Study of history can deepen HK youths' love for the motherland

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and is hence a year to inspire more youths to appreciate the role of the Party in China's development and probably join it.

Being a resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and having traveled across the Chinese mainland's provinces and cities, I have seen for myself Chinese people's confidence and felt their sense of national belonging.

I want to know more about how to join the CPC. As for the achievements of the Party, I believe even people outside China, be they Chinese immigrants or foreigners, would like to know about the history of the CPC.

I find the charisma and leadership qualities of Chairman Mao Zedong an interesting subject of study, given my interest in reading and writing about political psychology.

Chairman Mao was a keen student of Marxism and an astute military strategist, apart from being a poet. His poems are still quoted in literature, and daily conversations.

Among Mao's most well-known poems are Changsha (1925), The Double Ninth (1929), Loushan Pass (1935), The Long March (1935), Snow (1936), The PLA Captures Nanjing (1949), Reply to Li Shuyi (1957) and Ode to the Plum Blossom (1961).

Mao had the capability and acumen to transform adversity and hardship into inspiration and poetic originality. No political leader in the West comes close to Mao with respect to poetic creativity and its impact on society.

One of the theme songs for the Party's 100 anniversary is Without CPC, There Would Be No New China.

Many historians argue that the history of the Communist Party of China is the history of the birth of New China. Patriotism in China calls for loyalty to the CPC, which has sacrificed so much and evolved over the past century, from a "student" of the 1917 October Revolution to the original author of socialism with Chinese characteristics, offering the world the hope and vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.

While most Western powers still indulge in self-complacency and are struggling with their own geopolitical particularities, the CPC has led one-fifth of the world's population to new heights of political universality and inclusiveness.

The keynote speech delivered by CPC Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinping at the CPC and World Political Parties Summit in Beijing recently conveyed a clear message to the world: that China walks the talk in bringing the world closer to the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The Party has proven that the fire of a living ideology, and love for the motherland are undefeatable. Today, patriotism is in the blood of young Chinese.

However, some Hong Kong university students, devoid of the correct perspective and maturity that comes with the understanding and appreciation of the history of modern China, have lost their way.

The implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong in July 2020, however, has restored the social order in the SAR. The 24 years of high-level autonomy that Hong Kong has enjoyed seems to have been "wasted" on some Hong Kong youths.

It's time national civil education was introduced in Hong Kong so that the younger generations can be guided toward the right path and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation realized.

The author is an associate lecturer at the Hong Kong Institute for Public Administration, and an adviser to the Hong Kong Junior Police Officers' Association.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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