnish the legacy of the innocent people who fought and died for what they believed in. More importantly we will never be able to reach our full potential as citizens of a shared planet unless we acknowledge our historical short-comings and work together to make sure they never happen again.

                  These are Stalin's boots, which is to many a symbol of a country that had to fight so long and tirelessly for its independence.

           

                When we finished our trip to the museum we then packed a bus and set out to Buda to visit Monument Park. This trip was less depressing, but it was still full of lots of historical relevance. Upon entering the park one instantly comes across the infamous “Boots of Stalin” that are a cornerstone of the history of the 1956 Hungarian revolution. The boots are what’s left from a gigantic statue of Josef Stalin that used to sit inside the heart of the city. During the 1956 revolution it was torn down by the Hungarians and the only part that stayed intact were the boots. The boots are still displayed today as homage to the many that fought and lost their lives in an effort to rid their beloved city of their evil oppressors. Inside the park, there are all sorts of different statues and carvings depicting different Soviet-era “heroes” and other communist themes such as happy soldiers shaking hands with happy peasants. I can’t imagine what it would be like to study in Budapest during the era in which these giant statues stood outside my apartment, but I have a feeling it wouldn’t be nearly as pleasant. Yet I am still happy I was able to visit them and affirm the longstanding belief that the USSR and the CPSU that ruled it are evils that the world is better off without!

        

Field Excursion #3: Question- What’s the best was to scare a bunch of 20 year olds? Answer: Bring them to a prison in Eastern Europe.

           On Wednesday the gang and I woke up early and boarded a train to visit the famous Hungarian city of Eger. After a two hour ride on a train that smelled like an outhouse and only looked slightly better, we made it to Eger and visited the city’s prison. We were met by a giant of a man who had one the best goatees I have ever seen, and he introduced himself as the Governor of the prison, which is the American equivalent of a warden. After a brief introduction we were brought to a meeting room where he showed us a slideshow with facts about the prison, the Hungarian legal system, and different projects the prison uses to help prisoners prepare for life after jail. What really stood out about his presentation was the fact that he seemed to genuinely care about the well-being of the prisoners and considered himself an important part in their eventual entrance back into society. Since in Hungary there is very little violent crime, most of the prisoners are serving short to medium length sentences, meaning they will eventually be returned to society. The Governor felt that if he and his co-workers made the lives of the prisoners miserable and did not help them change their ways, they would be returning to society with the same mindset that brought them to jail in the first place. Maybe I’ve seen Shawshank Redemption too many times, but when I think of a prison warden I think of a stone-cold angry man who couldn’t care less about his prisoners. Yet, here was a man who has to deal with convicts on a daily basis yet had a positive attitude towards them, which I found very uplifting.

                       Red and Andy would be pleased to know that the prison guards at Eger Prison are not abusive like the ones at Shawshank. 

         To continue The Clash theme from last blog, I think this song is perfect for a blog post about prison. It is also a really good song.

         

                  When our meeting was done the governor took us on a full tour of a prison. To be honest I have never been inside a prison before so I have no frame of reference, but I have a gut feeling the prisons in America look like the Four Seasons compared to this place. The governor explained to us that it had been built over a hundred years ago and due to a lack of funding it has not been renovated for a long time. He brought us around and showed us both male and female cells, and the saddest part is that due to over-crowded prisons (sounds like the U.S) they have to shove 12 prisoners in a room that probably should only have three or four at most. As if there weren’t enough motivation to stay out of jail in one’s life, this was the icing on the cake. When we left about an hour later I really didn’t know how to feel about what I had just experienced. In one regard it was good to see a well-managed prison with a staff that cares and it’s always fun to see things you would normally never see in one’s everyday life. On the other hand the mental image of twelve people crammed in this old USSR-esque prison made me feel a little uneasy. I guess the take away point is that although no one wants to give money to help prisons, sometimes it is a necessity that should not be ignored. If the state wants these people to be productive members of society when they exit, they cannot make them live in the worst conditions possible even if it seems like the best possible punishment.

