Dashnor Kaloçi
The third part
Memorie.al publishes an archival document issued by the Central State Archive in Tirana (Fund of the former Central Committee of the ALP), where the discussion of Enver Hoxha held at the meeting of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the ALP on February 23, 1973, where the main cadres of the highest forum of the organization of the Albanian Working Youth Union, chaired by Agim Mero, the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Albanian Working Youth Union, were also invited. that Enver ordered to be called urgently to that meeting. Enver Hoxha’s full speech at that meeting where he for the first time analyzed all the “problems of youth” as well as “its education”, with art, culture, literature, cinema, books, libraries, homes and culture, stocks, discounts, volunteer work, etc. As well as the problems that had emerged and appeared in some young people, with fashion, foreign shows, modernist influences, etc.
“I believe that there is no house of culture, where there are no different musical instruments, many of which are produced inside, are also brought from abroad, and that all together have helped a lot for the entertainment and education of the youth. In this area, there is a great development, a great progress has been made everywhere. The youth have these tools in their hands, which we see in Estrada and at festivals. This is a great pleasure, then why underestimate it? That they need even more, there is no doubt that yes, and efforts should be made for this, but to darken the issue and say that the shepherds who stay in the summer in the mountains of Lenia and Gramoz do not have a radio or there is no film itself, that is to speak in the wind. Any shepherd can very well buy a battery-powered radio, if he wants, because there is a day in the market and his work is bigger than the others and not to be expected that the state will do everything. Friends of the youth, you are looking for many special clubs for the youth in the cities and this, wherever possible, let it be done, but as far as I know these are also built, equipped with everything, even with billiards, yes then they closed because they departed from the purpose for which they were raised. ”
This was stated, among others, by Enver Hoxha in his speech at the meeting of the secretariat of the Central Committee of the ALP on February 23, 1973, where the main cadres of the high forum of the organization of the Youth Working Union were invited. Albania, which at that time was headed by Agim Mero. This meeting of the secretariat of the Central Committee of the ALP took place only shortly after the 11th Song Festival on Radio-Television and the speech of Enver Hoxha held on January 9 of that year in the office of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of Albania, where he spoke for the first time against “liberal attitudes and foreign performances in art and culture” and their impact on the whole life of the country. For more about this, the document in question introduces us to the discussion of Enver Hoxha that Memorie.al publishes in full since this issue.
Continues from the last number
Discussion of Enver Hoxha in the meeting of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the ALP, on February 23, 1973
The factory workers, not to mention the clerks, who are hard to control, instead work eight full hours, work six to six and a half hours and a maximum of seven hours. In the village the working time drops to five or six hours. So why talk about doing eight hours, or having the village youth do five hours a day? I can be told that this is not the case. You can, but then prove it to us. But just to know one thing, that the young man in the cooperative does not work in isolation, he works in the brigade, so together with the brigade he has to start and finish the work. Let us not forget, too, that the work of the worker is controlled, however this control must still be strengthened, it must also be controlled, the hoe thrown by the cooperator, why from the blow of the hoe depends the delay in work, or leaving quickly, and the money he receives every 15 days and sees the result of the work at the end of the year.
You can easily say that this claim of the rural youth is not excessive, but do not forget that even agricultural production has its own requirements, has its strong discipline, the way and the amount of work has been calculated. Many of the agricultural leaders at first make commitments and make sensational promises, and in the end, we see many deficits created. In agriculture, there are also brigades of the same cooperative, where such young people work day and night and work miracles, while there are other brigades where, although there are many young people, they are far behind. This does not mean that the youth of the village do not have fun and do not relax. However, the work should be better organized, the mechanisms should be better used, a lot of work should be mechanized to save time, but to do as you say, it seems to me that it will be difficult. Young men and women cooperatives must first complete 8 hours properly and this for agricultural work is not something fixed as in the factory, because in agriculture will have to work even harder, as there are moments when cooperatives tie their hands, not that they should to tie them, but they do it to smoke cigarettes, or to have endless conversations.
Also, it seems to me as an inconceivable thing, since in some jobs we work in three shifts, in them we have to completely change the construction of all cultural, artistic, sports, etc. work. A small thing, when it is possible, let it be seen, as it comes, a cinema to work even in the morning for the workers of the second and third tours, but to make radical changes in this direction, this is difficult, because we lack tools, staff, etc. Excuse me, friends of the youth, for it may seem to you that this conversation of mine contains a series of rebukes for your work. This is somewhat true, but it must be said that in the work of our youth there are many good things that are great, both in number and in moral, ideological and political values, and very inspiring for all, but among all these there are also drawbacks. Are we allowed to hide these flaws? No, friends! This is not what the Party teaches us, on the contrary, we should pay attention to them in order to correct them as soon as possible. I could have used another slightly easier form to point out the shortcomings I posed, but I thought that the comrades of the Secretariat of the Central Youth Committee, despite being young in age, are mature communists, those Party and the youth has given them rights and assigned them important tasks. Then let these friends hear these remarks from us, as we think, because they themselves know how to find the most suitable forms to pave the way for the youth.
