Gen Z, peace and patriotism

Do young people these days still love their country? That question occasionally echoes, accompanied by a sigh, like a reproach.

Báo Tuổi Trẻ•02/04/2025

Kể chuyện hòa bình - Ảnh 1. — Gen Z, on a journey to preserve and develop the essence of Vietnamese traditional clothing in their own unique and creative way - Photo: THANH HIEP

That today's youth only know how to surf the web on their phones, chase trends, and are unfamiliar with history and their roots. That they were born in peacetime and don't appreciate the value of peace... I don't argue. But I don't completely agree either. Because if you look closely, you'll see that Gen Z expresses patriotism in their own unique way.

I was born when the country was at peace. For me, war was no longer about the sound of bombs and bullets tearing through the air, but rather about the poignant stories told by my grandparents.

These are pages of history books, and only when you touch them do you realize that the past still silently stirs within each word. These are the black-and-white photographs in the Son My Memorial Museum, the faces blurred but their eyes still filled with anguish. These are the towering stone statues, their hands raised to the sky as if clinging to something that has drifted far away.

There was no smell of gunpowder, but that doesn't mean we didn't understand. I think it was a challenge too. Because what you haven't experienced easily becomes unfamiliar. What you haven't sacrificed easily takes for granted.

Fifty years of peace is a journey. A journey of generations who have never known war but are daily inheriting the values left behind by their ancestors. Stories of peace – not only of the past but also of the present.

People say that kids these days don't love history anymore, that they don't care about the past. But have you noticed that there are still children sitting silently in front of a war film, and young people diligently creating podcasts to tell historical stories?

Has anyone noticed that these kids don't write history in their notebooks, but instead they make rap music videos about the war years? They don't learn history the old-fashioned way, but they preserve culture through artistic photo shoots, TikTok trends recreating ancient costumes, and videos reconstructing historical memories with CGI technology.

Has anyone noticed that historical site tours are being redesigned to be more appealing to young people?

Museums are no longer silent exhibition rooms but have become interactive multimedia spaces? History books are being rewritten in a graphic novel style, bringing stories of the past closer to younger readers?

The young people don't hang up banners or shout grand slogans, but they still ponder in some way. Sometimes, during a wandering trip, they see a river being encroached upon and are startled to think about nature, the land, and the country they live in.

Patriotism has never disappeared. It's just changing form. And so is peace. It's not just a state without war, but a continuation of the good things we uphold every day.

There's a Gen Z generation meticulously crafting each stitch on the traditional Vietnamese áo tét and áo Nhật Bình dresses – garments once thought to exist only in books, now appearing on the streets and in proud photo shoots.

There are Gen Z individuals sitting in front of their phone screens, recounting stories of ancient generals with such passion that people have to stop and listen. There are young people diligently researching and creating software to preserve the voices and folk melodies that are gradually fading away over time.

And there are campaigns to rescue agricultural products, starting with a tiny post and spreading into truckloads of the sweet fruits of compassion. They don't call it "peacekeeping." They just laugh and say, "I like it that way." But within that liking is love for their homeland.

Peace needs no proof, only feeling. Because in every generation there are those who are indifferent and those who are thoughtful.

Peace is when a child can go to school without worrying about war tomorrow. It's when dreams aren't hindered by conflict and hatred.

Children these days may not talk much about peace. But that doesn't mean they aren't grateful. Perhaps we just haven't been patient enough to listen.

Thank you to our readers for submitting entries to the Peace Storytelling Contest.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of peace, the "Stories of Peace" writing contest (organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper, sponsored by Vietnam Rubber Group) invites readers to submit touching and unforgettable stories from families and individuals, as well as their thoughts on the reunification day of April 30, 1975, and the 50 years of peace.

The competition is open to all Vietnamese people, both in Vietnam and abroad, regardless of age or profession.

The "Stories of Peace" contest accepts submissions of up to 1,200 words in Vietnamese, with the encouragement of including photos and videos. Please send your submissions to hoabinh@tuoitre.com.vn. Only submissions via email will be accepted; submissions by post will not be accepted to avoid loss.

High-quality entries will be selected for publication in Tuoi Tre's publications, and will receive royalties. Entries that pass the preliminary round will be published in a book (no royalties will be paid - the book will not be sold). Entries must not have been submitted to any other writing competition or published in any media or social networks.

Authors submitting entries are responsible for the copyright of their articles, photos, and videos. Images and videos taken from social media without copyright will not be accepted. Authors must provide their address, phone number, email address, bank account number, and citizen identification number so that the organizers can contact them to send royalties or prizes.

As of April 2nd, the "Telling Stories of Peace" writing contest had received 300 entries from readers.

Award ceremony and book launch for "Stories of Peace".

The judging panel, comprising renowned journalists and cultural figures along with representatives from Tuoi Tre newspaper, will review and award prizes to entries that have passed the preliminary round and select the best entries to receive awards.

The awards ceremony, book launch of "Stories of Peace," and the special issue of Tuoi Tre newspaper on April 30th are tentatively scheduled to be held at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street at the end of April 2025. The organizing committee's decision is final.