The journalist Cristian Tudor Popescu analyzed, on Romania’s National Day, the meanings of the celebration, which is missing from the ceremonies after 1989, making an analogy between the festivities of December 1 and those of August 23 from the communist times.
“Once upon a time, Romania’s national holiday was August 23. After `89 it was abolished. A mistake, in my opinion. Its meaning had to be recovered, removing the communist lie of the main role in the insurrection that the PCR, an annex party of the USSR, would have played. King Mihai and the historical parties, PNȚ, PNL, Social-Democrats, the leadership of the Army, the main factors of the coup d’état that ousted the military-fascist leader Ion Antonescu, reinstated.
And then, August 23 could be celebrated with a military parade, as it is now on December 1, as the day of the Romanian Army, which fought hard to liberate every inch of Romanian land from the Nazi occupation.
And December 1 to truly be the National Holiday of the Union. The military symbol is not entirely unifying – especially since the role of the military in the fight for the Union is quite controversial. The armed forces defend the unity and sovereignty of the state in the face of external aggression. But the main danger does not come from outside. Internal war, all against all, can break the country.” the journalist began his analysis.
He also recalls the fact that, during the communist period, “on August 23, in a communist festivity form, all socio-professional categories of Romania were still represented”, which, in his opinion, should still be found today.
In his view, it would be ideal for Romanians from all areas of the country and from the diaspora to gather in Alba Iulia, on Horea Field, like the participants from 1918, along with unions and guilds, which could be represented by delegates. In addition, Romanians who have achieved international recognition, from athletes and artists to scientists and magistrates, should be much more visible at events, and politicians less so.
“Even the AUR Romanians (who all look alike as if they were taken out of a genetic reactor)… cannot be denied participation”, believes Cristian Tudor Popescu.
“On August 23, in communist festivity form, all socio-professional categories of Romania were still represented. Industrial workers, peasants, engineers, doctors, teachers, athletes, artists, soldiers… That’s how December 1st should be. Romanians from all corners of the country and from the diaspora should gather not in Bucharest, in the narrow place around the Arc de Triomphe, but in Alba, in the wide area, on Horea Square, as in 1918. Unions, professional organizations can bring representatives of the guilds.
Politicians and priests storm anyway, but it would be natural to see Romanians there who do us honor: Nadia Comăneci, Laura Codruța Kovesi, Simona Halep, David Popovici, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry Stefan Walter Hell, Ana Blandiana, Silviu Purcărete, Victor Rebengiuc, the violinist Alexandru Tomescu or the young Romanian Miguel Gane, the best-selling contemporary poet in Spain.
Even the magistrates, a hateful separatist association, contemptuous of the rest of the Romanians, should be represented. Even
AUR Romanians (who all resemble each other as if they were taken out of a genetic reactor), although they are the party with the Union in the name, but the biggest generator of hatred, aggression and exclusion, they cannot be denied participation.
And many, many Romanians, at least 100,000 like a century ago, came of their own accord. Hore, spread tables, polenta, chutney with beans, sausages and sarmales.
From August 23, the portraits of the communist leaders were agitated, then only those of N and E Ceaușescu. Since December 1st, I haven’t seen the portraits of Ferdinand the Completer, Queen Maria, Ion IC Brătianu, Iuliu Maniu, Vasile Goldiș, Ion Inculeț, Iancu Cavaler de Flondor, Gh. Pop de Băsești…
And there was something missing at the show of force of the Romanian Army: a Russian drone, which would give rants on top, with a guard of honor flying our fighter planes”, Cristian Tudor Popescu concluded his message on Romania’s National Day.