We understand very well our wonderful youth and we are more than convinced that even the youth understands us of the older generation. The Party’s struggle for the education of the workers and the youth, among others, must also be seen in relation to the war waged by the imperialist and revisionist enemies against our country, with the ideological pressure they exert on our people. The party has constantly talked about the imperialist-revisionist siege. It seems to me that this realistic thesis of the Party is often misunderstood by some, it is taken only as a geographical notion and as a warning to always be militarily ready to face the eventual aggression of these savage enemies of our socialist homeland. But this is one-sided. It is necessary to deeply understand that the imperialist-revisionist siege is expressed every day and every hour by means of great ideological pressure, which aims to confuse the minds of those careless people of ours, to disrupt our economy and organization, to degenerate politically and morally the masses and in particular our youth and intelligence, weaken the revolutionary spirit and nurture indifference and apoliticism.
In this way the revisionists took power in the Soviet Union and in many other countries. Let us never forget this bitter experience. The enemy element within the country, driven by imperialism and revisionism, in various forms has appropriated and tries to apply these tactics in its fight against the Party of popular power. The enemy cannot openly oppose the Party line, because he knows that the coup of popular power will fall strongly on him, but he tries to distort the directives of the Party and the government. He is afraid to come out openly, for example, against agricultural cooperatives or to sabotage production as he pleases, because he knows he suffers very badly, but in various ways he encourages the undoing of work discipline, where he can encourage tendencies to put above all personal close interest, try to thwart revolutionary initiatives to set advanced norms, to increase productivity, and so on.
The enemy element cannot openly call against the popular power, against socialism, because it has tried and knows that the working masses themselves, our own revolutionary youth would throw themselves in the throat to bury him alive, therefore, to achieve them his hostile intentions, tries to degenerate the power of our socialist order by encouraging liberalism and indifference, by opening the way for foreign influences to enter us. as in arts and literature, in manner of conduct, in fashion, & c. Therefore, we must be vigilant to notice not only the foreign performances and influences that are evident to be understood, but also some disguised tendencies in some writings that are published about our literature, theater or music, with the intention that to dictate in time some spots, which, if left untouched, will thicken and become horny. It is imperative that these problems become the subject of our ideological struggle on the front lines of literature and the arts, especially for some things that do not sound good. One of the forms of work to raise the ideological and cultural level and to sharpen the vigilance of our people are discussions and debates, so that no obstacles are brought to the confrontation of opposing opinions and the comprehensive beating of problems. Talking in the smoke, without being prepared and enough to say something, is wrong.
To speak in order to approve something, without knowing why it is, means to express baseless and worthless thoughts. Objective discussion, based on a sufficient degree of knowledge, is always useful. Judging by a literary or artistic work, you can raise the good and bad sides in terms of its style, construction, language, etc., as well as its political and ideological nature. Deficiencies in style, in the construction of the work, in the beauty of expressions, etc., are deficiencies of growth, while issues of a political and ideological nature are extremely important. We could accept a work written poorly stylistically, but we can in no way accept a work where there are and are defended reactionary views. Discussion in all these areas is necessary, even necessary, it must become lively and revolutionary, especially against foreign views. There are times when a perverted opinion is expressed, according to which I wanted us to follow the path of European development closed. No, comrades, we cannot and should not follow the “path of Europe”, on the contrary it is Europe that should follow our path, because from a political point of view it is far behind us, it is very far from what Marx, Engels fought for, Lenin and Stalin and for which our Party is fighting today. Of course, there is no denying that there are good things in Europe, especially in terms of the development of science and technology.
We do not reject these realizations, but in no way can we accept that politically “to develop in the European way”, It is completely different when we try to get something from non-socialist countries in the field of material development. In everyday life, the expression “The French have made this” is sometimes used. Our people have used this expression to point out the mastery and skill of the one who produced it, and it is not difficult to understand that the thing that came from abroad is not at all the work of the corrupt bourgeoisie, but of the working class. and that technical intelligence of the country where it was produced, which has been merged into labor and brutally exploited by capital, and lives in suffering and misery. Having these issues clearly, then we will be able to properly oppose and show the country to them, which, for certain political purposes, recommend us to follow the “European path of development”. There are some who think that the momentum of the fight against foreign appearances and influences will last a month or at most a month and a half, then it will fall and be passed to some other slogan. No, comrades, the Party has worked, is working and will continue to work for us until the development of the revolution in the field of ideology and culture, which is characterized by the class struggle against all forms of foreign ideology, will not take place even for a month. nor for two, but for a very long time, for tens and tens of years.
The manifestations of bourgeois and revisionist ideology have appeared especially in recent years, when the Party is fighting intensely and frontally for its revolutionization, of the youth and of all the broad masses of the people. Have you, friends of the youth, noticed this phenomenon? Why did you start acting only when I spoke at the Presidium of the People’s Assembly? Have these problems never been raised before by the Party?! Do you think, comrade Ilia! that, for example, the youth of Vlora, with all those great traditions of heroism and exemplary wars for Albania against bourgeois and fascist Italy, welcome with applause the staging of debauched Italian songs, sung in Italian, about love? This was not allowed to happen, but those who run these jobs had planned and rehearsed to show him such songs. Part of the youth, since there was no signal and since the one who put it on stage claimed that “he had the approval from above”, it was no wonder that he could applaud these songs without sound content.
