The basic criterion to distinguish whether one is a member of the people is his ideas.
Leader Kim Jong Il said:
“The basic criterion for deciding whether one is a member of the masses of the people is not one’s social and class origin, but one’s ideas.”
People usually think that one’s social and class origin is the criterion to distinguish whether one is a member of the masses of the people.
Throughout history, the poor, exploited and ruled class became the masses of the people, and the rich, exploiting and ruling class became the reactionary of history, therefore it is necessary and correct to distinguish whether one is a member of the masses of the people or not on the basis of one’s social and class origin.
In order to distinguish whether one is a member of the masses of the people or not, his social and class origin should be considered, but this must not be the absolute. Man’s idea and behavior are not subjected solely to his social and class status. If he is under revolutionary influence and acquires progressive ideas, he can serve the masses of the people regardless of his social and class status.
The basic criterion for deciding whether one is a member of the masses of the people is not one’s origin, but his ideas.
The ideological foundation for making one into a member of the masses of the people is the idea of loving the country, nation and people as well as the idea of socialism. Anyone who loves the country, the people and the nation can serve the people and accordingly, is qualified to be a member of the masses of the people.
