A Thanh Nien’s contributor writes:

I have read the interview with Nguyen Thanh Tai, vice chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, who explained why the city government decided to cut the fireworks show for Lunar New Year’s Eve in mid-February.

I have also read many opinions of readers on online newspapers, who support the organizing of a fireworks show in the city to ring in Year of the Pig 2007.

My first thought is that Vietnamese people are very bright minded, and State leaders should heed their opinions, not only on the issue of fireworks, but on other matters as well.

In my opinion, firstly we should thank the city government for its decision to spend the estimated cost for the fireworks of VND1.5 billion (roughly US$94,000) donating to needy families and typhoon victims on the New Year festival.

The decision proves that the city leaders’ interest and care for the poor, specifically at the time we bid farewell to the year gone by and welcome the New Year.

In fact, VND1.5 billion is not a very big sum to HCMC, the largest city in Vietnam.

And the money is not enough to cover the needs of poor people across the city, and of course it could not help to solve all problems to help improve the living conditions for the poor.

However, if the city spends VND1.5 billion on the Lunar New Year’s Eve fireworks show, is the money wasteful or not?

In my opinion, it is not.

Many readers contributed good ideas about advantages for the poor if the city organizes the fireworks show, for instance, many vendors earn money thanks to selling goods to visitors and viewers during the fireworks show.

However, the more important thing is a spiritual benefit that a show of this nature brings.

HCMC is the leading economic, cultural and tourism center of Vietnam so organizing a fireworks show exhibits the city’s vitality and helps create spiritual links between city residents, rich or poor.

Many readers also proposed ideas to help the city assist the poor without needing to cut its fireworks show.

For instance, one reader suggested everybody send an SMS message worth VND5,000 (US31¢), of which VND3,000 would be directed to the fund for the poor, and the remainder as contributing money for the budget to organize a fireworks show.

The reader said that the money contributed by the city residents could even exceed the estimated cost of the fireworks show.

I think if the city authorities decided to cut the New Year’s Eve fireworks show for the sake of the poor, they also deprive poor people of the right to enjoy the fireworks performance together with other city residents.

I think the poor, on their side, would also be unhappy knowing that city residents lost their chance to enjoy the show because of them.

So, in my opinion, the New Year’s Eve fireworks show must go on, to offer the poor and other city residents a chance to share the joy together to ring in the New Year with stronger determination and belief in a better future.

Written by Thanh Thao