Homeland in Uncle Ho's heart

As the leader of the Party and the nation, Uncle Ho's love for his homeland encompassed a broad scope, possessing unique characteristics that transcended ordinary feelings of patriotism. Here, the leader's character is demonstrated and tested, consistently balancing the larger and smaller aspects of his homeland, the common good—the whole—with its diverse and complex individual interests. He transformed this love for his homeland into a powerful force of national spirit and the spirit of the times, creating a new moral sentiment—revolutionary morality.

"Homeland holds profound meaning and deep affection."

Uncle Ho's patriotism and love for his people were nurtured by the heartbreaking plight of his compatriots and fellow countrymen, and thus, he spent 30 years far from his homeland searching for a way to save the country. His love for his homeland extended beyond pleasant memories to the anguish of his own fate, the suffering of a lost country and a broken home—a shared plight exemplified by his family.

Therefore, a distinctive feature of Uncle Ho's love for his homeland was his admiration for a revolutionary homeland, a "Red Nghe Tinh," a beautiful impression of his homeland as "Nghe Tinh famous for its stubbornness," encompassing the indomitable and resilient attitude of its people and his personal pride in that homeland. Despite being busy with countless tasks, Uncle Ho always directed his heart and devoted his warm affection to his homeland, always closely linked to the revolutionary ideal and the revolutionary goal of "independence, freedom, and happiness."

To achieve this, Uncle Ho recognized the crucial responsibility of building public trust, primarily through the self-sacrifice of leaders. Self-sacrifice and caring for the people is the "touchstone" for revolutionary fighters, especially those holding high positions within the Party and State apparatus. Trust will transform into a moral obligation, into a conscious force of dedication and sacrifice for millions of people, when they clearly see that their leader is someone who guides them, someone who belongs to them.

President Ho Chi Minh, under any circumstances, always upheld the spirit of self-sacrifice and care for the people, first and foremost for his homeland. Throughout his revolutionary life, he prioritized national duty over personal feelings, even though he knew how deeply his family ties were.

For over 30 years, it wasn't until after the successful August Revolution that Uncle Ho had the opportunity to meet his sister and brother for a few dozen minutes. When his relatives passed away, he couldn't even attend the funerals, so he wiped away his tears and wrote a letter confessing his "unfilial impiety." This profound sense of "deep affection and loyalty," coupled with the ultimate sacrifice of family and personal interests for the benefit of the nation, is a beautiful tradition of the Vietnamese people, but it's rare to find such exceptional cases of selflessness as Uncle Ho's. Historically, when a leader who has rendered great service to the country comes to power, it's almost inevitable that they will place their relatives in important positions to enjoy privileges and ensure the continued existence of their supreme power.

Uncle Ho was completely different. He showed no favoritism towards individuals or relatives because he possessed the strength of righteousness, "great unity," and based his actions on fairness and democracy. His concern for his compatriots extended from the sacred rights of "national independence" to the everyday needs of "the people's happiness." Contrary to what some believe, "A leader only needs to speak and consider important, momentous matters," Uncle Ho often cared for and reminded provincial officials about very specific aspects of people's lives: toilets, wells, air raid shelters, meals, sleep, even trees along the roadside... He advised: "Plant phoenix trees along the road, not longan trees, because children climbing to pick the fruit might fall and break their bones."

In his approach to caring for the people, President Ho Chi Minh not only used generosity to win them over but also demonstrated a deep understanding of the psychological characteristics of the people, valuing praise and encouragement to guide everyone towards good people and good deeds. From this, he built a spirit of harmony and affection throughout the country. He said: “We must know that everyone has good and bad qualities. Using people is like using wood. A skilled craftsman can use large, small, straight, and curved pieces of wood in the right place.” He himself devoted time to reading and writing about the examples of good people, including many exemplary figures in Nghe Tinh. This was not only an art of using people but also stemmed from his profound compassion.

Implementing democracy with the people is a core issue in building public trust, a matter that President Ho Chi Minh always cared about, especially in his home province. "Power," traditionally reserved for those in positions of authority, now, for President Ho, had to be given to the people in its full sense. This was truly an extremely decisive revolution on the ideological and moral fronts, in awareness and sentiment, dismantling the solid stronghold of hundreds of thousands of years of feudal and colonial power. Therefore, just 15 days after the successful August Revolution, on September 17, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to "comrades in the province" drawing attention to four types of shortcomings that violated the people's right to self-governance.

Thirty-seven days before his passing, Uncle Ho sent another letter to the provincial Party committee, placing the top priority of the upcoming task as: "actively implementing democracy with the people even more." The concept of "boss" or "owner," as Uncle Ho put it, refers to the cooperative members whom the management board must wholeheartedly serve, not someone who "points fingers." Nurturing the younger generation to shoulder the responsibility of governing the country is also a way of implementing democracy.

Returning to his homeland with its revolutionary tradition, President Ho Chi Minh sincerely criticized the "hereditary" mentality of enjoying privileges and the fear of "too much growth" (referring to the tendency for older members to become too dominant). He confided: "The Party also needs many young cadres to do things that older Party members cannot do." He hoped that older Party members would set an example and guide younger cadres. All of this was "for the people," because he considered the people to be paramount.

The ancient truth, "the people are paramount," and "the essence of benevolence lies in ensuring the people's well-being," resonated only briefly before fading and being buried in the harshness of time and boundless desires. Now, President Ho Chi Minh respectfully placed it at the forefront with both scientific and ethical significance. The concept of "being close to the people" had existed for a long time, yet the emperor and his subjects remained vastly distant. From the mid-20th century, in Vietnam, a new term of address emerged: "Uncle Ho," harmonizing national relations with familial ties, strengthening the bonds between nation and family, and family and nation. The high position of leader became sacred, intimate, and personal.

