On the passing of sg first pm, the founding father of the nation, the media reports well. What had happened, his efforts were well penned and circulated with the recordings and the images which speak more than a thousand words.
Indeed extraordinary. Given his style, for sure it would nt haven been easy to work alongside with if he is not who he is, the man who managed to balance the iron-fist trait with his care, sincerity and love for pple. He has a strong sense of belonging and has sacrificed his heart and soul wholly to build the nation n to defend it. Territorial and with strong sense of discipline, he persevered against all odds, doing what he thinks is right at that pt in time and yes he did not set out to be a ruler, he is convicted to be one when he assumed his role.
I am lucky to get a taste of similar experience. It shld be human nature for pple who naturally protects his family, his own grp or team, and his own country if nt his mother earth. And that is why it isnt an easy task to break religious and racial societies, not to be territorial n fight for the wrong reasons. On the other hand, tho pple stand united naturally once they have a sense of belonging and stand up strongly and firmly when u recognise the cause that u are fighting for, yet it isnt easy to make pple see the same thing and unite for the same reason. And of cos he is influential enuff to have led his team to work so hard together towards a common goal. 前人种树后人凉。will pple naturally step up to be the pioneers or really jus wait to be the next gen, thinking pple will somehow get it done for them? How to make all think the same way that nobody owes us a living? Rule by fear?...so to a certain extend, it is effective.
My dad was like that. The instructors in uniform grps are like tat. U are forced to give respect, no such thing as respect is to be earned. It is also the culture. That was how pple are trained and brought up n thus disciplined. For sg, at some stage, this has slackened. Someone has set the precedence that one cannot rule by fear as u will be stoned by complaints and media ridicules. And thus the term for the strawberries generation. U cant try anything funny. when there r black sheeps who abuse authorities, pple become smarter and start to retaliate. N then on the other side, there r pple who chao geang and refuse to work hard for it, showing attitude and drag down the entire grp without remorse. The result: slowing economy. Then they question: does that matter?
Do i feel proud to be sgporean? Of cos i dun. I have nt really contributed to sg. Why shld i? Im nt part of the pioneers who worked their asses off for today's result, happiness, prosperity and progress for the nation. Everyone needs to find what u r working for. What u are fighting for and what u are defending for. Then when all is aligned with the what, people will unite. If u look on the bad side, sgporeans are so rude, so kiasu, everything also 争先恐后, lousy driving etiquettes, complain at the most trivial matters, pretend nv see pple in need etc. Horrible. If others label sgporeans as that why shld i be proud to be one?
To be fair, pple queue more than in the past, more pple help one another. shrugs, education needs to work on these more. It is like how to be a good person and a likeable individual who can contribute to the society.
the friendliness of the pple are way too far from others. Prolly shy or jus reserved then pple label as snobbish. I dunno. Whats there to be snobbish abt? The success of the country is nt directly related to the commoners wat. Actually they will be if the leaders make them realise they are contributing. Lee's speeches are powerful and if u roll back, his speeches have improved over the years. And he gracefully gave the credit to his capable wife. Salutes.
And then on the other hand, there r many who contributed n played a part, whose accounts are not made known. One person cannot do it himself...his visions will not be materialised. The opportunities and lives they have sacrificed. Pple who love music n art and could have been great musicians and artists then in the past lost the chance to develop themselves and becoming great artistes. Pple's focus on economic progress have led them to be more money minded, ignoring and letting go certain areas of focus/interesy. But pple were prolly more tolerant and they were gunning for the greater outcome. How noble.
Why do pple even question the future? Nobody will know. Lee is a great leader who trains his successors well. Thats what i view an important trait of a great leader. If he falls, his outcome falls, he isnt that great. The legacy is created, it shld sustain thru the eras. Poor successors who will be under immense stress to deliver. And at this time , pm can still deliver his speech as a pm, putting aside his role of a son. Salutes. The foundations are laid, but with the everchanging world, there will only progress of the nation if pple keeps working on it. Times have changed, much has to be reviewed. It isnt an easy job as well. Harder, in fact. For the growth to be significant, the effort has to be tripled. Politicians cannot view their job as a career. They shld view themselves as the contributors, who hold the burden of nation building. Who can sincerely work and revolutionise the policies, without bothering abt popularity or staying in the cabinet for the high pay?
The late lky's quotes are wise. Much to learn from, if one fully understands them and able to apply them appropriately. His journey has ended. Rip.
