Buzz
Essay:
The journey of human life is a continuous upward movement to improve one's living. Initially, life is simple and serene when one has nothing. However, as people become wealthy with money in hand, things begin to change. They no longer dress modestly, but instead, everything on them must sparkle with fashionable attire. They no longer eat for sustenance, but indulge in exquisite, expensive delicacies. Amidst this changing tide of self-transformation due to life circumstances, there still exist shining examples of simplicity and noble living. Chief among them is President Ho Chi Minh, the great Father of the nation, a leader remarkably unpretentious, unassuming, dedicating his entire life to the people.
Mentioning Uncle Ho illuminates a bright sky of determination, spirit, and unwavering belief in the nation's freedom. He embarked on the journey to save the country at the young age of 19, enduring numerous hardships, struggling to live, integrate, and learn to find the right path for the nation's destiny.
The wheel of destiny continued to turn, and finally, after countless efforts, sacrifices, and endeavors of the Great Leader, the nation achieved independence. On September 2, 1945, Uncle Ho proclaimed the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, marking a shining milestone in history. When the country restored peace, he returned to everyday life, becoming the first President of the nation. As the leader of a whole country, representing an entire nation, he had every opportunity to lead a comfortable and abundant life. However, he maintained the habit of simplicity, living a frugal life with simple meals, just like during the country's resistance.
Simple Daily Life:
The daily meal of a national leader is expected to be extravagant, surrounded by attentive servants. However, for Uncle Ho, a simple bowl of rice soup is sufficient. His daily table consists of simple and economical dishes such as pickled vegetables, boiled water spinach, and freshwater shrimp. When eating, Uncle Ho never drops a grain of rice, and the bowl is always clean. It seems like he is meticulous in every action, doing all the work himself without letting others serve him. Hence, the few assistants around him remain just that - few.
Not only is Uncle Ho humble in his meals, but his residence is also genuinely modest. The house has only three rooms, devoid of any precious or expensive items, just simple necessities. Yet, the house is airy and bathed in sunlight. Everything of Uncle Ho is unbelievably simple, but each of his belongings exudes an unexpected nobility.
People often say those with a simple lifestyle have surroundings that are equally simple. This holds true for Uncle Ho's attire. As the President, one would expect a variety of clothes for different occasions, yet in Uncle Ho's wardrobe, there's only a silver khaki suit and a pair of rubber sandals. Perhaps Uncle Ho doesn't emphasize outward appearance too much. Anything unnecessary is spared, and the money saved goes towards building the nation, ensuring people have enough food and clothing. The story of Uncle Ho's simplicity has touched many, leaving those around him speechless when he explained his modest approach. All were moved and admired the President's thoughts.
Uncle Ho's Literary Essence:
Uncle Ho embodies the brilliant example of the precious qualities of the nation, not only simple but also extremely humble. In his life, he composed an extensive and meaningful collection of poetry, yet he never considered himself a writer. His poetry resonates with delicacy and simplicity. Some of his poems, even to those rich in intellect and cultural understanding, remain incomprehensible. Translating Uncle Ho's 'Prison Diary,' the Institute of Literature enlisted skilled scholars, excellent poets, yet despite their efforts, many translations still lost the original tone. It's not a lack of talented researchers, translators, or an absence of affection for Uncle Ho's poetry, but rather the sheer simplicity and naturalness of his verses that catch everyone off guard.
Deep within Uncle Ho lies a spirit of responsibility, an unwavering determination with an exceedingly high moral compass. In his journey to rescue the nation, he faced numerous hardships, had to work to sustain himself, self-educated, and learned to understand and communicate with foreigners. Learning two languages was challenging, yet Uncle Ho became fluent in over a dozen. He studied not just for communication or employment but to absorb the experiences of other nations to save his people. He also used his poetry as a weapon to expose the atrocities of the deceitful French oppressors in our country. Perhaps due to the immense influence of his literary strength, many individuals were imprisoned for their ideals and justice.
Throughout his life, Uncle Ho traversed the country, enduring frozen feet from the cold winds and numb hands from the rain. Despite all, he continued to move forward, dedicating his entire life to the people and the nation. Honesty, courage, a will of iron, love for nature, love for humanity, along with a simple, honest lifestyle, created a great leader. A savior carrying within him every good quality that we still strive to learn from today.
For the suggested essay topics in Writing Exercise 5, Grade 7, in addition to the essay prompt Highlight the extremely simple and pure lifestyle of Uncle Ho, there are many other compelling essay prompts for students to consider: Demonstrate 'Near ink may not be necessarily dark, near light may not be necessarily bright'; Argue that our lives will suffer significant damage if each individual lacks awareness to protect the environment; Write an essay to persuade someone when you neglect your studies; Prove that protecting the forest is safeguarding our lives.
