Self-criticism and criticism: A sensitive issue?

(Baonghean) - Self-criticism and criticism that are superficial, roundabout, and unclear about right and wrong will make shortcomings become ineffective and more serious.

Each Party member, as well as the entire Party, has a history of birth, growth, and overcoming numerous opportunities and challenges. President Ho Chi Minh taught: "Our Party is not a saint, nor did it fall from the sky; it emerged from society." Overcoming hardships, people can become heroes or reveal weaknesses and shortcomings. The longer these shortcomings persist, the more they cling to the body, like dirt accumulating daily.

Therefore, according to President Ho Chi Minh, self-criticism to recognize and remove dirt is "as essential as daily bathing and washing one's face." Thus, to be clean, one must bathe; to mature, one must pay attention to criticism and self-criticism.

Operating in increasingly difficult conditions, facing numerous conflicts and facing greater challenges, makes it easier for people to develop flaws and become entangled in selfish conflicts. The root of all flaws is individualism. President Ho Chi Minh taught, "Individualism is a very poisonous germ, and therefore gives rise to very dangerous diseases."

Greed, laziness, boastfulness, factionalism, localism, lust for power, militarism, bureaucracy, detachment from the masses, narrow-mindedness, formalism, desk-bound work, indiscipline, selfishness, corruption... all stem from these issues. To treat these ailments, there is no more effective remedy than self-criticism and criticism, which helps us see our shortcomings and correct them, thereby strengthening the Party.

Thus, self-criticism and criticism are essential needs of life, and a rule for the maturation of the Party and its members.

Some argue that self-criticism and criticism are currently extremely sensitive issues because people inherently prefer praise and find it difficult to accept criticism. People tend to hesitate and avoid it because "People are often sensitive. Admitting one's mistakes, ignorance, or shortcomings might lead to a loss of face, prestige, or status."

Therefore, criticism is difficult, but self-criticism is even more difficult. In many cases, people use excuses to harshly criticize their comrades. In groups lacking internal unity or chasing after achievements, self-criticism and criticism are often carried out in a perfunctory manner. Regarding this issue, I would like to reiterate Uncle Ho's simple, intimate, and sincere advice: "Faults are like illnesses, and criticism is like taking medicine."

Fear of criticism is like being sick but hiding it and not daring to take medicine, allowing the illness to worsen... Being too considerate to criticize, allowing comrades to fall into mistakes and ruin things, is like seeing a comrade sick and not treating them; being too considerate to self-criticize, allowing one's own shortcomings to accumulate, is like poisoning oneself.”

It is difficult for anyone to avoid mistakes and shortcomings. The important thing is to dare to find and recognize those shortcomings in order to correct them. Our forefathers believed that "during so many years of clandestine activity, despite fierce repression by the colonialists and numerous difficulties and dangers faced by our Party, our Party has grown stronger and stronger, leading our people to a successful revolution and a victorious resistance war. This is because our Party skillfully used the sharp weapon of self-criticism and criticism."

Therefore, the spirit of camaraderie and fellowship after criticism and self-criticism becomes increasingly close and cherished, rather than harboring resentment due to personal animosities. Because before bringing something up in a meeting, we offer direct, sincere, and gentle feedback to each other, setting an example ourselves while also regularly reminding and encouraging our comrades to correct their mistakes and improve. Only when someone is uncooperative and unwilling to listen are they brought up in meetings.

Thus, criticism and self-criticism are difficult tasks that require skill, courage, and determination. And according to him, the most important thing is that it stems from a sincere commitment to comrades and to the common good.

Self-criticism and criticism aim to help each other progress, so the motives must be pure, based on "comradely love and affection," democratic, not authoritarian or labeling; not attacking or imposing shortcomings on each other, not nitpicking or "digging up" each other; "avoiding personal attacks, stubbornness, revenge, and pettiness."

Self-criticism and criticism must be resolute and uncompromising. President Ho Chi Minh also advised: "Self-criticism and correction are sometimes easy, but sometimes difficult and painful because of pride, habit, or other reasons. It is a struggle."

Therefore, self-criticism and criticism must be thorough, appropriate, and without favoritism or exaggeration. Only then can those with shortcomings correct them, and others be aware of them and avoid similar mistakes. Shortcomings are easier to correct early than when they become chronic problems.

Self-criticism and criticism that are superficial, roundabout, and unclear about right and wrong will only make shortcomings more resistant to treatment and more serious.

Self-criticism and criticism must be conducted "with wisdom and skill, like a mirror reflecting everyone's shortcomings so they can correct them." Self-criticism and criticism must be carried out within the organization, not indiscriminately. Leaders must be truly fair, creating a democratic and frank environment where everyone can clearly express their opinions, avoiding "secretiveness," "gossip," and internal disunity.

Self-criticism and criticism must be rooted in a sincere and open-minded attitude, accurately identifying strengths and weaknesses, and being timely and appropriate. It requires listening and waiting for the comrade to accept the criticism to avoid discouraging or resenting the recipient. President Ho Chi Minh used the analogy, "A sweet cake is delicious, but if you force someone to eat it, shoving it into their mouth, everyone will get tired of it."

Anh Hoa