Respect for mutual development

Yet that unity was almost fractured over something trivial. During a weekend coffee meeting, while discussing the upcoming merger of communes within the district, everyone was excited because our hometowns would soon become large communes. Places that we considered "the horizon" when we were children, places we could never reach, would become communes, and the children would grow up to attend the same schools. For example, my commune, located in a fertile area, according to the proposed plan, would merge with another commune to form a strip in the northwest of the district, a key rice-growing region. Furthermore, there are plans for new communes where farmers who grow sedge and fishermen will live alongside farmers who grow other crops... These new locations are expected to become more diverse, bringing together the economic , cultural, and lifestyles of more people. Culture will become richer, and economic life will change as more professions and customs are integrated within a unified administrative and leadership structure. There will be mutual support for economic development and cultural exchange within the larger community.

The conversation we had over coffee would have been quite enjoyable if it weren't for the jokes. One person turned to me and said, "So you're about to be labeled a 'crab farmer'!" Immediately, another person said, "Oh well, the village officials have been 'riding buffaloes to district meetings' for years, and now they're 'sharing a table' with officials from other villages. They're so happy, what more could they complain about?"

The back-and-forth banter created a tense atmosphere. The guys would find every weakness or derogatory remark about the local area to "attack" each other. The situation only ended when we realized we were friends, part of the same group.

The recent story of merging communes and wards has attracted a great deal of attention, with diverse opinions and intentions. Even our group, comprised of educated and united individuals, has been drawn into it, so achieving consensus in society will be difficult. Nine people, ten opinions, everyone believes they are right. Especially since this issue is being exploited by reactionary organizations and political opportunists to deepen local parochialism and sow discord among the people. If this divisive tactic is not identified and refuted promptly, it could easily erode the faith of many with flawed political understanding in this major policy.

Over the years, we have carried out numerous mergers of commune-level administrative units, and in reality, after expanding the administrative units and increasing the population, the newly formed communes have developed more strongly, and the people have benefited. There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that "one locality is overshadowed by another."

Our weekend coffee meeting ended, and everyone realized they needed to learn from the experience. Unity and trust mean focusing on the common good, not letting emotions get the betterment. The people in the localities should also calmly observe, listen, and support a major policy like this administrative reorganization. People from different villages and communes, with different lifestyles, cultures, and economic conditions, must unite once they become citizens of a larger community. National unity is an invaluable asset that our Party always cherishes and promotes. In every reform, reorganization of the administrative apparatus, or adjustment of administrative boundaries, maintaining trust and consolidating consensus must always be prioritized. Only then can success be achieved.

Hanh Nhien

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ton-trong-de-cung-phat-trien-244656.htm