Civil and political rights, after Lee Kuan Yew

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

Many will no doubt criticise me for seemingly speaking ill of the man, but as far as I am concerned, a fair tribute is when you pay homage objectively. Credit him for spearheading the policies that turned Singapore from third world to first world. That took leadership, grit, guts, daring, cunning, showmanship, political acumen, smarts and sheer hard work. These are all exceptional qualities that Mr Lee possessed an abundance of and Singaporeans have both benefited or fell foul of these same qualities depending on which side of the political fence one fell on.

But at the same time, Mr Lee was not someone to trifle with. He is not known for mercy, compromise or the middle way – it is his way or the highway (and sometimes, even detention without trial). In our rush to commemorate him, we must not forget that like any other man, he had his faults – and sometimes one’s best qualities are also one’s worst shortcomings.

The point I wish to make is that in remembering the political legacy of someone, it is important not to romanticise and get bowled over by emotions. Mr Lee may have been the man for his time but that time is now over. The political climate has changed – the Internet and social media is a game changer. Mr Lee was able to exercise a far greater control over information in his time than his successors ever would. One wonders if his strongman politics have led to a system of administrators over genuine statesmen. Too strong a personality does not breed talent. Often times, it leads to a power vacuum. Will that happen here?

Rumours are swirling....http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2015...-lee-kuan-yew/


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