The "Declaration of Independence" of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam highlighted the aspiration for an independent nation, a democratic republic, with a government representing the entire people.
Overcoming colonial status
Proclaimed to the entire nation on September 2, 1945, the "Declaration of Independence" affirmed the will of the Vietnamese people: "to completely sever relations with France, abolish all treaties that France had signed concerning Vietnam, and eliminate all French privileges in Vietnam."
Not only did the Declaration of Independence break with the feudal monarchy, it also marked the establishment of a "democratic republic" on Vietnamese territory. The provisional government reflected the expectation of a representative government, established by the people, respecting the will and aspirations of social forces, and acting in the interests of the Vietnamese people and nation.
The fundamental duty of government is to serve the people.
Sixteen years earlier, on July 4, 1776, the American Declaration of Independence also became a banner that rallied political support, uniting the actions of a large number of Americans to realize their aspiration of establishing a new nation, an independent state, ending all political dependence on the British Empire.
One striking similarity is the colonial status of both Vietnam and the United States when they proclaimed their "Declarations of Independence." The corrupt nature of the ruling forces at the time became the most crucial driving force for the people of both countries to voluntarily rally under the banner of independence.
If the American "Declaration of Independence" listed 27 instances of unjust rule that the British monarch, through the colonial government, imposed on the colonies, then the Vietnamese "Declaration of Independence" also clearly indicated 9 instances of oppression and exploitation that the French colonialists imposed on Vietnamese territory for nearly a century, leaving our country "desolate and impoverished" economically , politically, and socially.
The second notable similarity is that both "Declarations of Independence" aimed at establishing a new state, setting up a democratic regime, and a system of government representing the people.
If the American people aspired to independence to establish their own state, breaking free from British rule and laying the foundation for a new nation-state, the Vietnamese people, in response to the call of the Viet Minh Front, voluntarily rallied to act together to regain their national independence, thereby establishing a modern state and a democratic government, and protecting the existence of a nation with a long history from the threat of extinction posed by the selfishness and cowardice of feudal and foreign powers.
The third notable similarity between the two "Declarations of Independence" is the enduring affirmation that the fundamental duty of the government is to serve the people.
Vietnam's "Declaration of Independence" goes a step further by stating that a government acting for the people, standing alongside the nation, will certainly be supported and protected by "the entire Vietnamese nation," with "all its spirit and strength, life and property."
People's government
"All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; among these are the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is considered one of the most famous and widely used statements in the English language, and is also prominently quoted in the opening lines of Vietnam's Declaration of Independence.
Naturally, in order to serve and protect the "inviolable" rights and interests of the people and the nation, it is impossible to maintain a feudal monarchy or a colonial government.
These are outdated forms of government because, in essence, they only exist to serve the interests of powerful minority groups, turning their backs on the interests of the majority of the people, both in the US and Vietnam, despite the different circumstances.
The spirit of Independence Day of yesteryear is still clearly affirmed in the documents of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
The aspiration for a new, democratic, and progressive political regime with a government serving the interests of the people and the nation is also expressed through the strong arguments and affirmations in Vietnam's "Declaration of Independence": "When Japan surrendered to the Allies, the people of our entire country rose up to seize power and establish the Democratic Republic of Vietnam… The French fled, the Japanese surrendered, and King Bao Dai abdicated. Our people overthrew the monarchy that had lasted for centuries and established a democratic republic… The Provisional Government of the new Vietnam represents the entire Vietnamese people."
Seventy-eight years ago, "Democracy," "Republic," "Freedom," "Independence," and "Representatives of the entire people" were new terms, conveying progressive and inspiring political values, and were therefore easily accepted and supported by the Vietnamese people.
Thanks to this, the revolutionary movement quickly surged and achieved victory nationwide in a short period of time. The revolutionary atmosphere of those August days was filled with hope for a new State, with a government that was truly "of the people, by the people, and for the people," also known as a "people's government."
The spirit of Independence Day is clearly reaffirmed in the documents of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam: building a "clean, strong, and comprehensive political system; a streamlined state that operates effectively and efficiently; closely connected with the people."
Lessons from the country's history and the development processes of other nations have shown that establishing the right aspirations that resonate with the people is a necessary condition and also the starting point for a nation's future success.
Living in an increasingly complex, unstable, and interdependent world, we need to be aware that only by closely aligning with the will and interests of the people and the nation can a form of government or a state survive and develop sustainably.
Dr. Nguyen Van Dang
Vietnamnet.vn
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