I used to think LKY is some kind of hard-nosed chap, someone like a Winston churchill character, you know, a mythological icon, the guy that created this country...etc etc. I knew how we Singapore progresses through time, all these from social studies and all though brain washing NE lessons.And seriously, this is my first LKY book I ever read, though all along my mum is an LKY supporter, but she never like forced me to read his stuffs.
Its only after this year elections, that got me worried as well as started a thirst in me to learn more about our country, how the system here works which is extremely important to me. Furthermore, international accolades had always been flowing all over the world about this guy, so i infer that hey, he is gotta be of some value, some stuff that is worth listening to him, if not why everyone in this world want a piece of him.
I am and had always believed in one thing. That is, one's life is dependent on oneself, and on no one else, not even the government.Maybe I am lucky because I lead a life where I am not exposed to a lot of harsh realities.However, I observed how and why some of my friends are really successful and others who are just stuck or worse, living a low quality kind of life. I read many biographies about successful people, went to listen to adam khoo seminar. And like what I had been saying for some time, it all boils down to DRIVE of each individual human. I like this example given by LKY, its that there is a doctor, whom rent out a part of his apartment to a china student. This foreigner knew that she had to work hard and master english if not she cant survive the system here, this girl being of 14 or 15 years old, would set up a canvas ard her and bought a light bulb so that she wouldnt disturb the doc's daughter sleep and study till 3 plus. The daugher saw this and finally understood why the chinese are always getting 1st in exams. Eventually, she also push herself and get frequent numero uno and all.
I am not saying that foreign talent is good or anything but I feel that if we want foreign talent, we should not give them the option to come here and study, get the best of our edu system, and just go back to their motherland. And at the same time, wasting our resources like space and subsidies.If they want to come here, they have to be ready to make the commitment here. Cause I heard of many just came here and study then go back.
Regarding on our government polices and systems, I totally understand the certain and unique needs that our country is in, and thats why we require unorthodox as well as unpopular polices. I always believe in being a realist, to be pragmatic and thats how I view things in life. Unfortunately, we humans are all innately different and coupled that with different set of life changing situations that we each goes through, so our mindsets are quite different.
With respect to the GE this year, I was so perturbed by such a divide among us that I wanted to draft out an email and send straight to the PM's office because I was afraid of irrational people power. I am afraid that we will be heading down the road of countries whereby polices that had to be implemented but cannot be due to politics or being unpopular. On a sidenote, I also want to highlight the structural problems in management in civil sector and stuffs. I guess I was really afraid of losing this quality of life that we have now.
Recently, read an article written by a former senior civil servant whom actually say that this GE is a wake up call and that he believes that the majority of the electorate are intelligent and can make the right choice.So in a way, WP knocking down a GRC is a good thing. Even LKY was rather nonchalent about the notion that one day the system will fall due to the new mindsets of the leaders. So, maybe I was just thinking too much of it.
Some arguements that I read about PAP and things and that, majority I felt that its really unfair and biased in some cases as well. When I was in taiwan, I discuss the political situation quite often with maine. Maine who had lived in taiwan for 6 months, felt that a lot of things we had taken for granted and she really felt grateful for the stuffs we had, it made a lot of sense. Some of my friends kept complaining about how bad SG is, but then why are ppl want to come here ? and why so many want to jump from PR to citizenship? Wont their children be facing the same kind of problem that current youngsters are facing as well? There got to be some reason behind this decision. So I guess there may be something that we are doing right here.
In anycase, enough about the politics stuff here, I think I had spent enough neurons and anxiety on it le. However, some thing that I had learnt was that as long as I have the drive and common sense, I should be able to excel and maximise my potential in this country. Its just all about how much I want something, is it so much that my life depends on it and whether I got the determination to make it work. One thing I have in admiration for LKY, was his drive and determination. I am seriously in awe at his characteristics, I mean this guy here could have been killed by communists, could have been wrong in his political decisions as well as his convictions. However, he pressed on and is f***** stubborn in his beliefs. And due to that we have what we have today.
Even he said that he didnt wanted to enter politics, its just that he wanted stability in this country. And because of that, this country is born. I guess this latest book had been the most insightful for me to date. At least now I know what kind of guy he is and his train of thought. I guess most people will say this is propoganda and etc maybe it is maybe its not. I only look at the results and this systems works for us if not we wont be at this stage today. Ideologies and theories are just thinking that is set within a certain social parameters, its only when the results are the same as the forcasted results, then the theory is true. If not, it just remains a myth or should I say, a false hope. Just like the notion of UTOPIA.
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