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GMS: I don't write nasty letters of condolences, like some people

Confuseous

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
I promise I won't write NASTY letter of condolences to Prime Minister Lee, just as he did to Kenneth Jeyaretnam​ when his father JBJ passed away.

But let me share with my friends what I really think of LKY.

Whether we like it or not, Singapore was lucky to have an opportunistic pragmatist like LKY to wiggle us out of danger and animosity during the 1960s. He was a good schemer, pretender who was able to convince the British Colonist that he was the right one to run Singapore so that their interests in Far East would be protected. On the other hand, he was able to con the Leftists into fake collaboration of anti-colonial fights, gaining their trust and riding on their enormous political capital and organization to gain prominence among the largely Chinese based voters.

Whether we like it or not, that is one of the greatest political maneuver ever in Singapore political history. He could on one hand, scold the British "White Man" but at the same time, struck back door deals with them, making sure all blame went to them but yet, convince them he was the man they need!

His pragmatism has also allowed us to gain the necessary peace and breather from the animosity from Indonesia. He managed to convince Suharto that peace is what we need. On the other hand, he could well continue to convince Tunku Abdul Rahman to settle for peace and continue to supply us water, even though he has agitated him bad enough for him to ask Singapore to leave the Malaysia Federation!

His pragmatism has also made the normalization of foreign relationship with China possible, not only for Singapore but Malaysia and Indonesia as well. He could have put up his rally cry of anti- "Communist Terrorists" throughout 1960s, 1970s and even 1980s, but still he could shake hands with the leaders largest communist country in Asia who were behind the exportation of communism to SEA. He seized the opportunity to get China involved in forcing Vietnam, the only Communist Country in SEA, into peace in Cambodia and thus, removing the last threat of Communism to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

On the other hand, his cultivation of warm ties with the western powers, particularly US, has allowed us to make use of their presence at our port to provide the necessary peace and stability, not only for Singapore, but also for SEA and North Asia. Singapore's role in the Vietnam War as a logistic base for the Americans in the 1960s and 1970s has provided opportunities for us to ease the pressure of the pullout of the British troops.

On the international front, his opportunistic pragmatism has allowed us to make use of the American to balance the power and provide a security net against potential Chinese expansionary threat while on the other hand, despite of his suspicions of China, continue to reap economic benefits from China's economic growth and development.

We cannot ignore all these delicate but important achievements of LKY, which have brought important benefits to us over the generations. This is even though we dislike the man who has in some point in time, get overwhelmed by the power he held.

As I have mentioned, his greatest failing is to destroy the tenets of Democracy in Singapore. He should have stopped his addiction to unnecessary harsh treatment towards dissidents and political opponents after he gained power in the 1960s. But he didn't stop but continue with his devious ways. The imprisonment of activists in 1987 under Operation Spectrum was the last embarrassment which made him realized that he could no longer use ISA in such a irresponsible way against dissidents. Nobody believe the "Marxist Conspiracy" which he tried so hard to put up because USSR was in the midst of disintegration and China, thanks to him, had stopped the support of exporting communism to the rest of Asia! This is why Operation Spectrum became the LAST ISD operation against political dissidents and opponents of LKY.

However, instead of reflecting on his insatiable desire to monopolize power, he continued persecution of his political opponents and dissidents by legal means: defamation suits and bankruptcy of his opponents. He didn't realize that such petty politicking internally is really unfitting for a Great International Politician like himself!

In his relentless pursue of such monopoly and concentration of powers, he has unwittingly destroyed the tenets of Singapore Democracy. This is the biggest failing of his political legacy. And I reiterate, we have to try to rebuild what he has destroyed, Democracy, in Post LKY Era.

For whatever good or bad deeds LKY has done for us, let us accept the man of what he was. He was a Dictator, unlike most other Dictators in past and present, has done both great good and bad for his people.

As a person who believe strongly in Democracy, I will still not mourn the Death of a Dictator. But I will remember both the good and bad deeds he has done, putting these as lessons for future.

