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Notes -
Hungary is a country known for its eclectic-styled Parliament building, classical composers, Jewish STEM people, and, more recently, Viktor Orban. The last enjoying a less uniformly good reputation in the US, than the preceding three.
The American conservatives has collaborated with him, and even held a con in Budapest, but the American progressives (and their ideological allies in Europe) have criticized his policies and rule in general. The main issues they have with are alleged corruption and authoritarianism, alleged anti-LGBTQIA2S+ policies, and most recently, alleged pro-Russia stance.
The recent electoral defeat of the closest thing he has to an ally in the EU, Polish PiS party, probably has him worried. Before he could count on Poland to prevent the sternest EU punishments being meted out, but the victory of Donald T. throws a wrench in Viktors continued plans for Hungary. On the other hand, recent triumph of Fico in the formerly magyarizated country of Slovakia may provide a replacement friend in the EU. In 2022 Hungary net received from the EU 4.444x10^9 EUR, which is 2.5% of the Hungarian 2022 GDP or 13% of the Hungarian 2022 fiscus. It is possible he avoids sanctions by mere surface level changes, while staying the course, but unlike the founding member, New Europe doesn't have the favour of EU leadership, so its violations of EU laws aren't going to be overlooked and forgotten.
The latest news from the landlocked country, formerly ruled by an admiral, is that a photograph exhibition held in Budapest was forced to deny admission to minors. The reason being that some photos depicted members of an "LGBTQ+" community, photos which were described by the director of the exhbition as being "positive and inclusive". The word "censorship" was also used to describe this move to prevent children from being exposed to content which the state deems to be inappropriate for them.
The parallel to the American parents opposed to minors being allowed to view content considered by them to promote or normalize LGBTQIA2S+ lifestyles and thus arguing that school libraries shouldn't stock materials considered controversial, to me appears obvious. I assume that Orbans focus on cutting off children from LGBTQIA2S+ materials is partially motivated by his knowledge of American right wing tactics, gained by their co-operation with him, and partially it being less controversial than cutting off willing adults. Children are still considered to be innocent of sexual knowledge, and attempts to render them not so, are in some cases already illegal.
As an European supporter or whatever can punish the left, I do not see any problem with these. A photograph exhibition was censored? No problem, being in Budapest these artsy types were probably progressives, so punishment should be inflicted before they have any chance of doing something.
Cultural war is cultural struggle, and the first policy of war is not letting your enemy be free of doing any action he desires.
“Who, whom?” all the way to the grave, is it?
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There is something to this. Progressivism doesn't have a limiting factor. Which means there must be battle lines drawn somewhere.
In Hungary, the debate is whether it's legal to have minors at an LGBT art show.
In Canada, the debate is whether you can be jailed and lose your kids for denying transgender identity.
By fighting the war in the enemy's turf, you prevent it from being fought in yours.
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