http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/11...national-hero/
From our Correspondent
A forumer at the popular forum for Singapore women moms4mom had started a thread proclaiming MM Lee as a national hero!
Using the moniker “industrious birdie”, she wrote:
“At the age of 86, he is still so charming and inspiring. I dread the day we would lose such a great leader. He has set standards difficult, if ever possible, for anyone to pass…..How can Singapore repay what MM and his family had done for this country? He’s mine and dear hubby’s national hero!”
In an immediate response, tinkerbell wrote:
“Oh yes, me too! He is my national hero too! I respect him so much and will forever be grateful to him! I even wanted to name my son after his English name. I will make sure I will educate my son about MM Lee’s contributions to the country.”
Chirpleader concurred:
“MM Lee is my hero. I am going to make sure that my kids know what he has done for Singapore. I want them to be proud of MM Lee of his achievements.”
Actually the forumers need not tell their children about MM Lee because he is in the news almost every other day.
Not a single week passed without MM Lee dispensing his usual “pearls of wisdom” to Singaporeans or to some wretched country in the world. It is hard to miss him given the extensive publicity he is getting day in and out from the state media.
Years of relentless propaganda through the government-controlled media have elevated MM Lee to the status of a great leader and international statesman.
However, his contributions to Singapore are grossly exaggerated while his flaws are hidden away from public view.
Though MM Lee is one of the founding fathers of Singapore, he is only after all a servant to the country. We do not really have to be grateful to him (eternally).
Without a capable team of colleagues and a population which is hardworking, thrifty and honest, MM Lee will not be able to achieve anything.
Singapore owes its success today not only to him, but to many other leaders as well. Our economic policy was formulated by Goh Keng Swee with advice from Dutch economist Albert Winsemius.
In fact, MM Lee made some critical mistakes which led to perpetual headaches for Singapore now.
For example, our birth rate is so low because of the “stop at two” policy introduced by him in the 1970s and we have no choice but to encourage immigration to replace our declining population.
MM Lee’s harsh treatment of his political opponents leads indirectly to the creation of a climate of fear enshrouding the citizenry with few citizens interested in politics.
This necessitates the ruling party to raise the salaries of MPs and ministers so as to entice capable men and women to join the government.
There is no proper system of leadership succession and renewal both within and outside the ruling party for the entire Singapore seems to revolve around him.
He should have retired gracefully from politics in 1991 when he stepped down as Prime Minister. A great leader is one who knows when to go when the time is ripe.
Just that readers of this site will never understand the blind faith these women forumers have in MM Lee, neither will they be able to see our reasoning that having an overwhelming “cult figure” in Singapore is unhealthy and undesirable.
No individual is greater than the country itself. For all his accomplishments, MM Lee is only a citizen of Singapore just like you and me. We do not have to go out of the way to ensure that our children will remember him.
In China today, few are able to recall Chairman Mao or even Deng Xiaoping, let alone the great Emperors in the past who have brought periods of peace and prosperity in feudal China.
History will have a more objective assessment of MM Lee’s merits and faults in 10 to 20 years to come after his passing.
Connect with Facebook
Female forumer worshipped MM Lee as a “national hero” 
TOTW/F/M Award(s): 2
gotta be kidding 
Linear Mode
