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| Lee Kuan Yew 1923-2015 |
Let me start by saying, Thank you, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Thank you.
Thank you for giving me the chance to worry about things like what movie to watch, what to have for dinner, should i take cab to work, should i tell the girl i adore that i liked her, what to get my parents for their birthdays, should i turn on the aircon and other million similar worries.
Thank you for giving me those worries instead of worries like where am i going to spend the night, when is my next meal, would i live to see the morning sun tomorrow?
All this is possible because you did all the worrying for my survival for me. I know i am not that special for you to specifically worry about. But because of your love for Singapore, and me being a Singaporean, by association, i got to enjoy the fruits of your labour.
I always loved you and the way you did the things which were necessary with conviction and clarity.
When Singapore started out, you were like a brother to the pioneer generation, digging it in, getting your hands dirty, striving together, fighting together.
Years passed and to the second generation, you were like a stern parent, guiding them, teaching them, showing them how things needed to be done and willing them on areas they were too young to understand or comprehend.
Even more years passed and to my generation, the third generation, you were like a patient grandparent. We were the younglings. We didn't experience or witness the hardships the previous two generations went through. You indulged our occasional whims with kindness but did not hesitate to right any issues which deeply concerned you. You realised we weren't open to too much control and adjusted your ways accordingly.
You have done so much for us and have so much for us to learn from.
From you, i learned that i must fight. Fight to defend what is dear to me. To not back down when things are bleak and seem improbable. To have a will of steel.
At the same time, you taught me to love. To be able to love a nation as deep as you did. To love a woman as much as you did. Your love with Madam Kwa Geok Choo was a beacon in a time when love is very much underrated and taken for granted. When you loved, you did not hold back. You gave your all. Your energy. Your time. Your thoughts.
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| Come, It's time to go. |
You fought as hard as you loved. You loved with as much tenderness as the resolve you fought with.
You were worried that we wouldn't love Singapore as much as those who came before us and might forget all it took to get to where we are now. Don't worry. If there was anything to go by, this past week has shown how Singaporeans can come together, feel together and grieve together. The new generation has inherited your Will of Steel and will not forsake your life's work. We might not remember you so vividly and constantly in the days to come. But you will never be forgotten, fondly remembered and deeply appreciated.
To the Grandfather i never had the privilege of meeting in person, i won't promise to try to change the world like you did. But i will strive to make my life, the lives of people around me, the lives of fellow Singaporeans just a tad better.
Thank you for giving the opportunity to meet people on the world stage with an equal footing.
Thank you for giving the opportunity to be proficient in more than one language.
Thank you for giving the opportunity to have access to resources others can only dream of.
Thank you for giving the opportunity to be proud of being Singaporean.
Thank you for, even in your passing, your final act of uniting all Singaporeans as one people, one nation, one Singapore.
To end this tribute, this quote was one of many which struck me,
"As we acknowledge his passing, Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s given name in Chinese means 'light and brightness'. We would respectfully suggest that the world is a little less light and a little less bright after his passing."
Ms Tracey Martin, Deputy Leader of New Zealand First
"爷爷, 一路好走"
#RememberingLeeKuanYew #ThankYouSir #GoodbyeAndThankYou #人中之龙
