The story “from a blade of grass” gives us an image of members of Romanian society that we do not find in school textbooks. This is natural, because a detailed account, such as the present one, of a rumor circulating in Oradea in early 1955, might frighten a child and cause his parents to storm the school and reprimand the teacher who dares to discuss with the children about human sausages. ‘yasa and other fake news broadcast during the Cold War.

On the other hand, it’s natural to worry about how children understand fake news that adults spread irresponsibly. We live in an age of virtual social networks, messages sent instantly in all directions, and each of us is exposed to an onslaught of “fake news” that is becoming alarming. It is sad that there are people who really believe in the truth of the news and spread it without understanding the meaning of these media intoxications.

For his part, Gheorghe Georgiou-Dej was concerned about the incompetence spread throughout Romania by various citizens, and in the case of the information note compiled by Josip Bank, the first secretary of the regional committee of the PMR Oradea (future Minister of Agriculture, Food Industry, Forestry and Water Management, 1971-1974), issue a resolution:

“With salami… and rumors that are also spread through informative notes… Rumor spreaders seem to take advantage of the stupidity of people who can believe even for a moment, but above all they take advantage of the fact that they do not immediately expose where victims are spread like idiots – and finally we have an informative note! written in 12 copies… poor typist! (Georgiou-Dezh’s italics – NN)”.

One of the measures immediately taken by the members of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the PMR after receiving the document compiled by Yosyp Bants was the issuance of a decision according to which this communist governing body was to receive “only informational certificates.” about the most important issues and facts”. This was a normal measure, different from the censorship already used by the Communists in Romania to stop the sending of inappropriate documents compiled by members of the party apparatus due to overzealousness or who wanted to be noted for their vigilance against “reactionary elements”. “from the country. Puritanism can take this form by referring to a revolutionary cause that is consistent with an ideology promoted from the highest political level.

An information note from the first secretary of the post-Soviet regional committee of the PMR, Yosyp Bants, regarding the rumors that spread through the city about the production of human meat sausages (February 1, 1955).

ROMANIAN WORKERS’ PARTY

ORAD REGIONAL COMMITTEE

No. 321/1955

[Rezoluţia lui Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej:]

With salami… and rumors that are also spread through informative notes… Rumor spreaders seem to take advantage of the stupidity of people who can believe even for a moment, but above all they take advantage of the fact that they do not immediately expose where victims are spread like idiots – and finally we have an informative note! written in 12 copies… poor typist!

INFORMATION NOTE

In recent days, in the city of Oradea, reactionary elements spread a rumor among the population about a so-called gang of criminals who were engaged in killing people from whom they made salami for sale in the market.

This rumor, being spread further by various citizens, gained great scope, was discussed from person to person, especially in crowded places: in the market, in hairdressers, grocery stores, etc.

Thus, recently the rumors have gained scale and the population in general has started to comment that: the gang has been caught and that Tarr Paraskiva from Oradea and Monostori muncitoare from Pa Street may also be part of it[s]teur no. 43 Oradea and that this group of criminals will be sentenced in the People’s Court in Oradea on January 27, 1955. Read the entire article on Contributors.ro