2015, early February. Mr Lee was admitted to Singapore General Hospital and rumors had it that he was on life support. How is he going to make it for Singapore's 50th birthday celebration then many of us wondered. What would NDP be without him? This is after all an iconic year. What would Singapore be without him? He has always been around...
2015, March. His condition worsened. The nation prayed for him, left him well wishes at SGH and were preparing for the worst. Reality started to crept in. Are we going to lose him soon...?
2015, 22 March. We saw a heavy downpour that was much needed. While some of us enjoyed the rain, some of us also thought that was a sign.
2015, 23 March. We lost him. At 91.
And the dark week began.
The nation wept. People started to change their FB profile pictures and share a lot of articles regarding him. My news feed was 90% about him. It even seemed wrong to be posting anything else. Now, I use the word 'nation' loosely here because the truth is not everyone feels the same towards him and his passing. He has his haters and some netizens were slammed for admitting they were not as sad and whatnot and even though there's nothing wrong to have a personal opinion, it was almost too wrong to have one during this mourning period. And as fellow Singaporeans, we know how unforgiving we can be at times. But for the first time, most of us share the same voice. That we lost a great leader who has brought Singapore to where it is today. And if you have anything bad to say, this is not the time. We showed unity at last.
I've always been proud to be a Singaporean for many reasons. One of which is that our red passport gets us to places easily. Although I think it's a 'loud' one, it's also one that is highly sought after. Next is the security and cleanliness of the city. I travel because of work to Jakarta, KL, Manila and I can see the huge differences. We are all Asian but how is it that the smallest one is the best? I had high expectations when I made my first trip to Manila because how bad can an English-speaking country be I thought? I was shocked. The roads were poorly maintained, the rich and the poor can be identified easily and I didn't feel safe. During one of my subsequent trips, I decided to look at Manila in the morning, something I don't usually do as I'm always rushing. I drew the curtains and saw a slum below my room and that the men staying/living there were washing up, getting ready for their day. I was staying in the city, their version of Orchard Road. Now, can you imagine staying at Marriott and having a slum behind it? Can you even find slums in Singapore? This week, I read more about him and I'm ashamed I'm only doing so now. But here's one of my favorite that also explains why Singapore is greener than a lot of cities -
2015, 27 March. 8am. We started queuing to pay our final respects to you. 1pm. We were done and I went back to office with a heavy heart. There was a meme going around, joking that you would not approve us doing so as it's not efficient and you'd rather we spend time working or doing something 'more useful'. But let us be rebellious for once. A colleague asked me if I have gotten my closure when he saw me in the office. I guess that was the word that best described how I felt then. As I spent 5hrs under the hot sun, perspired like I have never did (because I don't exercise), and as cliched as it sounds, I, like the thousands who did the same, thought that it was to let us have a taste of the hardship you went though. Never mind that it's nothing compared to your contributions but it was just what we needed then. To tell ourselves that that's the least we could do.
2015, 29 March. It was an emotional farewell. It was raining heavily again as thousands sent you off. It was a nationwide affair and I'm thankful I'm part of this history.
Dear Mr. Lee,
You are irreplaceable. You have touched many hearts, not just Singaporeans but those worldwide. You are a legend and we are very fortunate to enjoy your fruit of labor and your legacy.
Rest well.
Thank you.
A proud Singaporean
2015, March. His condition worsened. The nation prayed for him, left him well wishes at SGH and were preparing for the worst. Reality started to crept in. Are we going to lose him soon...?
2015, 22 March. We saw a heavy downpour that was much needed. While some of us enjoyed the rain, some of us also thought that was a sign.
2015, 23 March. We lost him. At 91.
And the dark week began.
The nation wept. People started to change their FB profile pictures and share a lot of articles regarding him. My news feed was 90% about him. It even seemed wrong to be posting anything else. Now, I use the word 'nation' loosely here because the truth is not everyone feels the same towards him and his passing. He has his haters and some netizens were slammed for admitting they were not as sad and whatnot and even though there's nothing wrong to have a personal opinion, it was almost too wrong to have one during this mourning period. And as fellow Singaporeans, we know how unforgiving we can be at times. But for the first time, most of us share the same voice. That we lost a great leader who has brought Singapore to where it is today. And if you have anything bad to say, this is not the time. We showed unity at last.
I've always been proud to be a Singaporean for many reasons. One of which is that our red passport gets us to places easily. Although I think it's a 'loud' one, it's also one that is highly sought after. Next is the security and cleanliness of the city. I travel because of work to Jakarta, KL, Manila and I can see the huge differences. We are all Asian but how is it that the smallest one is the best? I had high expectations when I made my first trip to Manila because how bad can an English-speaking country be I thought? I was shocked. The roads were poorly maintained, the rich and the poor can be identified easily and I didn't feel safe. During one of my subsequent trips, I decided to look at Manila in the morning, something I don't usually do as I'm always rushing. I drew the curtains and saw a slum below my room and that the men staying/living there were washing up, getting ready for their day. I was staying in the city, their version of Orchard Road. Now, can you imagine staying at Marriott and having a slum behind it? Can you even find slums in Singapore? This week, I read more about him and I'm ashamed I'm only doing so now. But here's one of my favorite that also explains why Singapore is greener than a lot of cities -
"Giving all Singaporeans clean and green environs also created a sense of equal-ness. “If we did not create a society which is clean throughout the island, I believed then and I believe now, we have two classes of people: The upper class, the upper middle and even middle class with gracious surroundings; and the lower middle and the working class, in poor conditions. No society like that will thrive,” he said in Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going."Thank you, Mr Lee for your vision.
2015, 27 March. 8am. We started queuing to pay our final respects to you. 1pm. We were done and I went back to office with a heavy heart. There was a meme going around, joking that you would not approve us doing so as it's not efficient and you'd rather we spend time working or doing something 'more useful'. But let us be rebellious for once. A colleague asked me if I have gotten my closure when he saw me in the office. I guess that was the word that best described how I felt then. As I spent 5hrs under the hot sun, perspired like I have never did (because I don't exercise), and as cliched as it sounds, I, like the thousands who did the same, thought that it was to let us have a taste of the hardship you went though. Never mind that it's nothing compared to your contributions but it was just what we needed then. To tell ourselves that that's the least we could do.
2015, 29 March. It was an emotional farewell. It was raining heavily again as thousands sent you off. It was a nationwide affair and I'm thankful I'm part of this history.
Dear Mr. Lee,
You are irreplaceable. You have touched many hearts, not just Singaporeans but those worldwide. You are a legend and we are very fortunate to enjoy your fruit of labor and your legacy.
Rest well.
Thank you.
A proud Singaporean
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