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Day: 23 March 2015

Lee Kuan Yew is Singapore

Lee Kuan Yew is Singapore

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During the USA presidentially rally (the one that Obama was first elected), many fellow Singaporeans and I were glued to the screen. After all, USA was, and still is, our biggest trading partner, so who the USA president would greatly mattered to us. 

My friends would lament, “Aiy! See how eloquent and charismatic the American candidates are! We don’t have such eloquent politicians in Singapore! The ones in Singapore are so boring with a capital B!”

My dear friends, that was so untrue! We had one of the most eloquent and charismatic politicians of all times! What’s more! He delivered what he promised! It wasn’t airy fairy promises made, just to gain votes! 

We had the most passionate, rousing founding prime minister who rallied the people together and brought us from third world to first! He had the wit and intellect to answer any question posed to him and at times, sent the questioner scuttling away in shame.

Lee Kuan Yew is Singapore. Singapore is Lee Kuan Yew. Look around, you will see his legacy. He’s touched each and every one of us. He lives on, in us. 

Watch this excellently compiled mini series of interviews with him. It’ll be the most fruitful 30 mins spent. 

[youtube=http://youtu.be/GVDE0KPMaeY]

[youtube=http://youtu.be/sStDekhgKVg]

[youtube=http://youtu.be/B36xbbE-MyA]


Lee Kuan Yew – A Giant Among Men

Lee Kuan Yew – A Giant Among Men

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I just couldn’t help it. Press releases from the PMO has prepared the nation for the inevitable. But when the news was finally released, tears started rolling down my cheeks. Although I deeply respect and admire the man, I’ve only seen him on tv, not even up close and personal. Yet, the sense of loss and sadness is overwhelming. For, without him, our little Singapore with no natural resources would not be known. 

My grandma, who brought me up, is a staunch admirer of Lee Kuan Yew. She’s a widow who has lived through WWII and has single-handedly brought up my then 3 yo father and 18 mo Uncle when my grandfather passed away. “Without LKY, we would still be living in mud huts, suffering in the hands of the abominable Lim Yew Hock and we have to grease every single person’s palm with money!” Then she would tell me all the stories. I grew up in awe of the man. 

I watched him on television, listened to his speeches, the ones that world leaders tuned in at the same time. There was much pride in us. 

You are the reason, why we can hold our heads high up among the super nations. 

Because of him,

We walk in peace, unmolested in the wee hours of the night. 

We are able to go to work with the peace of minds, that our families are safe at home. 

Women like us can receive an education which puts us on par with the men and we can equally contribute to the good of the society for education comes with power. 

We live in a beautiful environment with clean water and first class health care. 

We are connected globally on cyberspace, where many ingrates are able to bitch about him. We remain up to date with the global news for knowledge brings wisdom. 

Although he is gone, but his legacy lives on. We see his footprints all over Singapore, in every single tree (we have a lot of trees!), in every single person. He’s touched our lives. 

Thank you Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Although I don’t know you personally, but you feel like a grandfather to me. You have given us your life and we must make sure that we carry on and pass the torch to the future generations. 

I will tell my children that you are our founding father, and without you, there won’t be us. 

  

Damn! I’m turning into a weeping bunch of emotions as I’m writing this. And I’m never like this! 

From the great man : live a life with no regrets!