We are Singapore

                           

It has been a long gloomy heart wrenching week for many including me. Just wanna write something here before 29 Mar 2015 comes to an end.  

Every year, I looked forward to see our Founding Father in National Day Parade. This year will not be the same but I’m sure the ambience will not be any lesser and even stronger becos we have Mr Lee Kuan Yew in our hearts.  
This is my all time favourite National Day song. The song has been ringing in my head for the past few days and now I can truely felt connected to it.  

"There was a time when people said that Singapore won't make it, but we did.
There was a time when troubles seemed too much for us to take, but we did.
We built a nation, strong and free, reaching out together for peace and harmony.

This is my country, this is my flag.
This is my future, this is my life
This is my family, these are my friends
We are Singapore, Singaporeans

Singapore our homeland, it's here that we belong.
All of us united, one people marching on.
We've come so far together, our common destiny.
Singapore forever, a nation strong and free.

We, the citizens of Singapore. 
Pledge ourselves as one united people. 
Regardless of race, language or religion. 
To build a democratic society. Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation.

We are Singapore, we are Singapore.
We will stand together, hear the lion roar.
We are Singapore, we are Singapore.
We're a nation strong and free forevermore.

We are Singapore, Singaporeans "

The response from Singaporeans over the past 2 weeks was something that I did not expect. Never have I seen Singaporeans so united before. I am so proud of my nation, my fellow Singaporeans, my red passport and to have him as our Founding Father.  We are just a tiny mini dot which is hardly visible on world map, but we have the honour of having so many big shots from around the world to come here today for one person, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. It goes to show how remarkable our Mr Lee Kuan Yew has been, not just to Singapore but to the rest of the world as well.  Will we, Singaporeans be able to unite together as one and strive on in times of ups and down?  The heavy rain this afternoon seems to be a reminder from our Founding Father, just like the National Day Parade 50 years ago, "The whole world is watching us to see what we are made of. We will brave on.".  Dearest Founding Father of Singapore, may you rest in peace and be smiling at the world from Heaven.

My Idol. My Hero, Mr Lee Kuan Yew

                              

           As our Prime Minister and as a son of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. 

  It is not easy to deliver this speech.

This post has nothing to do with Korea but I just wanna pen down how I feel.  23 Mar 2015 is a gloomy day for Singapore.

I woke up at 4.08am this morning to check for updates on Mr Lee’s condition, and saw the news that I do not wish to see most.  Can’t control my tears even till this moment.  I do not belong to the era where our Founding Father of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew built our nation from scratch, but he has always been my idol since I was young. Death comes to all living beings.  Part of me was glad that he is now free from sickness but still, I am sad that we have lost such a great man.  Nobody can replace him.

Becos of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, I am proud to call myself a Singaporean especially when I travelled overseas and was asked where I came from.  Many foreigners were surprised that I can speak both English and Mandarin. In fact, I was puzzled by their responses cos being bilingual is normal (to me)in Singapore. I will always proudly reply them, "Yes!  Thanks to Mr Lee Kuan Yew who insisted on bilingualism".  This was just one of the things that I have taken for granted and assumed it was only natural to study both Mandarin and English in school. I began to realise how useful and important it was to know both English and Chinese when I started travelling overseas.  Many of my foreign friends envy the fact that we have a bilingual educational system.  Seriously, it never crossed my mind that people would envy this until my foreign friends told me so.

Becos of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, I am proud of my red passport. Becos of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, I can hold my head up high becos this little red dot shines so prominently on world map. From time to time, it makes me wonder how many of us, Singaporeans actually feel thankful and blessed to be living in Singapore. 

 

There are people who hate him. You can hate him all you want.  Hate him and his team but at the same time, enjoying the fruits of their labour. What a joke! To people who hates the rules and regulations in Singapore, just pack and leave.  I reckon we won’t suffer a “big” loss with your departure. I truly wish you can find happiness of the “ideal” home you long desired.

Mr Lee, I don’t care what others said about you. All I know is, without your immerse foresight and wisdom, there will not be Singapore of today. I cannot imagine myself living in slums and squatters. I cannot imagine myself living in fear of safety and unstability everyday.  I cannot imagine myself living in a third world country.  No. I can't and I don't want to. Without Mr Lee Kuan Yew, my family and I could have been leading a much different life right now.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew, you are like my Ah Gong(Grandpa) and I love you so. My family and I are deeply grateful to you. Thank you so so much for building us a place that we can proudly call HOME. Though you have physically left us, you will be remembered in our hearts for the great legacy you have left behind.

 

May you rest in peace. 南无阿弥陀佛.