Last but not least, I will still wish him, Rest In Peace. There is nothing more for him to do anymore. Please don't jump out of the grave even if there is any problem in Singapore. Just Rest In Peace.

Goh Meng Seng

http://singaporealternatives.blogspot.sg/2015/03/lee-kuan-yew-rest-in-peace.html
 

aurvandil

Alfrescian
Loyal
The PAP have unintentionally turned his death into a referendum of his life. They have declared a week of national mourning and have used every resource of state to proclaim his greatness.

The outcome so far has not been encouraging. In general Singaporeans are respectful and look poorly those who speak ill of the dead. There is however resistance to the in-your-face demand that we all be sad and eternally grateful. This is manifested by a cold indifference to his passing. For example when his body was moved to the Istana, there was a embarrassingly small turn out. At the various "condolence sites", the number of PA / Grassroots urging Singaporeans to go in far outnumber the number of Singaporeans who actually step in. Everyone goes about their daily lives no no real grief or loss. If anything, annoyance seems to be starting to creep in at the non-stop exhortations to show sadness.
 

looneytan

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
At first I read the thread title as ... "GMS: I don't want nasty letters of condolences, like some people"
 

Satyr

Alfrescian
Loyal
The PAP have unintentionally turned his death into a referendum of his life. They have declared a week of national mourning and have used every resource of state to proclaim his greatness.

The outcome so far has not been encouraging. In general Singaporeans are respectful and look poorly those who speak ill of the dead. There is however resistance to the in-your-face demand that we all be sad and eternally grateful. This is manifested by a cold indifference to his passing. For example when his body was moved to the Istana, there was a embarrassingly small turn out. At the various "condolence sites", the number of PA / Grassroots urging Singaporeans to go in far outnumber the number of Singaporeans who actually step in. Everyone goes about their daily lives no no real grief or loss. If anything, annoyance seems to be starting to creep in at the non-stop exhortations to show sadness.

Harry wanted to be feared rather than loved. He got his wish. The legacy of Saints far outlive conquerors. Mother Teresa and Mandela are remembered as living presences daily. LKY, great man though he was, is already being forgotten.
 

yellowarse

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
LKY, great man though he was, is already being forgotten.

Slight correction. LKY was a great politician – one of the greatest of the century – a titan of a leader, but he was never a great man.

How could he be, when he was petty, small-minded, vindictive and ruthless in the way he went about destroying his opponents? It speaks of a puny heart, one that is devoid of compassion and empathy, and an extremely narcissistic existence that was centred on remaking the world around him in his image and his vision.

Mandela was a great man; that's why the general outpouring of grief and sadness worldwide at his death was genuine and spontaneous. And the admiration and love for the man (if not his legacy) the humbling acknowledgement that a mortal can embody a superhuman magnanimity of spirit, will last into posterity.
 

Satyr

Alfrescian
Loyal
Slight correction. LKY was a great politician – one of the greatest of the century – a titan of a leader, but he was never a great man.

How could he be, when he was petty, small-minded, vindictive and ruthless in the way he went about destroying his opponents? It speaks of a puny heart, one that is devoid of compassion and empathy, and an extremely narcissistic existence that was centred on remaking the world around him in his image and his vision.

Mandela was a great man; that's why the general outpouring of grief and sadness worldwide at his death was genuine and spontaneous. And the admiration and love for the man (if not his legacy) the humbling acknowledgement that a mortal can embody a superhuman magnanimity of spirit, will last into posterity.

I stand corrected. It is a tragedy that he was that close to true greatness but never grasped it.
 

3_M

Alfrescian
Loyal
He might be an arsehole and that something people know but they view from the angle that was necessary evil to achieve progress. It a case of the end justifies the means.

Even people who voted for opposition are mourning. In this sense LKY is truly above politics.
 

Confuseous

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
He might have built a country - the hardware. And did a good job.
But he did not build a nation all this time.
While his comments that it was not his job to strengthen the opposition were valid and true,
it WAS his job to strengthen the population with leadership, wisdom, example towards how
SG could be a great country, regardless of political ilk. This, he did not do, and his biggest
failure.
 

virus

Alfrescian
Loyal
He might be an arsehole and that something people know but they view from the angle that was necessary evil to achieve progress. It a case of the end justifies the means.