Clearly, the love for one's homeland is no longer limited to a single region but has become a shared sentiment for the entire nation, using the strengths of the region to enrich the whole country and using the nation's wealth as a driving force to reach out to the homeland. Therefore, from Uncle Ho's love for his homeland, he awakened the beautiful qualities in the traditional virtues of the nation, such as valuing loyalty, cherishing simplicity, and honesty… Because of this, every Vietnamese person, no matter where they are, feels that Uncle Ho is one of their own, because he has nurtured the essence of all regions to elevate Vietnam to a new level. A foreign scholar rightly said: "As I understand it, Ho Chi Minh was the prophet of the Fatherland, in the sense that he was a guide."

Promoting our cultural heritage.

From the time he left his homeland in 1906 until his return in 1957, exactly 50 years had passed. During those 50 years, Uncle Ho lived and traveled through many unfamiliar lands, yet he retained the strong character of a person from Nghe An: sincere, simple, and sometimes with a touch of wit and humor… Traditionally, people in high positions often project an air of solemnity and authority to distinguish between superiors and inferiors, rich and poor. Uncle Ho was completely different. His simple and modest life deeply moved all Vietnamese people and international friends.

Many aspects of the people of Nghe An were cherished and preserved by Uncle Ho every day: wearing simple brown clothes, wearing comfortable rubber sandals, enjoying dishes with the flavors of his hometown, saving time to grow vegetables and raise fish… This lifestyle stemmed from familiar family traditions, and also from a revolutionary worldview: revolutionaries cannot live lives detached from the people. It is thought-provoking that, despite having been exposed to European and American civilizations, Uncle Ho still returned to his old ways. Was there something conservative about this? This can only be explained by a perspective, an attitude oriented towards the roots. There, he found something suitable for a simple, rustic life, something comfortable and natural, a populist style, easily approachable to everyone. More importantly, it involved cultivating a close connection with the people and educating cadres and party members not to stray from their roots. This was a philosophy of life, a political and aesthetic ideology aimed at preserving the essence and character of our ancestors. Uncle Ho also embraced the progressive aspects of the era in his conduct and communication, placing human beauty at the center; he could not return to the old, outdated ways, nor could he imitate the gaudy dressing and drunken revelry of the bourgeoisie. For a country that was poor, constantly fighting invaders and facing harsh natural disasters, there was only one path, one way: simplicity and purity. Uncle Ho chose that path, that foundation. His simple lifestyle, rooted in his traditions, truly has immense significance in educating and raising the revolutionary morality of our people.

Some people also briefly wondered: Was President Ho Chi Minh influenced by the "ascetic" doctrines of religions, or by the habitual, enduring lifestyle of the farmers in Nghe An province?

We all know that President Ho Chi Minh had a rich and optimistic soul, always loving life and people. That is why he dedicated himself to the revolution, having..."My ultimate desire is to see our country completely independent, our people completely free, and every citizen having enough food and clothing, and access to education."He cared deeply about improving the material and spiritual lives of all the people, refusing to bow down to any tyrannical force. This attitude was completely different from the "ascetic" philosophy of religion.

Uncle Ho's simple and virtuous life aimed to preserve social morality, ensuring that human values ​​would not be corrupted by selfish desires.

It was Uncle Ho himself who said:Everyone wants to eat well and dress well, but this must be done at the right time and in the right circumstances. It is immoral for someone to want to enjoy good food and fine clothes for themselves while the people are still struggling."In other words, it can also be said that Uncle Ho adopted the frugal lifestyle and the habit of enduring hardships and deprivations of his compatriots in his hometown, but he went even further in his wisdom to find the right path to overcome challenges and achieve a better life."

Uncle Ho was a revolutionary and a renowned poet. He had a very clear view of beauty: what is beautiful must also be useful. He instructed that only sweet potato and bean flowers should be planted in his garden in Lang Sen. Knowing that the roadside in his village was still bare, he gave a packet of phoenix tree seeds to plant, so that the villagers could have shade and admire the beautiful flowers… That is the beauty of the people of Nghe An, who value practicality and have a deep sense of humanity.

Despite being far from his homeland for many years, and despite being exposed to the cultures of many Eastern and Western countries, President Ho Chi Minh still knew the Tale of Kieu by heart. He remembered every word and phrase in several old songs and instructed the young performers to sing them correctly, understanding the true sentiments of their ancestors.

Sometimes, at large meetings, Uncle Ho would say,Nghe An, my home"It was both serious and humorous: listeners from all over the country were deeply moved because Uncle Ho - the leader - had become one with him - the citizen of the village, of the commune, of Vietnam."

Uncle Ho was a model of Vietnam and of humanity, whose homeland, Nghe An province, played a crucial role in nurturing his character and demeanor. He drew upon the beauty of the nation and humanity to enhance our national identity through concise, easy-to-understand, and profound writings, through his compassionate and benevolent approach to dealing with people, and through the full utilization of all talents in the cause of national defense and nation-building… The essence of the people's moral principles, passed down through generations, blended with communist humanism, created the archetype of Ho Chi Minh, who has captivated the conscience and emotions of hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

Throughout the vicissitudes of human history, amidst the interplay of light and darkness, sometimes blurred and indistinct, President Ho Chi Minh fully embodied the character of a revolutionary leader, a model for the century. This included: A correct political ideal like deep, enduring roots clinging to sacred soil, nurturing; noble self-sacrifice like a trunk supporting, sheltering, and caring for countless branches, ensuring they flourish and sprout; a return to the source to bear fruit, and then the fruit returning to the root. Love for his homeland as the solid foundation upon which the tall, green tree grows, thrives, and provides shade.

Uncle Ho was like a great tree, providing us with such shade.