                        This is the view of Eger from the outside. It is located in a very nice part of Eger, and from the outside the building is quite impressive.            

     

            After leaving and having a nice (tree-nut free) lunch, we then set out to the beautiful wine/castle district of Eger. We visited an ancient castle that was breath-taking. From the top we could see the whole city and the view was beautiful. I was lucky enough to get to fire an arrow at a target, and everyone else was lucky enough to get to see me hit that target square in the chest! After exploring the castle we were able to walk around the city and we learned about this famous Hungarian red-wine called “Bull’s Blood”. Apparently people will travel great lengths just to have a glass of this famous wine. Call it a hunch but if there was a product called “Bull’s Blood” on the shelf of a store in America, I have a feeling it might remain on that shelf for a long time. After the hour was up we boarded the train back home and concluded quite an eventful day.

     

                                 This was the view from the castle to the beautiful city of Eger.

                      This is the target that I struck right before I delivered the crushing blow to his chest.


Also, on a more serious note we are still looking for the culprit who turned Evan’s backpack inside-out on the train. This kind of behavior will not be tolerated, and if caught you will be send to Eger!

                                 

           

Field Excursion #2: The Boys and Girls get a First Hand Look at the Hungarian Legal System!

           On Wednesday the group and I had the privilege to have a meeting with Peter Hack, a prominent member of the Hungarian legal system. The purpose of our meeting was to learn the basics of how the Hungarian legal system operates, and draw from the differences and similarities between the system here and the one back home. Mr. Hack was a member of Parliament from 1990-2002, and served four years as the Chairman on the Committee of Constitutional and Judicial Affairs. Needless to say he had a wealth of knowledge of the Hungarian system, but what was surprising to me was how much he knew about the American system. As he took us through his presentation and explained to us the ins and outs of Hungarian law, he made many references about specific aspects of the American system to help give us something to relate to. I have a gut feeling if we asked the average American lawyer to describe Hungary’s system, they may plead the fifth!

                In Hungary they have gavels, but they are of finer quality than America.                   

          Hack explained to us that the legal/political system of Hungary is parliamentary, which is pretty standard all across Europe. When comparing the two legal systems there are lots of similarities, but there are also some glaring differences. One difference that I found particularly interesting was that in Hungary the police can hold a suspect for 72 hours without having judge permission, and the suspect cannot contact a lawyer during the first 48 hours. If this happened in America the case would be thrown out and the policeman would be seeking new employment. Another glaring difference was the different trial procedures they practice. In Hungary, the judge does not sit back and “umpire’ the trial while two lawyers duke it out in front of a jury of one’s peers. Rather the judge plays a central role in the questioning of both the prosecution and the defense, and he or she is responsible for the final outcome of the case. As far as the rights of the accused and the responsibility of the prosecution to withhold the rule of law, it is still very similar to the Hungarian system.

               Anytime one has the chance to talk to someone who is extremely knowledgeable in their field it can be a very informational experience. Although talking to a man who looks the guy from monopoly for two hours about law isn’t always the most exciting thing in the world, the meeting was truly an interesting experience. He was extremely candid with us, and he was not afraid to tell us if he disagreed with any aspects of the Hungarian system. We all had a good time, and I think he left with a positive review of American students!

Since Hungary's legal system is efficient/effective, one better not break the law when visiting Budapest.

Photographic Proof that We're Actually in Budapest

Hello all,

From time to time I would like to take a break from the field excursion posts and write about other personal experiences on my adventure in Budapest. These may be stories, posts from trips I may go on, pictures, or maybe even just a simple reflection. I think it is obvious that anytime one enters an experience that is clearly unknown to them they will have lots of thoughts and opinions on what is going on. The hard part is trying to collect all the stuff going on in our lives right now and make it into a coherent and interesting blog post. Any idiot can make a blog (clearly), but I hope to be able to give you as clear of a picture as possible of what is going on over here and how myself and the group is handling it.

  

             So for this first installment I would like to simply post some of the pictures I’ve taken so far and under each one I will provide a description about the photo. Hope you enjoy!

