Historian Adnan Prekić emphasizes that he worked with socialism and that Montenegro made the most significant advancements in civilization, culture, and in every other level during that period.
"Josip Broz Tito is a symbol of the time. The relationship towards the time and values that were cherished then with all its problems, the limitations related to the democratization of society, the totalitarianism we lived in, we cannot still forget the civilization and cultural advantages that this time has brought. Josip Broz is certainly a symbol of then," Prekic is clear. He adds that it brought Montenegro the most significant civil and cultural exploits in a positive sense.
"In that context, accepting all the limitations of that time, it was still the time when Montenegro made the most significant steps in its public and social development," he says. Boban Batrićević, a historian, briefly told CdM that the idea of getting Tito a monument in Podgorica is excellent. "Everyone honors this idea. There is no need to comment on why this idea is great when it comes to Josip Broz Tito," Batrićević says. The capital Podgorica will support the initiative to build the monument to Josip Broz Tito in Podgorica, as the man whose name Podgorica proudly wore for 47 years, with the aim of continuing to boast that tradition, said Mayor of Podgorica Ivan Vuković at a recent meeting with UBNOR representatives and anti-fascist in Podgorica, led by the President Borivoj Banovic. Many political parties support this initiative.
Historians across the region have analyzed the rule of Josip Broz. Many consider it to be a significant personality, worthy of respect.
How the great talked about Tito
Tito fascinated many world personalities.
"If this man is a mechanic-locksmith, then I'm not the Queen of Britain." (Elizabeth II).
"The reason we stopped to help Draža Mihailovic and his Chetniks is simple. He did not fight against Hitler. We are determined on the side of Tito because of his great and courageous struggle against the German army... Partisans are now masters of the situation and represent a death threat to the Germans." (Winston Churchill).
"Tito is one moment of conscience in mankind. Everyone who has met with him once feels that way... Tito is a historical personality in the noblest and highest sense of the word, the man who creates history."(Gen. Kasu).
"President Tito is a man who has turned the devastation and war into creation and peace." (Neil Armstrong).
"Tito's decision to fight the Nazis is a milestone in the history of the Second World War." (Franklin D. Roosevelt).
"The fighter, President Tito, characterizes wisdom, sharpness, and friendly attitude towards people. President Tito is in all the hearts of those who are fighting for justice and freedom because of their heroic achievements." (Yasser Arafat)
"A unique personality of world history has disappeared." (Margaret Hilda Thatcher)
"To someone who does not know how well life is under Tito, I cannot help!" (Rade Šerbedžija)
"I have never experienced such simplicity at any meeting with celebrities." (Sofia Loren)
"One of the great men of our age, the creator of history, has left. Tito was, above all, an exceptional human being. However, it is not possible to share his public and private personality. He had tremendous power and was trying to achieve perfection." (Indira Gandhi)
"Tito is a leader who has his own principles, sense of humor, great memory, and he is not afraid of us, Americans!" (Richard Nixon)
"In peace and war, Tito is part of the world's history, at the time of the present generation and at the time of the early generations. He is a man of inexhaustible power, inadvertent youth, unending struggle and inexhaustible courage." (Jimmy Carter)
Lifelong President of SFRJ
Broz was the leader of the Communist Party in 1941 and launched an armed uprising. He emerged from the war as a marshal and as the legendary leader of the antifascist movement.
He was elected seven times for the president of the state, and the last time in 1974 as a lifelong president. The cult of his personality has been built for decades.
Tito's death marked the beginning of the end of the SFRJ, and during the years before the collapse of the country, criticism and distancing from his character and deeds began. Tito died on May 4th, 1980.
Text by M.Dušević, on September 28th, 2018, read more at CdM
