Villages that 'worship' independence and freedom

In many rural villages in Quang Nam province, in front of the gate or on the roof of the house, there is a slogan "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom" solemnly placed. It is not simply a slogan, it is a common wish for peace and freedom.

Slogans about independence and freedom placed in front of the gates of households in A Lieng

We stopped by the house of a Co Tu man named Zoram Da, 33 years old, in A Lieng village, Ta Bhing commune ( Nam Giang district ).

Mr. Da's house is imposing, newly built with concrete, roofed with tiles following the Kinh people's model, replacing the old, rickety wooden house, but the gate still retains two wooden pillars with the words "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom ".

"I understand very well and know by heart Uncle Ho's saying about the value of independence and freedom, so for the past decades, when building a house, I have kept that slogan" Mr. Chau Chin (Ngoc Thach village)

Newly built, spacious houses in Dai Loc still have slogans in front of the gate - Photo: BD

Message of Peace

When asked about the words on the gate, Mr. Da scratched his head and said that he did not know where they came from, but since he grew up, he saw that in front of every house in A Lieng, there was this immortal saying of Uncle Ho.

A Lieng is a village of the Co Tu people located on the Ho Chi Minh trail through Ben Giang - a heroic historical site of the old Zone 5 front. A Lieng village is not only clean, tidy, with streets named after them even in small alleys, but almost every house here is meticulously cared for.

Chairman of Nam Giang District People's Committee A Viet Son said that people here are very conscious of preserving their village's traditions, many households even welcome tourists . What's special, Mr. Son said that no one told them, but up to now, every house in A Lieng or neighboring villages has had signs placed in front of the gate with the content "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom ", "Forever grateful to the heroic martyrs"...

Village elder Zoram Nang, 75 years old, confirmed that making gates or posting slogans on wooden beams in front of the main door has been a tradition of the Co Tu people for many years. "Not only A Lieng, but any highland village of the Co Tu, Xo Dang, and Ca Dong people in Quang Nam is the same.

When building a house, people are very careful to build the entrance gate, decorating the gate with lanterns, every house has the Party flag, the national flag in front of the gate and next to it is the phrase "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom", Mr. Nang said.

In front of Mr. Zơrâm Năng's house, there was also a slogan like this. He said that in the past, when the house was thatched and had bamboo fences, the gate was just two bamboo poles erected and wrapped in leaves on the outside. But no matter how much effort was required, people would find a piece of wood, then sand it smooth, use charcoal or soot to write a solemn slogan and hang it in front of the gate.

"We Co Tu people educate each other in the way that the elderly teach the young, the children. Living today, we must be grateful for what our ancestors sacrificed for. In the past, we were hungry, we suffered, we were bombed by the French and the Americans, and were devastated by war. Now that we have peace, our children must remember, preserve, and cherish it.

Having gone through war, our generation understands what it means to be poor and lose freedom. We are still poor now, but compared to the past, we are very happy, so we think that the meaning of Uncle Ho's saying "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom" is a truth," said Mr. Nang.

Slogans about independence and freedom placed in front of the gates of households in A Lieng - Photo: BD

"Subsidy period" villages

Not only in the highland villages, welcome gates displaying the slogans "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom", "Forever grateful to the heroic martyrs" or sayings from ancient times such as "Innovation to continue moving forward" are also seen densely at the gates of houses in the lowland districts of Quang Nam such as Dien Ban, Dai Loc, Thang Binh, Que Son...

Many people from far away who come to Quang Nam when looking at these special gates are very impressed. On the gate is a slogan placed and hung solemnly, next to it is a bright national flag, whether behind the gate is a solid building or a simple wooden roof. The images remind us of a subsidy period, a time of cooperative models.

Mr. Chau Chin, 63 years old, living in Ngoc Thach village (Dai Hong commune, Dai Loc district, Quang Nam province ), eagerly showed us the gate that he personally carved and maintained from 1996 until now.

Mr. Chin said that his house used to be in a flooded area along the Vu Gia River, but was later moved to his current residence by the government. When building the house, he took the trouble to find a sturdy piece of ironwood, asked a carpenter to plan, carve, and cut it, and personally painted the words "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom" on it.

Mr. Chin said that every day he goes in and out, witnessing his children grow up, the slogan is a reminder of gratitude for the family history. His house is a typical story of the pain of war in the "leopard skin" region, nationalist by day and communist by night.

His mother gave birth to five children, the eldest son joined the army and died in the Tra My area, his two older brothers were forced to join the Republic army. When peace returned, his mother felt like her heart was broken when she worshiped her eldest son as a martyr but had two children who were former soldiers of the Republic of Vietnam. Mr. Chin shed tears when he remembered that when his mother was still alive, she always cried because of the injustice in her own family.

Along the Ho Chi Minh trail up to the Central Highlands, houses are built close together, village halls, cultural houses, and community activity houses also have impressive gates, and each gate has "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom".

Next to the communal cultural house of Hoa Huu Dong village (Dai Hong, Dai Loc), we discovered a dense cluster of mossy, old lime-slag gates in front of the entrances to people's houses. All had the same slogan about freedom and independence. Although old, the handwriting was still clear and straight.

Mr. Phan Dinh Quang said that most of the gates of the households were made of lime, made since the village moved to the new place in 2002. "The words "independence and freedom" on the gate were made by me when I gave birth to my youngest child in 2002, now he is over 20 years old.

Our area experienced fierce war, this side was the liberated zone but on the other side of the hill was the enemy's Thuong Duc post so many soldiers sacrificed. We made our own slogans in front of our houses to remind each other to live well, build our lives, and preserve peace and freedom. Every time we put up the flag next to the house on holidays, it naturally feels more beautiful and solemn," said Mr. Quang.

A wooden board with the words about independence and freedom has been placed in front of the gate for decades at Mr. Chau Chin's house - Photo: BD

The Fatherland Altar of the Co Tu People

In the highland districts of Quang Nam such as Nam Giang, Tay Giang... it is easy to see the altars of the Co Tu people with a picture of President Ho Chi Minh and behind it is the national flag.

Village elder A Lang Nhit (Ga Ry commune, Tay Giang district) said that in every house, especially in the community house in Ga Ry, there is a picture of Uncle Ho and the national flag on the altar. On National Day and New Year's Eve, people burn incense, remember Uncle Ho and celebrate solemnly.

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