             On our first trip we went to the beautiful Lake Balaton located just a couple hours outside of the city.
            The greenery and architecture were one of a kind, and it was our first chance to see what the rural
             parts of Hungary are like.

                   UNH student Peter "Tito" Wasiuk is unable to control his excitement for the day's festivities.

                     This is the entrance to the Abbey we visited located right next to the lake. The abbey was built hundreds of years ago, and has survived two world wars and the Soviet occupation. It is one of a kind, and the architecture inside the church is breath-taking.

                   Inside the church/abbey there are amazing displays honoring different saints and religious figures.Instead of just having stained glass like in an American style church, this church had statues, organs, and other displays that really grabbed one's attention. Its beauty and uniqueness make it essentially the opposite of Saint Micheal's church back home.

                      In this photo, an unnamed student is seen "picking a winner" from the nose of the last king of the Aurtrian-Hungarian empire. This picture is sure to answer the question, "Have the students matured at all since arriving in Europe?"

                     The view of the lake from the hill that the abbey sits atop of. The lake is very unique and is one of the top vacation destinations in all of Hungary.

                                     In this photo some monks are seen doing some monk things.

               This is the epicenter of the now infamous "red sludge" disaster in Western Hungary. A damn collapsed releasing tons of red nuclear waste into the surrounding communities. The damage was catastrophic in some areas, and many families lost their homes. Cleanup is still going on almost a year later, and the lingering affects of the disaster are still unclear.

                         This is Saint Stephen's Basilica located in the heart of Budapest. It is one of the most famous buildings in Western Europe, and it is named after the first king of the Hungarian Empire, Saint Stephen. The King's mummified hand is on display inside the church, despite the fact that he's been dead for almost a thousand years. During the night the Basilica is in the heart of one of the more "happening" areas of the entire society. Believe it or not local Hungarian youth can be seen doing "hoodrat" things such as drinking beer and wine on the front steps of the sacred church! It is truly a surreal sight, and unlike anything you would ever expect to see at a church in America.

Field Studies Excursion #1:“The Justice Studies Boys and Girls visit their friends at the U.S Embassy”

           This week the gang and I had the privilege to sit down and have a meeting with representatives from the United States embassy in Budapest, Hungary. I know when one thinks of embassies metal detectors and endless Visa-related paperwork usually come to mind, but I promise that if one makes it past security they will truly have a wonderful time.  It was truly an exciting experience, and everyone present was able to learn how foreign diplomats and their constituents work together to help represent the United States oversees. Through lively discussion a free-flowing dialogue developed between students, professors, and Mr. Jay Trousdale, head of the Political and Economic Affairs branch of the embassy. First, Mr. Trousdale took us through his personal and professional journey, explaining to us how he went from a simple little boy who just wanted to make a difference in the world to a full-fledged American diplomat. His speech was so genuine and so positive that I truly felt that I could be a diplomat myself one day if I worked hard and kept a positive attitude (It also probably wouldn’t hurt me to improve my Hungarian skills as well). Each and every person in the audience was able to ask a question and get a thoughtful answer from Jay, and at the end we got to take an important looking photo in front of some flags!

            What I took away most from this experience was the optimism that Mr. Truesdale displayed regarding America and the World as a whole. It seems anytime one turns on the television they are bombarded with facts about how America’s economy and standing in the world is in decline, and the world economy is down the tubes. In contrast, Mr. Truesdale displayed an honest and well-thought-out belief that despite this rough patch America’s best days may truly be ahead of her. Through stories about his experiences making a difference in places as rough as the Ukraine, he explained his belief that positive change is possible even in the most unlikely of conditions. As a twenty year old college student (extremely) close to entering the job-market and the “real-world”, I was happy to hear someone tell me that everything may be ok after all! Perhaps optimism is futile and ignorance is bliss, but I could not help feel better about my future after our embassy trip. One can truly learn a “world” of knowledge (no pun intended) by meeting with their diplomats and representatives; although they still have to make it through the metal detectors first. 

                                           

                                           Can you guess which one's the foreign diplomat?