I'm sure most of the people from my generation remember this idiom that was taught to us during our chinese lesson in our primary school days. The simple chinese idiom of my title is easy to understand, yet it is so forgotten in the minds of my generation. I still remember the exemplary story that was taught to us, which was that we should never forget what our founding fathers have contributed and fought for to build our little nation to become a rising star, strong and free admist being one of those stranded in the Third World region.
23rd March 2015 marked the passing of our most significant and hardworking founders, Sir Lee Kuan Yew.
My own generation didn't get to see for ourselves what he has done for the nation and we defintely did not take part in the early building and planning of the nation. Yet, here we are, the most blessed generation to be savouring the fruits of our founders' labours.
While all of these prosperity did not come by easy, we often take for granted what we have. To us, the constant supply of electricty and water seems like a staple, it will always be there. However, in some other countries, even an hour's supply of electricity or a bucket of clean water is a luxury to have.
I do hope that anyone reading this or any other tribute post to Sir Lee Kuan Yew would take a minute to reflect and appreciate what our founding fathers have dedicated to ensure a bright and relatively easier path for their future generations. With his passing, a lot came to mind and I felt that it is time for me to share a bit of the luxury that I did not work hard for to the more unprivileged.
In my friends' and my own accord, we will be donating a sum of money (unsure of the exact amount at the moment) to World Vision, an organisation dedicated to building a better and more humane lifestyle for those in the Third World countries. Other than sharing the luxury that we own with them, it is also a simple gesture of commemorating Sir Lee Kuan Yew's contribution and dedication to what we have today.
In my friends' and my own accord, we will be donating a sum of money (unsure of the exact amount at the moment) to World Vision, an organisation dedicated to building a better and more humane lifestyle for those in the Third World countries. Other than sharing the luxury that we own with them, it is also a simple gesture of commemorating Sir Lee Kuan Yew's contribution and dedication to what we have today.
I've never felt so much sorrow towards the passing of a founding father and Sir Lee Kuan Yew is definitely the first and last only figure who will have such a great impact on me. His legacy, his commitment in striving to build and achieve the best for his people, his spirit in making our people become independent as a sole nation are all a lifelong inspiration for me. It also deeply touches me to know how Singapore has never once left his mind. And till the very last day of his ability to do so, he was still doing it without a moment of hesitation.
The clean water, seemingly unlimited supply of electricity, clean and pest-free concrete jungle, the foreign big brands that are easily available for us to get our electrical appliances or even shopping..... There's countless of things that he has done to let us live in such comfort nowadays.
I know that there is an increasing number of young Singaporeans who are getting more angst against the government and even hate on Sir Lee Kuan Yew because they feel that his policies are not good enough...... for THEMSELVES. I too cannot agree with some of the policies such as the high COE and HDB housing prices. But at the end of the day, I see how the government has done its best to ensure that the poor, old and disabled are duly taken care of. They too are striving to be better and I think they have not done such a bad job. I only want to tell this group of people who are so ungrateful and turn to blaming the government for not being able to meet their wants to work harder. Our society works by meritocracy. I believe that if you have the brains and brawns to pick out the loopholes in the system, you can likewise do the same for your studies and/or work. You've been given a granted opportunity to a top-level education system so if you can make the effort to put so much hate into the government's policies, why not you first excel in life so that you can have a chance to be a politician and change our lives the way you want it to (and without us hating on YOUR policies).
Sir Lee Kuan Yew had been an exceptional man combined with wisdom, guts and a patriotic heart, a man unprecedented in a long long time to come. Singapore would never have come so far without his foresight and guidance. Naysayers, especially you, would not even get the chance to express your negative comments online or anywhere had he not made every single one of us literate. So, before you even criticise him and celebrate his passing, be thankful for the high standard of living he has brought to us, which he used an unknown amount of blood, sweat and tears to exchange for. Bunch of ingrates! It makes me feel ashamed to even have to type out all of this here for you.
Lastly, I would like to thank you Sir, for all that you've done for us to ensure that we have a higher standard of living as compared to what you used to live in. You have put up a strong fight for us from Day 1 till your very last, to ensure that we can hold our own fort and that we do not get bullied and looked down on by other bigger countries with an abundant supply of resources. We may not have all of those but thank you for viewing Singaporeans as our nation's most important resource and for building and strengthening our foundations so that we get to even type any online tribute for you. We are small but we will not fall thanks to your daily hard work. You've sacrificed all that you could and I'm sure that given a second chance, you would still have chose to fought for us without any reservations nor regrets. After a lifetime of nation-building, please do rest in peace with your beloved. You will continue to live in our hearts though, and admist the beautiful greenery that you have insisted to integrate into our concrete environment.
I wish you everlasting happiness with Mrs Lee in your afterlife.
Thank you, Sir.
