NEWS CENTER
We are in favor of an active ideological struggle because it is the weapon with which we bring about unity within the party and within the revolutionary organizations in the interests of our struggle. Every communist and every revolutionary must resort to this weapon. Liberalism, however, renounces the ideological struggle and advocates an unprincipled peace; the result is a musty, bourgeois behavior and the political degeneration of certain units and members of the party and revolutionary organizations.
Liberalism has various manifestations:
When one knows perfectly well that someone is in the wrong, and yet does not deal with him on principle, but overlooks it for the sake of peace and friendship, because it is an acquaintance, a countryman, a schoolmate, an intimate friend, one whom one loves, If, for the sake of maintaining good relations with a friend, a fellow countryman, a schoolmate, an intimate friend, someone one loves, an old colleague or an old subordinate, or if one only touches upon the question without trying to resolve it thoroughly – all of which results in harm to the collective as well as to the individual – this is one of the manifestations of liberalism.
To criticize others irresponsibly behind their backs instead of addressing the organization with positive suggestions; not to express one’s opinion openly to someone’s face, but to gossip behind his back, or instead of speaking up in the meeting, to gossip in return; not to respect any principles of community life and to let oneself go completely free – this is a second manifestation.
To push as far away as possible what does not concern oneself; preferably to say as little as possible, even if one knows exactly what is wrong; to be concerned about one’s own skin, taking care only that one is not rebuked – this is a third manifestation. Not following instructions and putting one’s own opinion before everything else; making only demands on the organization, but not wanting to know anything about its discipline – this is a fourth manifestation.
Instead of fighting or confronting a wrong view for the sake of unity, for the sake of progress, for the sake of getting things done well, attacking others personally, starting a quarrel, venting one’s resentment or taking revenge – this is a fifth manifestation.
Not to object to the wrong opinions one hears and not to report even the statements of counter-revolutionaries, but to listen to everything calmly and pretend that nothing has happened – this is a sixth manifestation.
If one stays among the masses but does not make propaganda, does not agitate, does not speak to the masses, does not follow things up, does not inquire about anything, does not care about the weal and woe of the masses and behaves indifferently towards them; if one forgets that one is a communist and behaves as if a communist were the same as any ordinary citizen – this is a seventh manifestation.
Not to be indignant at a violation of the interests of the masses, not to admonish the culprit, not to put a stop to him and explain the injustice of his conduct, but to let him have his way – that is an eighth manifestation.
Not doing the work conscientiously, doing it without a certain plan, a certain orientation, doing everything formally and superficially and living in the day according to the saying “As long as one is a monk, he rings the bell” – this is a ninth manifestation.
Thinking oneself a meritorious revolutionary and insisting on one’s veteran status; not being up to important tasks but refusing less important ones; showing indifference in work and carelessness in study – this is a tenth manifestation.
Recognizing a mistake one has made, but not thinking of correcting it; adopting a liberal attitude toward oneself – this is an eleventh manifestation.
One could list others, but these eleven are the most important. These are all manifestations of liberalism. In revolutionary collectives, liberalism is extremely harmful. It is a corrosive agent that corrodes unity, loosens cohesion, causes passivity in work and discord. It robs the revolutionary ranks of tight organization and discipline, prevents the thorough implementation of political directives, and causes alienation between the party organization and the masses it leads. This is a seriously evil tendency.
Liberalism has its origin in the selfishness of the petty bourgeoisie, which puts personal interest first and that of the revolution second, giving rise to liberalism in the ideological, political and organizational fields. Liberals consider the principles of Marxism as abstract dogmas. They declare themselves in favor of Marxism, but they are not ready to put it into practice or to do so fully; they are not ready to put Marxism in place of their liberalism.
These people have some of both Marxism and liberalism: they mouth Marxism, but act in terms of liberalism; to others they are Marxist, but to themselves they are liberal. They carry both kinds of goods, and each has its own purpose. This is the way of thinking of certain people.
Liberalism is an expression of opportunism and comes into collision with Marxism from the ground up. It is something negative and objectively helps the enemy, so the enemy would like us to preserve liberalism in our midst. Because liberalism is by its very nature, there must be no room for it in the ranks of the revolution. We must overcome negative liberalism by virtue of the positive spirit of Marxism. A communist should be open-hearted, honest and active; the interest of the revolution must be dearer to him than his own life; he must subordinate his personal interests to the interests of the revolution; he must always and everywhere adhere to the correct principles and wage a tireless struggle against all wrong ideas and actions, thus strengthening the collective life of the party and the link between the party and the masses; he must care more about the party and the masses than about himself, more about other people than about himself.
Only then can he be considered a communist. All communists who are loyal to the party, open-hearted, active and upright must stand united against the liberal tendencies of certain people in order to put them on the right path. This is one of the tasks on the ideological front.
Mao Tse Tung
