Necessary

One of the least favorite words in my, I hope, not very poor vocabulary is necessary. In part, this dislike stems from the excessive use of the word necessary during Soviet times. It was often and with emphasis pronounced by movie heroes with flaming eyes. And propagandists, on occasion and without, would certainly insert into their speech a hackneyed phrase, also, it seems, from some quasi-patriotic film: “There is such a word “necessary.” And the hero went to perform a feat. A heavy sword of Damocles hung over every citizen. Although the overwhelming majority of citizens of any country are far from pathetic. This word was repeated endlessly and in vain by party and political workers of various calibers, describing the delights of “developed socialism”: you just need to push harder and a brighter tomorrow will come, you need to tighten your belts and the economy will become economical. And so on. But what the state needs to do for the citizen was somehow omitted.

In my opinion, this word is useless, even superfluous. What will it give if you tell a person: “You must love your Motherland, you must love your parents”? It won't do anything! Because if a person loves his Motherland and his father and mother, he doesn’t have to be reminded of this. And if he doesn’t like it, it’s useless to remind him - whether in a personal conversation or during political classes. As Comrade Stalin said to some careless people's commissars: "You don't remind your heart to let it go."

But different times have come. People were pushed to action not by words, but by the desire to earn money, to realize themselves, to show initiative, fortunately such opportunities appeared. But it still needs to remain. Mainly in the vocabulary of statesmen. Many people have been guilty of misusing the driving word. Viktor Chernomyrdin was especially memorable when he was Prime Minister. Listening to him, I just wanted to shout: you’re in power, you can do a lot, if not everything. Well, just say: “I plan, I will do, I have planned, I will order.” And we know what we need even without you.

And the speeches of Russian presidential candidates made me remember my least favorite word. Listen - there need to be continuous ones. We need to increase GDP, improve healthcare, strengthen defense. It seems that they insert a catchphrase at the right place, but behind the suddenly impoverished phrase from the use of the named term there is no firmness, perspective, and, finally, there is no confidence that this will be the case. And then, to whom is the word needed addressed? For all of us, this is nothing more than the absence of a specific performer and the inevitable subsequent absence of any result.

In academic dictionaries, the word must is accompanied by the following explanations: “impersonal”, “indefinite”. Not like the clear verb that only burns people’s hearts: I will achieve, I will achieve, I will do, I will raise, I will get (a star from the sky, for example). So it is better for us to abandon the faded term when promulgating plans, programs, and promises.

You also need to know honor.

Nikolay Poroskov