According to David Pressman, "it is very dangerous to suggest that foreign powers want to influence Hungarian politics"!
What is interesting is not so much what the opposition is outraged about - but what they are not outraged about. For example, on educational programs and scholarships of the US Embassy. Let's see what they have to offer!
The big news, the "scandal" of the opposition press is that the data of applicants for the training courses of the non-profit company Megafon Kft. was leaked. It's almost unbelievable, but there was a municipal representative close to Fidesz or a Fidesz member, and even - horribile dictu - a mayor among them!
It's time for me to come out of the closet, i.e. to come out: last year I also completed the Megafon course.
The course was about how to communicate meaningfully on online social platforms, how to stand out from the noise and avoid censorship if possible. Nothing special and secret, especially irregular or illegal, was said, nor was anyone encouraged to do so.
As a provocation, I prepared a small exercise criticizing the government, but nothing happened even then.
They didn't call an exorcist, they didn't expose him as a spy.
But what is interesting is not what the opposition is outraged about - but rather what they are not outraged about!
For example, on educational programs and scholarships of the US Embassy.
Let's take a look around at what they offer:
Benjamin Franklin Summer Institute Scholarship for high school students: young people between the ages of 16 and 18, so partially minors, are welcome here. Excerpt from the call:
The four-week program allows 16- to 18-year-olds to learn about U.S. foreign policy priorities such as youth engagement, support for democracy and civil society, and economic prosperity.
Applicant profile
Applicants should have a strong interest in diplomacy, transatlantic relations, the role of a free press in democracies, and public or community service.
Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in communication, advocacy, debate or civic participation. Participants must possess the academic aptitude required for this type of program and the personal qualities necessary for successful participation, including maturity, strong social skills, flexibility and openness. Applicants should also be aware that, if selected, they will be expected to participate fully and seriously in all elements of the program during the month, as well as in subsequent activities in their home country. During the academic stay, participants will have the opportunity to discuss other topics such as democratic practices, conflict management, problem solving, communication skills, critical thinking, respect for tolerance and diversity, youth leadership, team building and the media. After returning home, participants implement service projects in their own communities and present an alumni project plan to a youth-serving or youth-focused organization in their home country.
In Hungarian, they train activists in the spirit of "tolerance and diversity", which for them means the fight against white supremacy, the support of uncontrolled migration and the support of LGBTQ issues.
All this with a transatlantic commitment to the "free" (i.e. corresponding to their interests) press.
Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship : provides academic and professional opportunities to develop the reporting skills of women and non-binary journalists working on human rights and social justice. The scholarship was established in memory of Boston Globe correspondent and IWMF Courage in Journalism Award (1998) recipient Elizabeth Neuffer, who died on May 9, 2003, while reporting in Iraq. In partnership with Neuffer's family and friends, the IWMF launched this program to honor Neuffer's legacy while also promoting his work in the fields of human rights and social justice.
Again, "human rights and social justice" means, in their opinion, the representation of oppressed minorities (non-white, non-binary, migrants, people with disabilities) against what they believe to be the oppressive majority, all of which is topped with open gender discrimination: why are they excluding the men from this scholarship?!
Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship : In the spirit of international exchange, the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program, based at the International Forum for the Study of Democracy, supports democratic activists, scholars, and journalists from around the world to conduct independent research, build individual capacity, and advance ideas. exchange in order to strengthen democratic development in their countries, regions or fields of expertise.
All this under the wings of the National Endowment for Democracy, which was created the US Congress to take over the CIA's previously hidden propaganda and influence tasks. Who could promote backward Hungarian democracy better than them?!
World Press Institute (WPI) scholarship : annually provides 10 experienced foreign journalists with practical training on US government, politics, business, media, journalistic ethics and culture. The training focuses primarily on journalism, including the role and responsibility of the free press in democracy. The busy schedule includes education, travel and interviewing in various parts of the country.
The selected finalists are among the best journalists They are inherently curious, intelligent and ambitious, and approach journalism with a deep sense of commitment and responsibility.
If a journalist from 444 and Pesti Srácok applies, which one has a chance of getting through? According to them, the pro-government press is not "free", only the opposition press.
Atlas Corps Fellowship : The US Department of State is pleased to announce the Atlas Corps Fellowship – a unique opportunity for emerging civil society leaders to participate in a 12-18 month professional fellowship in the United States. Each fellow will be assigned to a leading social change organization in the United States. Applications are welcome from people working in the nonprofit/NGO sector, with 2-10 years of experience, a college degree and English language skills.
What could be more independent, more "NGO" (non-governmental, i.e. civil organization) than the one sponsored by the US State Department?! The NGOs are the ones who force the will of the globalists on the reluctant national governments and parliaments by strategic litigation, taking cases to international forums and courts and playing civility there.
" It is very dangerous to suggest that foreign powers want to influence Hungarian politics, and also if they want to use all this to restrict Hungarians' right to express their opinions," David Pressman from Pécs told Telex. He has a sense of humor!
This is just one of many embassy programs. Megafon is dwarfed by these and their financial possibilities.
This is something the opposition will never be upset about.
Featured image: MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák
