Don't just follow the trend and make noise.

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - A few years ago, the neighborhood leader in my area proposed building a reading room to keep the children away from pointless games. Many people agreed because they were exhausted from managing the children during the summer.

During neighborhood meetings, the leader repeatedly emphasized that a culturally vibrant neighborhood couldn't be without a reading room. Reading books was essential for learning how to live and how to become wealthy. He pointed out that other neighborhoods already had everything. Following this, he went from house to house, urging people to participate. The neighborhood leader worked diligently, and the neighborhood's reading room was established very quickly.

On opening day, the neighborhood leader was visibly delighted. For several days prior, he had been continuously broadcasting information on the neighborhood's public address system about the significance of building and launching the reading room. The residents listened and agreed with him. Sadly, however, after the opening, the reading room remained open all day, but only a handful of people came to read. Gradually, the reading room only opened for neighborhood meetings. Then, even that wasn't maintained. Even some residents who were very enthusiastic about the initiative and contributed financially never visited. The bookshelves were left gathering dust. And who knows where the books in the reading room went? One day, during a neighborhood event, I passed by and saw only empty shelves. The neighborhood leader explained that reading culture had changed significantly; people had switched to reading e-books instead of traditional paper books. The reading room's closure was quiet, unlike its opening.

Then the neighborhood leader appealed for donations to buy computers to put in the neighborhood's community center so that people could come and read newspapers and look up documents, just like in other neighborhoods. This time, his project didn't receive the same support as before.

Investing in cultural institutions, including reading rooms, is necessary. However, investment should be linked to promoting cultural values, not simply buying things to keep up with the Joneses or avoid feeling inferior to others.

This past summer, while campaigning for funds to organize activities for children, the neighborhood leader smiled broadly and said it was his last time doing so, as the neighborhood was about to be merged. He mentioned the cultural and sports facilities in the neighborhood, stating that whether they would still be in use in the future or not, they would forever remain symbolic of the people's spirit and strength. The facilities he mentioned included a community center, a public address system, a badminton court, table tennis tables, swings, and security cameras, but conspicuously absent was the reading room – the project he was most passionate about.

Perhaps you've realized your mistake in building and managing the reading room, which was inappropriate. It's just that you realized your mistake when you're about to leave your position. Hopefully, your successor will take over, so there won't be another instance of mobilizing public resources for such "noisy" trends.

Hanh Nhien

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/dung-on-ao-theo-phong-trao-257487.htm