How did we choose our topic?
Last year, our group members learned about an akin topic: the Khmer Rouge, a communist group within Cambodia that inflicted mass genocide on its people. As time elapsed through the course of that year, we were familiarized with similar countries who also confronted communism and we were engrossed within this field of history. Heading into this year's NHD project with a decent amount of knowledge on communism, we pursued our interests in this field. After viewing multiple choices, we concluded on studying Ho Chi Minh, a communist leader who desired to unify Vietnam. We were first intrigued by his name Ho Chi Minh, "the bringer of light", and Uncle Ho. He had two different faces. Non-communist countries saw him as a communist dictator, who was dangerous to capitalism. In Vietnam he was and still is a symbol of unity and freedom, and this was the face my group wanted to analyze.
How did we conduct our research?
Each group member was assigned particular topics concerning Ho Chi Minh and the role he played in Vietnam. Independently, each member researched a wide range of resources on their topics. These resources included online websites, books, online files/documents, online videos, and also, a phone interview with the college professor, Mrs. Olga Dror, in mid-January. Furthermore, as we continued in our research, we often found primary sources concerning different topics about Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam. We shared this and other information amongst the group in order to successfully build the website.
How did we select our presentation category and create the project?
Our group members were very familiarized with building websites and we were appealed to utilize our knowledge. Also, building a website made it easier for us as many times, we were personally occupied with other affairs. Not everyone had to be present at one place in order to work on the website (as opposed to the other categories: exhibits, documentaries, performances), but we still communicated numerous times by calling each other. After we established this year's NHD topic and began to research independently, we created the website and inserted information we came across, as well as videos, images, other files, and especially quotes that pertained to the information. Although there was a lot of deleting and adding information, our finalized project was what each of us hoped to portray.
How does this project pertain to the NHD theme?
This year's NHD theme is "Leadership and Legacy". Ho exhibited his leadership qualities and his knowledge (on certain aspects such as communism, nationalism, and French culture) to successfully liberate Vietnam from foreign rule. He also utilized his leadership qualities to guide his people through the Vietnam War and to made a strong effort to unify the country he adored. Although Ho Chi Minh died before he could observe his long term plan being fulfilled, Ho Chi Minh left a legacy in Vietnam and the world. The country was liberated, it gained a new sense of nationalism, and Ho left a legacy of strength by defeating the world's superpowers during the Indochina Wars. To this day, many people respect him in Vietnam and other nations.