Below are my thoughts, written and saved on my phone since the day of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew's passing. Was clearing the memory space and hence decided to post the content (edited) here:
Waking up to a loss, it's like watching the sun go down -- you know it is happening but every inch of your body is hoping that a miracle happens and the sun doesn't have to leave the sky. Typing this I can't help but look out my window. This is the Singapore that has shone under his light and wisdom. But it looks so wrong, and empty, without the presence of the one who built it all.
As a '95 liner, I was born in a comfortable Singapore. And I know that everything that we have now didn't come easy. Reasons why I am proud to be a Singaporean -- Mr Lee Kuan Yew has made them possible, and a great leader himself was one of them.
He is my idol. I always anticipated his appearance on national TV during NDPs. The cute grandfather, who is the reason why Singapore is who she is today. Some hated his grit, and I call them the foolish and the ungrateful. My grandmother said while watching the news of his passing, "He was strict. Because no one else would."
I remember a Chinese celebrity likening the global-positioning of various countries to a lucky draw. Singapore has gotten the shorter end of the stick: small land, limited natural resources, heterogeneous population with no common culture. But what has changed the game for us, was that we've got Lee Kuan Yew.
Non-Singaporeans may find it hard to empathize with this loss. Political leaders seem like people who are distant and hard-to-reach. But Mr Lee was like a grandfather to us all. Singapore is a young nation, a few months to 50. And it is this 91-year-old man who decided that he would stand up and fight for his country. He had a vision, and he made it come true. I am doing a project on Singaporean identity for one of my university modules, and one of the icons that comes to every Singaporean's mind whom I have interviewed is Lee Kuan Yew.
In my opinion, his passing brings to Singapore his last gift for the country: unity.
Just last night, I caught one of the sg50 programmes on TV, and was lamenting how it was broadcasted at an ungodly hour of 1030PM because such programmes should be shown to many.
Now, TV channels are changing their broadcast content by airing Lee Kuan Yew and/or Singapore's nation building related shows as a tribute.
If not for his death, not much attention would be given to such programmes.
It is unfortunate and sad that the fast-achieved success of a nation has resulted in the side-effect of an apathetic younger generation, and people who are taking things for granted.
It is not a lie when I say a good number of students don't sing the national anthem and recite the pledge loudly at morning assemblies every day. Some find it childish, some pointless, others, find it an embarrassment. Somehow, not singing the anthem and saying the pledge became a "cool" thing to do.
I wonder how different the students must have felt this morning. I really hope fellow Singaporeans start to take morning assemblies seriously, and not to see pledge-taking and the singing of the anthem as a mindless ritual.
Hopefully this is a wake up call for all Singaporeans, to finally find that Singaporean pride and identity in them. Some people criticise, and claim that the great economic achievement of ours are not enough to be reasons to being proud to be a Singaporean. I hope today, people remember that there is more to that. Having a such a great man as our leader, one that is globally recognised, and our common history, the things our country has undergone, etc.
It is a pity that people are now recognising this man when he is dead. But it has happened and all we can do is to keep this remembrance in our hearts and do him proud. #RememberingLeeKuanYew
I am bad with coming up with fanciful and dramatic descriptions of his achievements, and I'm sure many of you have seen posts on his contributions on social networking sites already. So I am not here to repeat that. I am here as a fellow Singaporean, a school mate that some may know to be "very patriotic", and as someone with a minority online standpoint.
He left us with a successful Singapore, and we promise to keep his envisioned Singapore and legacy going. Never be depressed, never be defeated.
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And some post-entry thoughts:
Watching the live broadcast of the state burial brought tears to my eyes. Scenes of Singaporeans of all age groups, and uniformed SAF, students and pilots, lining the roads along various landmarks, cheering his name, some even kneeling down, paying their final respects to Mr Lee
People often question the Singaporean identity and the Singapore spirit -- whether we possess one or not. Daily complains make it seem like Singaporeans do not give a shit about the country and all aspects of it. But this incident has demonstrated the hidden Kampong spirit in us. And I quote from a Chinese programme, "Singaporeans are kind, but they are embarrassed/paiseh to actively show it."
This is by no means an academic article.
