Self-criticism and criticism: A sensitive practice?

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

Every party member, as well as our entire Party, has a process of being born, growing up, experiencing many opportunities and challenges. Uncle Ho taught: "Our Party is not a Saint and does not fall from the sky, it comes from society." Overcoming hardships, people can become heroes or reveal weaknesses and shortcomings. The longer the shortcomings last, the more they stick to the body like dirt accumulated every day.

Therefore, according to Uncle Ho, self-criticism to clearly recognize and remove dirt is "like the daily task of bathing and washing your face" indispensable. Thus, to be clean, you must bathe, to be mature, you must pay attention to criticism and self-criticism.

The more difficult the conditions are, the more conflicts there are, and the greater the challenges that are required, the more likely people are to develop shortcomings and encounter selfish grudges. The father of all shortcomings is individualism. Uncle Ho taught, “Individualism is a very toxic germ, which in turn causes very dangerous diseases.”

Greed, laziness, boastfulness, factionalism, localism, fame-seeking, militarism, bureaucracy, alienation from the masses, narrow-mindedness, formalism, bureaucratic work style, lack of discipline, selfishness, corruption... all come from there. To treat these diseases, there is no more effective medicine than self-criticism and criticism, which help us see our shortcomings so that we can correct them, thereby making the Party stronger and stronger.

Thus, self-criticism and criticism are inevitable needs of life, and are the law of growth of the Party and Party members.

Some opinions say that nowadays, self-criticism and criticism are extremely sensitive because the human psychology inherently likes to be praised and finds it difficult to accept criticism. People are easily hesitant and avoid it because "People are often self-conscious. Admitting their mistakes, ignorance, and shortcomings makes them afraid of losing face, prestige, and status."

Therefore, criticism is difficult, self-criticism is even more difficult. There are many cases where people use excuses to harshly criticize their comrades. In groups that lack internal unity or are chasing after achievements, self-criticism and criticism are often carried out in a formal way. On this issue, I would like to reiterate Uncle Ho's simple, close and sincere advice: "Flaws are like diseases, criticism is like taking medicine.

Fear of criticism is like having an illness but not daring to take medicine, allowing the illness to get worse... being considerate and not criticizing, allowing your comrades to keep making mistakes and ruining the job, is like seeing your comrades sick and not treating them, being considerate and not daring to self-criticize, allowing your own shortcomings to accumulate, is like giving yourself poison.

It is difficult for any human being to avoid mistakes and shortcomings. The important thing is to dare to find and clearly recognize the shortcomings in order to correct them. The generation of our fathers believed that "in many years of secret activities, despite being severely terrorized by the colonialists and our Party facing many difficulties and dangers, our Party has grown stronger and stronger and has led our people to make a successful revolution and win the resistance war, that is because our Party skillfully uses the sharp weapon of self-criticism and criticism".

That is why the spirit of comradeship and teamwork after criticism and self-criticism becomes increasingly close and respectful, instead of being hostile to each other because of personal grudges. Because before bringing it to the meeting, we give each other direct, sincere, and gentle comments, both setting an example ourselves and regularly reminding and encouraging our comrades to improve and progress. Only when that person is not receptive and does not listen carefully, is it brought to the meeting.

Thus, criticism and self-criticism are difficult tasks that require skill, courage and determination. And according to him, the most important thing is to come from the heart with comrades and with the common work.

Self-criticism and criticism aim to help each other progress, so the motive must be pure, based on "comradely love", democratic, without orders or labels; no attacks or imposing faults on each other, no prying, "finding faults", "putting down" each other; "avoid personal attacks, stubbornness, revenge, and pettiness".

Self-criticism and criticism must be resolute and uncompromising. Uncle Ho 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, accurate, without any bias or exaggeration. This will help those with shortcomings to correct themselves, and help others see and take precautions to avoid similar shortcomings. Shortcomings that are corrected early will be easier to correct than when they become chronic illnesses.

Self-criticism and criticism that are superficial, roundabout, and unclear about right and wrong will make shortcomings "immune" and more serious.

Self-criticism and criticism must be “knowing how to criticize wisely and skillfully, like holding up a mirror for everyone to see their own shortcomings, so that they can correct themselves”. Self-criticism and criticism must be carried out within the organization, not just randomly. The leader must be fair, creating a democratic and straightforward environment so that everyone can clearly express their opinions, not “being secretive, secretive”, “gossiping” and causing internal disunity.

Self-criticism and criticism must be rooted in a sincere and receptive attitude, pointing out the right strengths and weaknesses, criticism must be timely and appropriate; one must know how to listen and wait for the comrade to accept it to avoid discouraging and resenting the person receiving criticism. Uncle Ho likened this to "Cake is a delicious thing, but forcing people to eat it and stuffing it into their mouths will make everyone bored".

Mr. Hoa