Kong Dezun: The Party is in my heart

Previously, my impression of the Party was hazy and unclear. My initial understanding came from stories told by elders and revolutionary films of that era, such as "Shangganling," "Eternal Life in Fire," and "Nan Zheng Bei Zhan." These films depicting the revolutionary period, along with the names of heroic figures like Dong Cunrui and Huang Jiguang that appeared in later textbooks, deeply rooted themselves in my heart. Although I knew nothing about the Party at the time, nor the rights and obligations of Party members, I believed that Party members were heroes, great champions who served the country and the people, and eradicated evil. As my understanding of the Party deepened, my perception of it also changed. In my heart, the Party was no longer just a series of well-known stories and heroes, but a history of the Chinese people's struggle for independence, freedom, and liberation—a history of revolution and resistance, woven together by these stories and heroes. Now, the Party in my heart is more than just history; it has evolved from a childhood haze to a present-day clarity. We may not be able to truly feel the sincerity of our revolutionary predecessors who sacrificed their lives, nor can we experience the hardships of survival described by the older generation. The pace of time marches on, history continuously records new things, and in the advancement of the era, we continue to write new stories in the process of inheritance.

"I was born a mountain, not a stream; I wish to overlook the mediocre ravines from the peak of the mountains. I was born a hero, not a weed; I stand on the shoulders of giants and despise the lowly cowards!" This ambitious slogan is a treasure left by the legendary principal Zhang Guimei to 1804 girls. She went to every village in Huaping Town, persuading every dropout child with painstaking effort. Seeing abandoned infants at the gate of the orphanage, she gradually understood that this was a tragedy caused by poverty in the deep mountains, low-quality mothers, and the remnants of patriarchal ideas. She wanted to redeem those girls in the deep mountains. From that moment, an idea sprouted in her heart and was quickly put into practice. But reality is like a roller coaster, always shattering dreams before stopping. She humbled herself and sought funding everywhere, only raising 10,000 yuan in five years. Just as she was disheartened, the Party and the state gave her a ray of light, bringing hope. She was elected as a delegate to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and spoke out her ideas in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Unexpectedly, this dream became a reality—Huaping Girls' High School was built! But this was only the first step. The subsequent teacher shortage also gave her a headache. By chance, she discovered that six out of eight remaining teachers were Party members. So, she had everyone reread the Party membership oath. With this reading, the red blood flowed warmly again in everyone's hearts, and they found the original aspiration of the Communists. With perseverance, Huaping Girls' High School grew stronger, and Principal Zhang Guimei's spirit was instilled in the younger generation. The Party and the state supported her and her high school, and she repaid the Party and the state with her life.

The novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic touched the hearts of every Chinese person. While we adopted the method of staying home to isolate ourselves from the outside world and avoid infection, a group of people became the most beautiful reverse-flow heroes. They stayed at their posts day and night, unable to reunite with their families during the Spring Festival. They researched the virus strain, developed vaccines, treated patients, and comforted families. They worked day and night, racing against time to admit patients, build hospitals, and overcome difficulties. The strength of the nation was once again demonstrated to the world. I saw a sentence: "This is China; there are always the bravest people protecting us." Only in times of difficulty can we have a deeper understanding of this. In epidemic prevention and control, Party members took the lead. Faced with difficulties in epidemic prevention work, Party members stepped forward one by one, and teams of Party volunteer groups were established. They proactively identified themselves, consolidated the vanguard force, and formed a powerful force to fight the epidemic. During the Spring Festival holiday, to ensure market supply, Party members and employees worked overtime to contribute to the epidemic prevention and control work. One branch is one fortress, and one Party member is one flag. In this smokeless war of epidemic prevention and control, Party members rushed to the forefront at critical moments and showed their dedication in times of crisis, demonstrating the political consciousness of "epidemic prevention is the order, and prevention and control is the responsibility," and showcasing the spirit of the new era of Communists.

After submitting my application for Party membership, I learned more about the Party's history and theoretical knowledge. Only then did I realize that being a hero is not the true original aspiration of the Communist Party. Caring for the masses, caring for the people, and sincerely serving the people are the original aspirations of a Communist Party member. Positive and vivid examples around me and the advanced deeds of Party members are enriching the picture of the times. Each generation has its mission and responsibility, and they are interpreting the true colors of the Party for us.

In my heart, the Party now means focusing on my work, loving my job, and fulfilling my duties with loyalty to the Party!

【Metal Structure Processing Center/Kong Dezun Editor/Hu Hengjin】