Lee Kuan Yew: Death of Quintessential leader
March 22 2015 By Abi Giwa
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew's dies at 91 on Monday at 91, the type of death many people pray for at good old age. In cultural terms, such death is referred as transformation to immortality. He leaves a good name in the sand of time, helping to transform his country from economic nothingness to buoyancy, a feat every other Third World countries have tried to emulate, and everyone talks about Yew's Midas touch as a reference point for economic miracle.
The world knows Yew as the founding father and first prime minister of Singapore. This fact is represented in the current Singapore's prime minister's announcement of Yew's death.
New York Times, BBC and the Los Angeles Times' reports of the death revealed the story of a man, who had an opportunity, helped his country, with hard work and efficiency as watchwords. Democracy was not his cup of tea. He crushed opposition and freedom without justification. And Singaporeans accepted their fate and calmly embraced Yew's teachings.
Los Angeles Times report said that Yew saw moral failings in the Western countries liberal democracy and that what mattered to him was economic well being. He never thought his country would ever embrace the Western culture to avoid going down the drain, have more people sleeping in the open, drugs, crimes, single mothers and delinquent children. Apparently, America was friendly with Yew for his leadership ability and never questioned his views on democracy. Meaning that America never forced democracy and whoever embraced democracy did at own volition.
But times have changed from the period Yew managed to cow the Singaporeans. And the question is whether his son, the current prime minister would be able to achieve his father's feat - keep Singaporeans under control.
The world knows Yew as the founding father and first prime minister of Singapore. This fact is represented in the current Singapore's prime minister's announcement of Yew's death.
New York Times, BBC and the Los Angeles Times' reports of the death revealed the story of a man, who had an opportunity, helped his country, with hard work and efficiency as watchwords. Democracy was not his cup of tea. He crushed opposition and freedom without justification. And Singaporeans accepted their fate and calmly embraced Yew's teachings.
Los Angeles Times report said that Yew saw moral failings in the Western countries liberal democracy and that what mattered to him was economic well being. He never thought his country would ever embrace the Western culture to avoid going down the drain, have more people sleeping in the open, drugs, crimes, single mothers and delinquent children. Apparently, America was friendly with Yew for his leadership ability and never questioned his views on democracy. Meaning that America never forced democracy and whoever embraced democracy did at own volition.
But times have changed from the period Yew managed to cow the Singaporeans. And the question is whether his son, the current prime minister would be able to achieve his father's feat - keep Singaporeans under control.
