Uncle Ho visited Thong Nhat / United Match Factory (Photo: www.dddn.com.vn)

(VOV) – Sixty four years ago, President Ho Chi Minh launched a patriotism emulation movement, to call for solidarity. Over the years, the movement has become a driving force to encourage Vietnamese people to try their best in the national construction and defense. On the occasion of the Patriotism Day today June 11st, VOV reporter Huyen Trang looks at the issue.

Uncle Ho underscored the combination between emulation and patriotism. He said “Emulation is patriotism, patriotism requires emulation and those emulating are the most patriotic”. In response to the President Ho Chi Minh’s appeal, over the years, many movements have developed and spread widely, bringing to light many outstanding collectives and creative and determined individuals. Associate Professor Tran Minh Truong, Director of the Institute of Ho Chi Minh and Party Leaders’ Studies, attributes the success of emulation movements so far to the application of President Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts. He says “President Ho Chi Minh highlighted the need to set appropriate criteria for every emulation to match each sector and subject. For example, He said for children emulation depends on their own competence while for farmers and workers, emulation is to give 100% in their daily lives. Speaking of the simplicity of emulation, He said when each person completes their assigned duty they contribute to the success of the revolutionary cause.”

Ma Thị Nguyệt is the Vice Chair of the People’s Committee of Thai Nguyen province, one of the country’s leading localities in emulation movements and a place where President Ho Chi Minh launched the appeal 64 years ago. She says “Emulation is not a work of a single level or a sector, but belongs to the whole political system. It requires the involvement of everyone. Launching an emulation movement is combined with political missions, professional tasks of each industry and province an outlining of proper sets of criteria. We should also increase supervisory activities and attach importance to spreading outstanding examples.”

Regarding the application of President Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts on a patriotism emulation movement in the current period, Associate Professor Nguyễn Thế Thắng, stresses rewards in line with punishments creates a healthy atmosphere in emulation movements. He says “The combination of rewarding in emulation movements will help the programs develop stronger. Unfair and autocratic elections will discourage people to follow. President Ho Chi Minh said revolution is instigated by the public thus, workers and laborers should be given credit in emulation movements.”

Over the past 64 years, President Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts remain of great practical values.