I AM A GOOD COMMUNIST, SO I HOLD MY HEAD HIGH It is a pleasure, as the flour worker Grigorjesh Saliku from the village of Gjazë of our district’s united cooperative “Vilë-Bashtovë” tells me, a man with a clear and manly look. A lot to earn the family bread, seven children, yet he faces the situation. As a good communist, he remains proud and holds his head high. With respect he speaks about the time when he gained freedom, about the struggle the partisans waged, about the contribution made to liberating the country from the foreign occupier. — “If our party had not existed, what would the situation in our country be like?” — my interlocutor asks him. — “There would have been nothing good. Its leadership has brought order to life, to daily bread, to people, to administration and above all to the morality of the people, to their consciousness. These things must be guarded jealously and fanatically, so that they are not harmed. Today we are going through a difficult situation, but not an insurmountable one; therefore we must increase vigilance, must not become prey to malicious words, must not lose faith in our victories.” For example, the cooperative administration is admirable at this difficult economic moment. But there are a few people who kick communism aside and, unfortunately, spread propaganda high and low as if it were no big deal to be a communist. I do not know, but an important and upright person in the world, even an ordinary person but one with convictions, can never deny the contribution of the Party and comrade Enver over these 45 years. If there are such people, let them know they are on the wrong path. They have been misled by some plenary session or meeting that the press and television present, but they are not like that. Comrade Enver put into practice the teachings of Marxism-Leninism, which ensured socialism in Albania. Starting from this, we Albanians must dispel these doubts and wavering that some communist and democrat has, and defend and strengthen the victories of socialism. We must bear in mind that the main organized force of the people is the Party, with which we are bound body and soul. We must be as clear as people that the Party and its organizations will not let the victory of socialism slip from their hands, and that is what the situation demands today. I express these things with conviction and with a clear heart from the experience of activity with the Party over 45 years and with many, many workmates who work honestly for new victories in the economy and in every other sector. Do you see that every day there is biting and noise and slogans and cheers, but socialism is many times stronger than these adventures and useless constructions for humanity. Therefore, there will be no capitalism in Albania. Let whoever is approaching know that communism is the future of Albania. Therefore we must make workers and cooperative members give agriculture all their contribution in order to rise economically, so that there is no longer scarcity on our tables and to strengthen the true feeling of love for the Party and comrade Enver. This is the sure path. The others are useless. Woe to whoever listens to them and follows them. I have told many others too, sincerely, to strengthen the patriotic spirit and partisanship. Only thus shall we move forward.” For this age and these thoughts, I shake Grigorjesh Saliku’s hand with affection and respect, because he has understood well that the only organized force of the people is the Party. The people have everything from people’s power. Therefore there can be no doubt that the victories will be ours if we increase vigilance against every pseudodemocrat and against anyone who disturbs minds.

TODAY’S ISSUE At this decisive moment, speculation is still going on, but one thing is becoming clear: the farmer himself will turn around and fix what is being undermined. This can be seen in the new conditions today and, ultimately, it cannot be denied that the work of the cooperative member will be valued even more. There are many who have circled around the land issue; some cooperative administrations have sidestepped the farmer and have not asked for his opinion. This is wrong. Experience shows that when the farmer is asked, he gives his correct opinion, guides work in the right direction, and helps the economy avoid waste. They are a powerful army for agricultural production. In agriculture we must rely strongly on their opinion and initiative. This is not only an organizational issue, but also one of trust. When the farmer feels consulted and respected, he responds with work and responsibility. In many places questions are being raised about the way cooperatives are run, about forms of ownership, about compensation and the organization of work. This is not the time to act by orders, but by persuasion. This requires listening to the farmer’s voice and drawing correct conclusions. Things cannot move forward by leaving them in the fog. Clarification, discussion, and measured action are needed. The farmer knows how to tell who speaks to him honestly and who speaks with tricks. Therefore his conclusions are essential for every step taken today in the countryside. These conclusions should serve not only the ordering of daily work, but also the preservation of stability and production. If we want to avoid wavering, we must strengthen our link with the base and not go over its opinion. This is the lesson of these days.

— Demand for a strike or for justice at SMT?! A few days ago, in the premises of the SMT enterprise there was a commotion, with some young and older people and people of working age rushing about like foam, throwing slogans, so far and so on, and it was not understood what it began with or what it ended with. There was no shortage of inexplicable nonsense. People asked us to take this turmoil up. Words and actions that are not understood. Perhaps it has come from here. Near the construction site, in the district building, I saw more and louder activity. Someone spoke about the plan, someone about the quota, some spoke about wages. Others asked for explanations about the managers. Someone asked why there are no spare parts, why the machines are standing still. Others said that there must be more order and justice. Quite a few workers spoke about the way reserves are being managed, about delays in supplies, about lack of discipline, about lack of accounting. There was talk about shifts, boards, the work plan and pay. Some said there are people who behave arrogantly and others who work more and are paid less. At one point I heard it said that a strike was being carried out. But what kind of strike is this, when nobody clearly presents the demands, when there are no elected representatives, when some leave and some stay and listen? This makes one think that there is also incitement here, as well as confusion, as well as resentment, but not a clear and organized stance. If there are real problems, they must be said openly, responsibly, without insults and without empty slogans. The worker has the right to ask for clarification, justice, better wages, better working conditions, but he must do so with a clear mind and not by turning against his own enterprise. This is not the time for outbursts without direction. The time is for clarification, for analysis, for discipline and for fair judgment. If there are managers who make mistakes, let them be held accountable. If there are shortcomings in organization, let them be corrected. If there is injustice in pay, let it be fixed. But all this requires calm, not noise. Many people ended the discussion with the question: is this a demand for a strike or a demand for justice at SMT? That is precisely where the knot of the problem lies.

Several times Dodë Hoti, a pensioner from the village of Kashnjet and known as a person who accurately observes and evaluates social phenomena, has been on my mind. Recently he has begun to elaborate his thoughts on many issues and, especially in the emotional sphere, his turns of phrase are surprising and interesting. I sat down and spoke with him, driven by curiosity to know in more detail what the claims are of this man, more than twenty years younger than retirement age, who has now transferred his life from the house to the center in order to deal more with the affairs he has left and will leave for future days. Still not understood? On the road to Kashnjet he kept repeating the idea: “Do you know what the great changes that are happening are, except that some things are being broken and some good things are also being created?” Such questions were waiting several kilometers away. I remembered them well after returning when the conversation focused on the democratic process in our country. It was clear that we both thought alike on the fact that improvements are moving forward, but that they need to be understood. Some rules of life were changing. Some welcomed them, others did not. There are also those who overdo zeal and those who block every movement. Next, Dodë Hoti spoke about youth, the family, the village and the working man. He dwelt at length on the need to preserve calm, not to get involved in excessive talk, not to confuse freedom with the destruction of order. In his view, without order and responsibility there can be neither democracy nor economy nor mutual understanding. “Many are talking, but few are doing,” he told me. “An honest person must speak plainly, but also work. Otherwise everything remains words. This time requires thought, not noise.” He then gave examples from village life, from field work, from relations in the family and in the neighborhood. Everywhere he saw the same thing: the need for measured words and careful behavior. He especially dwelt on young people, whom he urged not to rush after every word they heard. My conversation with him left a strong impression on me. In his simplicity, pensioner Dodë Hoti expressed not only concern, but also wisdom. He did not deny anything that was changing, but he demanded that everything be understood correctly and not turn into confusion. That was the essence of his insistence.