Great Lessons of the Past

Amongst us Soviet communists, there is a great tradition as regards any important date in the life of our leaders, and we dwell into their history, details and all aspects of information that can give us a clearer picture of their greatness and their persona. Facts like these can be used even now in the struggles for the truth and socialism.

Not too long ago, the historians opened up the book of names when they were born, gotten from the Monastery in Gory, which showed that Stalin was born not on December 9, 1879, as was celebrated up to now, but on December 18, 1878, so that last December 18, 2003 was the 125th anniversary of the birth of this great state and political leader. This again- brings us to dwell into the history of this great figure of the 20^th Century. There is an ongoing discussion, arguments and debates about this great personality, and in most cases these arguments are based on lies and innuendoes.

For some, who forgot or forget the characteristics of Lenin, who praised Stalin as one of the most dedicated, talented Bolsheviks whom Lenin proposed to be a member of the Politbureau of the Bolshevik Party. These people are constantly repeating the same lies, the same hearsay and trying with all their power to hang a mantel of revisionism on Stalin. These people cannot see or understand any positive aspects in Stalin and debunk all of his accomplishments as a leader, as a theoretic and as a Bolshevik. When they cannot hide the truth that is evident in history about the great achievements of the Soviet Union under Stalin, they then fall back on the tactics of --- Yes, there were many achievements under Stalin, but they would have been achieved anyway, much better, much faster and with less victims and strife.

Others, forgetting that every person has weaknesses and support Stalin in all aspects, even though some decisions could have been better thought through. These people forget that Stalin himself criticized this hero-worship and bowing, as was done before and thus this hero-worship produced results which were not Bolshevik or good for the revolutionary struggles. He as a Bolshevik demanded criticism and self-criticism as the way towards a better society, on the road towards Communism.

This policy of critical analyses, criticism and self-criticism as a leader even under Lenin, showed that Stalin was able to have the people follow and set up the first Socialist State on this planet - these so-called analysts-historians forget this crucial and cardinal point.

Let us look more closely at he work and leadership of Stalin in the Caucasus and his revolutionary activities. I would suggest to the readers of NSC, to restudy and re-read the historical past materials, written about the Baku period and Stalin’s struggles and leadership during the period of 1905-07 years. These materials will show the rationale, the analyses and the Bolshevik criteria and plans of struggle during this important period.

For those communists who want or think that they can resurrect socialism through revolutionary or parliamentary means, without the participation of the working class, without getting them involved – you should understand as Stalin understood that, only leaders of the revolutionary movements cannot themselves bring on a change without the participation of the working class.

The classical words of Stalin after the defeat of the Baku Commissars are valid today as never before. " We should never forget, that our organization of Bolsheviks will grow only as we are able to involve the participation of the proletariat!"

Communists cannot base them- selves on achieving a change of a regime and institute socialism by parliamentary means - because even if the Communists are successful in getting a majority in parliament, they will never be successful to eliminate the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie will always sabotage, unravel, and break any resolution or act that would be passed by a parliament headed by communists.

In order to have a success in planning a revolutionary change, Stalin proposed and demanded that there be set up in every industry, enterprise, factory, party committees: "these organs of the party are the ones that are capable to spread the revolutionary fervor amongst the masses. These people in the factory committees are alive, who can bring around the party large masses of people. To do this and be successful, these party committee’s of Bolsheviks must be at the center of all struggles, all problems that are brought up by the workers – be their actual defenders – this is the task of these party committees (page 151).

Stalin even went on the say that these party committees at the factory level, must be supplemented by higher party structures – the main objective is that the party must be with the workers, defending their struggles and their rights, as the vanguard leader.

Only in this way can we think of rebuilding socialism in the post-socialist countries, for now, using peaceful methods but building up for the overthrow of the present regimes in the ex-Soviet Union. The present trade union leaders are basing themselves on the bankrupt policies of Gorbachevism and "perestroika". This method is used by the present regime in order to break-up, nullify the gains and split the communists into small groupings – which are then ineffective.

Communists today in ex-USSR have still to earn how they can influence the working class – they must learn very quickly. Without the idea of leading the working class, they should learn from the history of the preparation for the Great October Socialist Revolution. Otherwise, we are going backwards in the struggle to overthrow capitalism. We must lead the masses against imperialism and against the New World Order!

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