REMEMBRANCE IN TIME - Index of

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Remembrance in Time
totalitarian power in Yugoslav Macedonia. It started in the years of the armed resistance
movement and became consolidated with the establishment of the communist federation.
The formation and the evolution of the Macedonian historiography as a part of the
political processes in the Republic are under the strong influence of the cult of the creator
of new Yugoslavia. The process of “Titovization” of the historiography and the social life
is determined by the political process in the union and republican government. Among
the fragments of the past which fill post-communist Macedonia after the dissolution of
Yugoslavia, the cult of Tito occupies a decisive position. The manifestations of the cult
can be found in the preserved names of public objects which are still a place for praising
the Yugoslav leader. Such an example is “Josip Broz Tito” High School in Skopje which
is named after tito since 1945 up to nowadays and is one of the best high schools in the
Republic [1]. In the courtyard of the high school an imposing bust of the patron is
preserved and every year it is a place of worship. On May 4, 2012 in front of the
monument was organized a celebration accompanied by presenting flowers and hoisting
the Yugoslav flag on the occasion of the 32 nd anniversary of Tito’s death. The event is
organized by Tito’s left party which emphasizes on the Yugoslav leader’s merits for the
recognition of Macedonia as an independent state within the boundaries of Yugoslavia
[2].
Preserving the myth of the patron of the Macedonian nation is the main activity of the
organization “Association of the citizens respecting the image and the work of Josip Broz
Tito”. In 2005 the association publishes a voluminous book under the eloquent title Tito
for Macedonia – Macedonia for Tito [3]. The publication is a sequel of the literature
approving the cult of Tito from the time of the Yugoslav unity. The book includes old
publications from the periodicals and monographs with religious contents. The pictures
are borrowed from the book Tito in Macedonia [4]. The authors’ purpose is to make a
documentary contribution to “explaining a significant period in the formation of the
Macedonian state system”, which is at the root of modern Republic of Macedonia.
The text is an outspoken praise of Tito in the spirit of the communist propaganda. The
conclusion summarizes: “By making a documentary and chronological review… we
intended to point out the deep and real connection between the Macedonian nation, its
national liberation struggle, the formation and growth of its state system and the
significant social, national, economic and cultural transformations in the common state of
the peoples of Yugoslavia... in the era that we popularly call Tito’s era, in the time when
the Macedonian nation and the Macedonian state reached their highest achievements
under Tito’s leadership”.
The relation between Tito and Macedonia is metaphysically explained as a “natural
concrescence” between the “undeniable revolutionary, military commander and giant
statesman” and the “historical destiny of the Macedonian nation” [5].
Professional historians also have significant contribution to the development of the cult.
A reviewer of the publication is one of the former heads of the Institute of National
History – the most prestigious historical institution in Skopje, Orde Ivanovski. He defines
the publication as “precious contribution to the preservation and respect of Tito’s epochal,
Macedonian, unrivalled work”, which is “catechesis” for the spiritual growth of young
generation.[6] On another occasion O. Ivanovski says: “Tito has a great merit in forming
of what is now called Republic of Macedonia… that is why the Macedonian will never
forget what they have received from him” [7].