Even people who voted for opposition are mourning. In this sense LKY is truly above politics.

compared to hilter and saddam hussien, you made them look like saints.
 

Boliao

Alfrescian
Loyal
Not just Singapore's democracy but he also destroyed all the good ground works that the PAP pioneers have laid. He introduced nepotism and cronyism that further destroyed the average Singaporean's opportunity. Raided our reserves, sold national assets and deprived Singaporeans the opportunities that our forefathers earned through their hard work and sweat during the early years. All these have proven that all he did was in his self interest.

His is not Singapore's savior and certainly does not deserve "our founding father".
 

enterprise2

Alfrescian
Loyal
The PAP have unintentionally turned his death into a referendum of his life. They have declared a week of national mourning and have used every resource of state to proclaim his greatness.

The outcome so far has not been encouraging. In general Singaporeans are respectful and look poorly those who speak ill of the dead. There is however resistance to the in-your-face demand that we all be sad and eternally grateful. This is manifested by a cold indifference to his passing. For example when his body was moved to the Istana, there was a embarrassingly small turn out. At the various "condolence sites", the number of PA / Grassroots urging Singaporeans to go in far outnumber the number of Singaporeans who actually step in. Everyone goes about their daily lives no no real grief or loss. If anything, annoyance seems to be starting to creep in at the non-stop exhortations to show sadness.

I though the whole shitty times all about LKY was overdone!!! Wah biang! Whole world stopped spinning for his funeral!
 

aurvandil

Alfrescian
Loyal
Whoever is running the coverage should do a reality check. The coverage is bordering on the ridiculous. At this point in time, no world leaders have indicated that they will be attending the funeral. In spite of this, they are spinning it as if the entire world is mourning his death.

Even more telling is that the msm has also not been able to produce pictures of large numbers of Singaporeans gathering to pay respects. The "condolence sites" they have set up all the site are largely cold and empty. This has led to using the same photographic tricks they use during elections to hide the fact that not many people go to attend PAP election rallies.

They should accord his passing with the dignity of telling Singaporeans the truth.

I though the whole shitty times all about LKY was overdone!!! Wah biang! Whole world stopped spinning for his funeral!
 

Sideswipe

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
why people ignore the fact that LKY translated the Allies secret military information for the Japanese invaders during ww2. that made him a traitor to our land and people.
 

johnny333

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
He might have built a country - the hardware. And did a good job.
But he did not build a nation all this time.
While his comments that it was not his job to strengthen the opposition were valid and true,
it WAS his job to strengthen the population with leadership, wisdom, example towards how
SG could be a great country, regardless of political ilk. This, he did not do, and his biggest
failure.

A pity he was just a selfish man who only looked after his family & friends while treating the "lesser mortals" as nameless digits.
Probably why there is a smaller crowd of "lesser mortals" than expected at the Istana.
 

Confuseous

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
NONE of the British newspapers have even made it a headline or any where near it in the past few days.

Handing out pre-printed condolence cards? WTF.

The International New York Times mentioned that there were much bigger crowds in the surrounding area, most of them engrossed with their mobile phones than anything else.
 

yinyang

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
...coverage should do a reality check. The coverage is bordering on the ridiculous. At this point in time, no world leaders have indicated that they will be attending the funeral. In spite of this, they are spinning it as if the entire world is mourning his death.
...msm has also not been able to produce pictures of large numbers of Singaporeans gathering to pay respects. The "condolence sites" they have set up all the site are largely cold and empty. ..same photographic tricks they use during elections to hide the fact that not many people go to attend PAP election rallies.
Accolades are one thing, but daresay the whole shebang is a bit OTT. Prime time telly (not just news) blanketed with repeated replays.

Foreign dignitaries so far coming: China (proxies?), S Korea, Indon and Thailand
 
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