Whoever Gives Priority to Self-interest Cannot Do Patriotic Deeds

Everyone says that patriotism should be expressed in practice, not in word, but I think that to always take active part in the country affairs is by no means an easy work. This is because they cannot readily walk along the road of patriotism which is too hard for them to do and they have to expect the troubles if they take into account their interests first, considering conditions and circumstances.

In the past when the conditions got better, I did only good work for the society and collective by arousing work-team members, but when the conditions got worse, I was not willing to do what was needed for the country, considering this and that.

Then I attended a meeting to congratulate the meritorious persons of socialist patriotism in the municipality a few years ago. At that time I was so sorry to hear the fact that a lot of meritorious persons of socialist patriotism had covered the road of patriotism, overcoming difficulties.

I braced my spirits with a thought that I, being called a meritorious person of socialist patriotism and an activist in traits of assisting army, have lived taking into account the conditions and interests until now.

Since then, I have worked hard to secure fodder resources as much as possible with the work-team members, and as a result, our work-team could increase meat production and support for the major construction sites on several occasions.

In those days, I deeply kept in my mind again the fact that whoever gives priority to interests of the country, society and collective can willingly volunteer for the country.

Ri Yong Hui, work-team head of the Rangnang District Housewives’Stockbreeding Management Committee

Do Contribute to Country Even If One Only Lives a Short While

Not long ago, I went to a farm, which was seething with preparations for this year’s farming, to help carry manure.

Then, as usual, I opened the thick diary book.

I call it "Patriotism and Our Family".

The book became fluffy and discolored because of the use for over tens of years.

But when I opened the book, I asked myself if I actively contribute to the motherland every day.

Actually, it was my grandfather’s.

One sultry day in the dog days of 1967, Chairman Kim Jong Il visited my grandfather’s work place. And from then on, my grandfather began to write down his conscience on the diary with mind of devoting all to the country, and our family also noted down the conscience as the grandfather did.

Though every note is not long, there can be seen the grandfather’s noble aspiration to contribute to the country even if he only lives a short while.

Like the grandfather, yesterdays my mother wrote down the note of conscience and now I do it, regarding the dairy book as a family treasure.

The dairy book teaches us that our own interests are included in the interests of the country, and it encourages me to only follow the road of repayment like former generations.

O Mi Ran, a worker of the Sariwon City Public Service Station

Where There Is a Will, There Is a Way

People find it surprising that our center, not a professional scientific research unit, developed iron oxide paint using acidic waste water and contributes to preventing environmental pollution and producing quality finishing building materials.

However, it was not an easy-made success.

10-odd years ago, I happened to see waste water coming from a mine during my business trip. I was caught by the thought of how to make an effective use of the components of the waste water which was harmful to the environment.

So I put the waste water in a bottle and carried it with me back to work.

I analyzed the components, burrowed into technical literature and made repeated researches in contact with different research institutions.

Finally, after several failures, I succeeded in getting the paint from the acidic waste water and iron filings.

In those days, I realized that however rough the untrodden path of creating and pioneering new things may be, one can do anything if one values everything on this land as one’s own flesh.

Sim Ryong Chon, Head of Ryanggang Provincial Mangyong Information Technology Center