- Joined
- Dec 30, 2010
- Messages
- 12,730
- Points
- 113
http://anyhowhantam.blogspot.sg/2015/03/lets-stop-inventing-inaccurate-titles.html
Conclusion
As he heads deep into the December of his life and thereafter when we mark his inevitable passing, it's important not to get too carried away and re-write history wrongly, in honouring him. Don't get me wrong, his contributions were immense and he has left an indelible mark on Singapore, and is/will be remembered fondly by many world leaders and nations which he helped establish ties with.
Suffice to say, we'll be reading, watching and hearing a lot of stories, programmes, documentaries and testimonies of his work and deeds. Save for a few online, almost all will be complimentary. But fair enough, a person has died and people want to talk about the good things and he certainly did a lot of good for most Singaporeans. But the danger is misinformation and twisting facts and making that the 'truth for eternity.' If the future generations are gonna write and study our history in the correct way, we mustn't provide them with false or misleading material.
PAP supporters, admirers, members and voters have every right to consider Lee Kuan Yew as a 'demi-god' if they want to. They can honour him with titles such as great, wonderful, brilliant, call him a visionary, a supreme leader and outstanding citizen, But they cannot alter history and accord him titles that are not, never was and never will be his, either in the past, present or future. He's not a Founding Father, and never was considered by his peers and the generation he led as the Father of the Nation. It cannot suddenly be changed to suit their deifying of him. Neither should terms such as founding PM be used, as it creates a kind of illusion of being something he wasn't - finding the Premiership. The honour of being the 1st Prime Minister is already an outstanding one and few would argue that he served it with distinction. And just as few would deny him the accolade of being the greatest ever PM or elected leader of the country until now. Add the term Architect of Modern Day Singapore's Success and Progress, that already completes an accurate picture of him and his deeds.
To add and invent other incorrect terms, is a disservice to him and to others who came before him and more importantly for the future generations. Let not emotions deflect us from the truth and let us honour him in the way he should be honoured - true and correct.
Conclusion
As he heads deep into the December of his life and thereafter when we mark his inevitable passing, it's important not to get too carried away and re-write history wrongly, in honouring him. Don't get me wrong, his contributions were immense and he has left an indelible mark on Singapore, and is/will be remembered fondly by many world leaders and nations which he helped establish ties with.
Suffice to say, we'll be reading, watching and hearing a lot of stories, programmes, documentaries and testimonies of his work and deeds. Save for a few online, almost all will be complimentary. But fair enough, a person has died and people want to talk about the good things and he certainly did a lot of good for most Singaporeans. But the danger is misinformation and twisting facts and making that the 'truth for eternity.' If the future generations are gonna write and study our history in the correct way, we mustn't provide them with false or misleading material.
PAP supporters, admirers, members and voters have every right to consider Lee Kuan Yew as a 'demi-god' if they want to. They can honour him with titles such as great, wonderful, brilliant, call him a visionary, a supreme leader and outstanding citizen, But they cannot alter history and accord him titles that are not, never was and never will be his, either in the past, present or future. He's not a Founding Father, and never was considered by his peers and the generation he led as the Father of the Nation. It cannot suddenly be changed to suit their deifying of him. Neither should terms such as founding PM be used, as it creates a kind of illusion of being something he wasn't - finding the Premiership. The honour of being the 1st Prime Minister is already an outstanding one and few would argue that he served it with distinction. And just as few would deny him the accolade of being the greatest ever PM or elected leader of the country until now. Add the term Architect of Modern Day Singapore's Success and Progress, that already completes an accurate picture of him and his deeds.
To add and invent other incorrect terms, is a disservice to him and to others who came before him and more importantly for the future generations. Let not emotions deflect us from the truth and let us honour him in the way he should be honoured - true and correct.
