Only If Lim Chin Siong Had Become Sg PM!

[Ah Guan]

On balance, I for one do not think Mao was a true idealist.

I do. Through and through. I recommend you read his poetry for better insight into that man.

For that matter neither is Castro nor was Lenin. Now Marx on the otherhand, maybe but then again he was never a true politician so he does not count in this regard

Well given you're so selective about calling anyone an Idealist, it's strange that you would tag LCS one.

 

[chinkangkor]

Yeah... Therefore the tag of "successful leader" is relative.

Many Taiwanese still regard Mao as an evil dictator who brought the Chinese civilisation backwards.

Chiang was the evil dictator in mainland China while Mao was the one in Taiwan.

 

[scroobal]

No prob. Lai Te's body was dumped in Chao Praya.... along with the other rubbish of Bangkok.

Now back to your question about a "successful leader who is/was an idealist" ... Was Mao a "successful leader"?

Actually that could not be corroborated, including the supposed murder even by the Thai reds. It was Chin Peng's version as he went to Bangkok to track him. It was raised again during the Canberra debriefing. To his colleagues he later added on that the Thai reds were supposed to capture Lai for "interrogation" but they stuffed it up and and do not want to talk about the incident.

The fact that it was raised in Canberra tells you that there are doubts.

Another Phey Yew Kok scenario.

 

[Ah Guan]

That's true. Then again, he had no more friends to run to at the end of the war.

With the reds and Brits looking for him, and considering the primitive transport system back then ..... where could he have disappeared to?

 

[scroobal]

That's true. Then again, he had no more friends to run to at the end of the war.

With the reds and Brits looking for him, and considering the primitive transport system back then ..... where could he have disappeared to?

He first fled to HK then the trail disappears. Bear in mind that HK was Brit colony.

 

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

Like I said before, I look at a man's words and actions in toto (as best as can be) before making up my mind as to whether one is a true idealist. I suggest you go read the excellent and insightful books on Mao by his personal physician - "The Private Life of Chairman Mao" by Dr. Li Zisui, and "Mao: The Unknown Story" by Jung Chang, to try and get a more balanced view on Mao

I do. Through and through. I recommend you read his poetry for better insight into that man.



Well given you're so selective about calling anyone an Idealist, it's strange that you would tag LCS one.

As for Lim Chin Siong, I base my pov from what I have read and also from talking to people who personally interacted with him over those critical years.

Btw I don't think I am "so selective" as I was merely pointing out examples.