Re: Ex-President's own admission: Sinkie aristocrats and the elite are shallow & path
@ John Tan:
It is rare I agree with your declared opinions though I wonder if they are parodies sometimes.
I also don't blame Lee or Nathan for working with the Japs. They had nothing to hide. Had they committed treason or aided in war crimes they would have been charged. Many people were secret informers to the Japs and none will admit it. A declaration of war is not illegal under international law when countries are threatened. The Japs had reason to feel insecure and don't forget, it was the age of empires and imperialism. The British, French and Germans were all in the game. Singaporeans were not willing British subjects at the time. They did not have the full rights and privileges of British citizens. To be blunt we were little more than slaves. Where do you think Harry learnt about benevolent dictatorship. He hardly removed any of the British strictures on the population when he came to power. e.g the ISA and caning. He added a few more for good measure.
If your country changes administration do you starve or you rather find employment with the new guys running things ? That's what Harry and Nathan did. They had simply changed colonial overlords. Today, if the party in power in Singapore changes, do you think the current porlumpars will go away ? They will simply change allegiance. Only the religious will commit to a faith.
Nathan was realistic, he knew the ways of the world. Who is a real friend and who isn't. Should he care what quarrels Japan had with Britain ? Nathan was no intellectual, not a philosopher. He just took the hand he was dealt and made the most of it. He did not try to be more than he was. I do not think he asked to be President. Had he been asked to go on the hustings he would have declined, I am pretty sure. Note , he was not a Party member to my knowledge, certainly not an active one. He was just a partisan civil servant. One of many.