We must work for people to judge for themselves and, when they see such scenes, to have the courage to say: “Get out of here with this show! If you really got the approval in Tirana, I write to those who told you that they are not okay. We, here in Vlora, do not sing debauched Italian love songs “. You should not back down from your views even when you are told that this issue has been seen and decided by the Party, because, under the guise of the Party, in some cases, many bad things can be hidden. If the criticism of Radio-Television is made to some extent, but does not go to the end, then the problems are rounded off and, to cover the weaknesses, it is said: “Well, these are what the Party has decided”, “These are what the Party knows”. Do you realize that big mistakes can be made that way? The party has directives, but they are distorted by some people. Those who distort the Party’s directives must be held accountable, fighting their thoughts through discussion and debate, which, when developed in the right Marxist-Leninist spirit, help greatly to find a way out.
If even strong discussions do not resolve the issue, then the Party looks deeply into the whole problem and draws the correct conclusion as to who is responsible. Now that this problem has been raised by the Party, all those who have made mistakes have gathered their feet. Why didn’t you publish in the newspaper “Zeri i rinisë” the article that was prepared for the 11th Radio and Television Song Festival? In that article you expressed your thoughts about the festival. Whether or not what the article contained was fair, you decide, because “Voice of Youth” is a body of the Central Committee of BRPSH. Todi Lubonja had no right to ask for the article to be viewed before publication. He did so after I had spoken at the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, where, among other things, I criticized the festival because before this time, he swam in spheres of pleasure. You sent the article to Todd for no reason, who, after reading it, wrote that the article was “neither meat nor fish”. Where was your courage to publish your thoughts in the press, regardless of the opinion of another, as you had them and to take responsibility before the Party? If you do not have the right thoughts, the Party will criticize you and explain. If you had it well, then you would enter into a necessary conflict with the comrades of Radio-Television and help the Party.
In this case, you could say to Todi Lubonja: “We have our opinion, what do you want that is interfering with us”?! As Mrs. Lumturi (Rexha) said, neither you, nor some young people who had opinions about the festival, Todi did not ask you. So, by what right did he ask to check the article you wanted to publish? In that case you should have said: “Do not turn your arms and do not enter where you do not belong!”. You can tell us the item was not in order. If so, you did well not to publish it in the newspaper, because it could create an unsatisfactory situation for the youth and its leadership. But I raise the issue from the point of view of courageously defending thoughts and holding accountable for the actions you perform. Even if you have a wrong opinion, it is better to say it than to keep it in your head. Even when a theatrical performance is watched by one of the conductors, it does not mean that he realizes immediately, on the spot, in all the details, the good and the weak sides of the part that appears. If the leader is asked for his opinion immediately, he can immediately say something not very grounded, but, when he returns home and reflects slowly, then he is able to give a more accurate judgment.
The good thing is in these cases, not to rush into giving opinions, especially when something appears for the first time. I, when I saw the drama “Brown Spots”, from the beginning I did not approve. When I went on vacation, Thoma Deliana, expressed to me the opinion that she was “very beautiful”, “new part”, “innovative” etc. I did not say anything. After I saw it to the end, then I told Thomas that the drama seemed wrong to me and, in my opinion, it was not worth it to appear on stage anymore. Even when the last festival on Radio-Television was organized, some songs could be beautiful, so any responsible friend may have said kind words about them. But those who are predisposed to mix good with evil can hardly wait to capitalize on these words and to interpret and propagate everything to their liking. I do not equate the mistake of an adult with a modernist point of view, with that of a young boy, who does not understand evil, remembering that it is good, as they say to him as if ostensibly recommended by the Party. The young man thinks this with all his heart, because for the Party he is ready to be set on fire. But people with modernist views, who aim to lead the youth in a crooked path and work for seven or eight months to publicly display unpleasant things, should be judged differently.
When they say that “this is how the leadership judged”, that “in order to sing these songs at the festival, the leadership gave the order, who sees these things better”, etc., they intend to stifle criticism from below. This is where one of the weaknesses of this issue lies. With these slogans, such people want to round up and cover their guilt in front of the youth and the masses, presenting the issue as if a leading friend of the Party had told a friend of theirs, that he allegedly liked it very much. this or that part, which is played on stage. These rumors circulate word of mouth and the word gë may have been said by a friend who said: “This deed or song as if it was not bad”, turns into a thought of the leadership, as if she has said that she is very good!! People with modernist and liberal views speculated with the expressions: “This is what the leadership thinks”. “The leadership knows that.” Indeed, the inspirer of distorted views and tendencies was Fadil Paçrami, who, being a member of the Central Committee of the Party and secretary of the Party Committee of Tirana. The Party is not endangered when even one of its leading leaders, who has made a wrong assessment, is told: “You, comrade, have done wrong!” In such a case, on the contrary, it is very good for the Party and the leader himself to have his mind and not to rush another time in the assessments he makes./Memorie.al
Continues in the next issue
