Lessons on overcoming everyday temptations

76 years ago, in the work “Reforming the way of working” (October 1947), President Ho Chi Minh warned: “In our Party, there are still people who have not learned or practiced the four words “impartial and impartial”, so they suffer from individualism. Individualism is like a very poisonous virus, which causes very dangerous diseases”. He pointed out the manifestations of specific diseases: greed, laziness, arrogance, vanity, lack of discipline, narrow-mindedness, localism, leaderism...

Regarding the disease of greed, Uncle Ho analyzed: “Those who suffer from this disease put their own interests above the interests of the Party and the nation, and therefore are only “selfish”, using public property for private purposes. Relying on the power of the Party to pursue their own goals. Living lavishly, spending recklessly. Where does that money come from? If not from the Party, then from the people. Even doing black market smuggling. Not afraid of losing the reputation of the Party, not afraid of losing one’s own reputation”... Reflecting on Uncle Ho’s teachings until today, in the market mechanism, deep integration still retains its value.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong delivered a speech directing the mid-term conference of the 13th Central Executive Committee.

At the National Conference of Cadres to disseminate and implement the conclusions and regulations of the Central Executive Committee on promoting Party building and rectification, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong pointed out that each cadre and Party member, first of all, leaders and managers at all levels, especially leaders and chairpersons, must be exemplary and proactive in taking the lead. Based on this resolution, conclusion and regulations, it is necessary to seriously self-criticize, review, and reflect on oneself, one's unit, and one's family; promote what is good, self-adjust what is lacking, and self-cleanse and self-correct what is bad. All Party members must do the same, not just stand aside and judge or "wait and see", considering themselves innocent.

The General Secretary pointed out that the review, self-criticism and criticism must be carefully prepared, meticulously and closely directed; carried out seriously and cautiously; each step must be done with certainty, achieving concrete and substantial results. It is necessary to avoid doing things superficially, carelessly, formally, and perfunctorily. Overcome the situation of being superficial, deferential, or even turning self-criticism and criticism meetings into places to flatter and praise each other; at the same time, prevent and avoid taking advantage of this occasion to fight and put each other down with impure motives. Strictly handle cases of suppressing criticism and slandering others...

Looking back at recent major cases, when the accused previously held important positions in the Party and State apparatus, public opinion often has many perspectives. First is the criminal behavior, public opinion is concerned about the amount of money, the tricks that these accused used their positions and powers to gain personal gain, corruption, and profit. Second is the attitude, lifestyle, is that person bureaucratic, arrogant, distant from the people, embezzling, and raking in money to serve a debauched lifestyle or is it just a temporary violation, a crime committed due to circumstances of "not being able to control oneself", a violation of behavior but not a decline in morality and character. Third is the attitude of the people towards the accused, do they truly repent, repent, and grieve for the years they let individualism turn into a "toxic virus"?

A meeting of the Central Steering Committee on preventing and combating corruption and negativity.

On the afternoon of April 18, 2023, the first-instance criminal trial of defendant Nguyen Quang Tuan (former Director of Hanoi Heart Hospital, also known as Tuan "Tim") and 11 accomplices for the crime of "Violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences" ended the debate. Having the last word, defendant Nguyen Quang Tuan apologized and expressed: "As soon as the violation occurred at Hanoi Heart Hospital, the defendant felt very remorseful. The defendant's actions hurt them and affected the reputation of the two hospitals". Speaking about himself, Mr. Tuan said that he had passed the entrance exam to Hanoi Medical University and was qualified to study abroad, but he chose to join the army. He then received medical training and entered the field of cardiology. During his work, he was sent to the US, France and several countries in the region, learning advanced cardiovascular intervention techniques to transfer modern technology to Vietnam to serve medical treatment...

Following the case, it can be seen that, unlike many other defendants in court, Mr. Tuan “Tim” received great sympathy and sharing from public opinion. They expressed regret that a talented doctor, a teacher in the medical profession, who did many good deeds, now had to receive a prison sentence. However, many opinions also affirmed that the court’s sentence of only 3 years in prison was very humane, with many mitigating circumstances added, and Dr. Tuan as well as other doctors need to take that as a warning lesson: The greater the talent, the higher the honor, the more one must obey the law, not to be manipulated by material interests.

In late June, the Trial Council of the Capital Military Court allowed the defendant - former Lieutenant General, Commander of the Coast Guard Nguyen Van Son to have the last word. Standing before the witness stand, Mr. Son admitted his crime as the mastermind, the reason being "a moment of losing control and making a mistake". "The defendant feels guilty towards the people, towards his homeland and family. The defendant's mistakes have wasted a lot of time of the prosecuting agencies, and at the same time implicated others. Although the court has not yet announced the sentence, the court of conscience has declared that the defendant himself will never forgive this mistake" - former Commander Nguyen Van Son said and said that he had served in the military for 40 years, currently has many illnesses, and hopes the court will consider reducing his sentence so that he can soon return to his family and community.

Former Coast Guard Commissar Hoang Van Dong shared that he “deeply regrets having devoted 42 years of service, and now that he is about to retire, he has broken the law and been criminally prosecuted. The defendant feels heartbroken over his mistakes and hopes that the jury will consider reducing his sentence so that he can soon return to his family and society.” Former Deputy Commander of the Coast Guard Bui Trung Dung also expressed his sorrow and regret for having served in the military for more than 44 years, being the second generation in his family to serve in the military, and his son being the third generation, but when his father was arrested, he asked to leave the industry. “The loss to his family and clan from this case is huge. The defendant hopes that the jury will apply legal policies to give him leniency”...

Commenting on forums and social networks, some people said that if you dare to do it, you must dare to take responsibility. If you have committed serious violations and pocketed such a large amount of money from the State, the defendants must take responsibility and receive severe punishment according to the law and cannot justify it. However, many opinions also expressed sympathy and shared the defendants' situation, acknowledging the dedication and contributions of the defendants, who were leaders in the Coast Guard, but because they could not control their "sugar-coated bullets", they fell, losing themselves and affecting the reputation of the industry. From there, we need to draw a lesson for general warning and prevention.

Criminal procedure law stipulates that the defendant has the last word in court, after the end of the debate. Thinking more deeply, behind each case, behind the criminal act and the punishment of the law, there is a profound meaning of warning and awakening, the words of one person have the meaning of awakening thousands of people, awakening those who are on that path, sitting on fame and power, to know how to correct themselves to reflect, to think about themselves, do not commit the "opposite path" as the defendant committed.

When we have to talk about illness, about the situation of old parents and young children, about our homeland and family, about the desire to "anchor at the homeland", that is when people have returned to their true selves - when they are down and out, that is where people need to return and seek out as a natural thing, like when they were young and hungry and leaned into their mother's arms. Therefore, from recent prominent cases, from the "firewood campaign" with strict, reasonable sentences, from the defendants' repentance in court, we can draw lessons of awakening, knowing how to respect honor, doing what is right, overcoming the temptations of everyday life...

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