On Monday morning we woke up to word that the first Prime Minister of Singapore, the Founding Father, Lee Kuan Yew had passed away at age 91. This remarkable man made Singapore the thriving, bustling metropolis that it is today.
I spent the week listening to the stories about Mr. Lee and I began to write this blog several different times but how do you put 91 years into a blog post? This man is so revered that people have been queuing for up to 8 hours to pay their respects as he lies in state at the Parliament building. While in many countries a week of mourning might be declared for a monumental passing of someone such as this where flags are flown at half mast and there are tributes on TV. Here when they say a week of mourning, they mean it. I had numerous events cancelled this week, people have been wearing black (and harassing those who aren't) and all of the radio stations have been playing slow or acoustic version of songs out of respect for Mr. Lee.
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| The eight hour queue in 90+ degree heat and serious humidity to pay their respects Photo credit: Joanna Ng |
I debated and thought about the angle of how to help you the reader truly understand the impact of this man and then an email landed in my work inbox from an advertising partner, HoneyKids Asia. The writer, Skye Wellington, somehow summed up 91 years of accomplishments into five points.
Here are just a few of his contributions that affect our daily lives. Because Lee Kwan Yew’s legacy should live on…
1. A harmonious nation.
In this day and age we’re all pretty lucky to live in a country where so many cultures, languages and religions can comfortably live side by side. Of course there are things we disagree on but Lee Kwan Yew kept a steady hand on dissension so that no one voice could overrule others.We love: that our kids eat laksa, speak more than one language, and play with kids from India, Canada, Turkey and everywhere in between.
2. A world-class education system.
Every child in Singapore has the opportunity to access top quality schooling. Mr Lee never stopped learning and was a voracious reader, using the knowledge he acquired to constantly inform his direction and decisions.
We love: that learning is a priority and all our kids can get ahead no matter whether they’re a girl or a boy.
3. A safe place to call home.
Everyone in Singapore should have access to housing that is not beyond their reach, thanks to a successful public housing programme. Not only that, but Lee Kwan Yew’s low tolerance for crime and corruption has produced a very civil society.
We love: that our kids can walk to the shops without us worrying (and they can’t buy chewing gum when they get there!)
4. An attractive city state that works.
Singapore has got to be one of the prettiest Asian nations. It’s well ordered streets are never far from green spaces but a long way from pollution. Not only does it look good, it’s an easy place to get around and get stuff done.
We love: the taxi’s, the MRT, the buses, the parks, going through immigration at the airport…the list goes on. It’s all just so efficient!
5. The availability of opportunity.
Mr Lee devoted his life to improving Singapore for the masses and demonstrated that with commitment, hard work and vision, great things can be achieved.
We love: that kids can dream big in Singapore. You’ve just got to put in some hard work and play by the rules (mostly).
As it has been said, Mr. Lee was a leader of the now but was a teacher of the future. Thank you Mr. Lee for your sacrifices and contributions. May you rest in peace. With that we’ll leave you with a quote from the late Mr. Lee.
"If you can't think because you can't chew, try a banana."
- On the Singapore chewing gum ban in June 2000 to a BBC Reporter
Happy Trails,
Amy and Raegen
*5 Things to Pass on to Your Kids about Lee Kuan Yew was written by Skye Wellington of HoneyKids Asia. You can read the entire post here.
