View Topic

Mr Lee Kuan Yew, founder of modern Singapore, has passed away at the Singapore General Hospital today at 3.18am (SGT). He had been a great leader who fought for Singapore's independence and contributed massively to her development from third to first world nation. As part of the generation who enjoys Singapore's successes since birth, I really appreciate everything he had done for us Singaporeans.

He lived for a long time. I'm sure I can't begin to comprehend all he's done for Singapore, so all I can do is wish for him to rest in peace.

Unfortunately I don't know much about him, but it sounds like he had a full and long life and he'll be remembered by many going into the future...what more can anyone ask for?

I would like to ask, is it odd that I teared up after hearing the news of his death in school from the Prime Minister's address at 8 am in the morning even though the only times I ever saw him was through the television?

Not at all. When Nelson Mandela died, many grown South African men did the same.

Suppose you guys are due for a bit of freedom now.

https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2014/singapore

I have a few Singaporean long-time friends...can't say I like what I heard.

Well, he had laid the foundations and secured Singapore's survival. Whether we will have more freedom depends on the next generation of leaders.

I read that people feared him as a dictator, but then again some people claim I'm a dictator here...so I suppose that it's easy to see people in different lights, depending on perspective.

I may be biased but even if he was a dictator like some have claimed, he had been a benevolent one.

It may be a cultural thing too. I think most Americans have a knee-jerk negative reaction to anything involving the word dictators, even benevolent ones. My personal experience in running different things like projects and regions have given me a different perspective though. Sometimes a more centralized approach is just needed to get things done that otherwise wouldn't be due to politics and bickering.

It all comes down to perspective in the end.

EDIT: This meme is relevant to the discussion at hand.

It may be a cultural thing too. I think most Americans have a knee-jerk negative reaction to anything involving the word dictators, even benevolent ones. My personal experience in running different things like projects and regions have given me a different perspective though. Sometimes a more centralized approach is just needed to get things done that otherwise wouldn't be due to politics and bickering.

Most Canadians have a knee-jerk negative reaction to being called Americans :x

Most Canadians have a knee-jerk negative reaction to being called Americans :x

Out of jealousy, I'm sure.

Most Canadians have a knee-jerk negative reaction to being called Americans :x

Out of jealousy, I'm sure.

Nah, we've implemented a nice little freedom exporting industry on our own ._.

Haha

In any case, I think we're slipping a bit off-topic. Let's return to the matter at hand.