The "key" to national strength

(Baonghean.vn) - When I was a child going to school, I didn't know the meaning of April 30th. I only remembered mechanically that it was the day of the Liberation of the South, the reunification of the country, and to commemorate that historical event, this day has become a major national holiday. For children, just having a day off from school was fun, without thinking too deeply about it. Or rather, that's for children born and raised in peacetime.

President Ho Chi Minh speaking to the Vanguard Army at the Well Temple on September 19, 1954 (Lam Thao district, Phu Tho province). Photo: ST

Later in life, having the opportunity to travel far, even very far, to the other side of the globe, I truly understood the meaning of separation, farewell, and the longing for family and homeland. I realized that, quite naturally, people are always connected to their roots and loved ones by an emotional bond that has become instinctive, ingrained in their very being. However, this bond isn't always outwardly apparent; it exists subtly, like a flowing stream, persistently running through the hearts and blood of every Vietnamese person, "with red blood and yellow skin."

Throughout the ups and downs of history, spanning the lives of many generations of Vietnamese people, patriotism and the spirit of solidarity, mutual support, and compassion have often resurfaced, unleashing the boundless strength of the nation. This includes the egg sac of Mother Au Co, the hundred sons who went to the seas and mountains together to build the nation's foundation. It also includes the Dien Hong Conference, where hundreds of elders representing the entire nation and army unanimously affirmed their determination to fight to defend national sovereignty against the Mongol invaders – a brutal army whose horses trampled across vast territories spanning several continents.

That was when the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire army persevered together through two protracted wars of resistance against the most powerful enemy on the planet, regaining freedom and independence for the Fatherland. Uncle Ho – a symbol of the era and of the nation – is also an incredibly great witness to the patriotic spirit of the Vietnamese people. Leaving home in his youth, driven by a deep concern for the people who had lost their country, he traveled across the globe, only to return and bring revolutionary ideals, illuminating the nation and leading the country out of darkness and suffering.

What is patriotism? It's a highly abstract and difficult question to answer. Defining it in words might not fully express it, but answering it through action is easy, because patriotism is an equation with countless solutions. A soldier fighting to protect every inch of their homeland; an intellectual studying and researching to discover new scientific advancements; a person living abroad accepting exile only to one day return home in glory… all are examples of patriotism. Or, most simply, a child who loves their parents, grandparents, and those around them is also patriotic. Love for one's fellow human beings is the most primal emotion, the strongest bond connecting us to our country. For what is a country if not the common home of those who share the same national name? In other words, unity is patriotism.

The lesson of unity is not new, but its value never fades. In peacetime, we must constantly remind ourselves and "practice" this precious lesson. When the country was in its darkest days, the ideal of all our people was only one: to regain our country whole. In the years of war, we may sometimes forget or become distracted from this common ideal, preoccupied with pursuing our own goals. But remember, no matter where that individual path leads, always place your roots, your country, and your loved ones somewhere along your journey—ideally, choose that as your destination, the place where you will rest after your wanderings. So that you will always know who you are, where you were born, and where you belong. Don't live like an anonymous pebble on an uncertain path, but live like a brick building a great wall: love and unity are the keys to national strength, opening the door to the future.

Thuc Anh