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The interview with Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew in the January edition of National Geographic is a pretty soft piece of journalism that takes a few perfunctory swipes at the Lee Kuan Yew/Singapore Story while buying into its key myths in a rather unquestioning fashion. For example, the author of the piece, Mark Jacobson, states that few living leaders have "dominated their homeland's national narrative the way Lee Kuan Yew has". That's true but partly down to the fact that LKY and his supporters have controlled the historical narrative in Singapore using the education system and restrictions on free speech, in much the same way as Suharto did in Indonesia (more of which in an upcoming post). Jacobson does talk about repression in Singapore but doesn't really seem to understand how it has been used to subvert the historical record. Given that the author seems totally enamoured by his encounter with the great leader, it is perhaps unsurprising that he has not opted for a deeper examination. Cloyingly, Jacobson describes LKY as looking "like a flint-eyed Asian Clint Eastwood circa Gran Torino", while suggesting that telling a Singaporean you're off to interview LKY is like informing "a resident of the Emerald City that you're late for an appointment with the Wizard of Oz". Time to reach for the sick bag. Perhaps the most interesting part of the interview is LKY's restatement of his Social Darwinistic views. "I have always thought that humanity was animal-like," he says. "The Confucian theory was man could be improved, but I'm not sure he can be. He can be trained, he can be disciplined." Warm words to inspire a nation, don't you think? Later, he bemoans the lazy Singaporeans who complain that the influx of cheap foreign labour is driving down wages. If Singaporeans are falling behind, he explains, it is because "the spurs are not stuck into the hide". There are not many countries in the world where people would persistently vote into power a leader who thinks they are all worthless ants but then there are not many governments that manage to combine relatively soft repression with impressive economic growth. The following short film by Singaporean director Martyn See is a revealing portrayal of some of the ants responsible for the "Lee Kuan Yew miracle". These layabouts clearly need LKY to give them a kick up the arse. Singapore's censors have deemed that this is hardcore stuff, only for those over 16, as it contains depictions of poverty and destitution in Singapore, some of which may be real:
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It's always easy to be a couch commentator. While I believe there are aspects of the LKY governance of Singapore that can be improved, as a Singaporean I believe there are a lot more areas that LKY has done a fantastic job of providing a decent lifestyle (most probably an understatement when we look at the lifestyle of more than 75% of the rest of the world)for Sinagporeans. Have your choice! Most of all go and live and work in the country that you think best serves your beliefs!!!
Singapore has it's share of destitute and poor. But those depicted in the video may not ALL be Singaporeans. There are syndicates that will ferry 'handicapped' persons from Malaysia to Singapore to 'beg', or sell their 'tissue paper'. Singapore dollar is 2.4 times that of Malaysia. FYI only.
A decent lifestyle indeed. A general's name is always built on the ashes of the fallen. Many have fallen beneath this great man, one who runs his country like a machine and the citizens mere cogs and gears, to be disciplined and spurs dug into the side. It's always easy to be an anonymous critic, no different from a couch commentator.
Hi Ben, you couldn't have titled your article more aptly! But sadly, the dinosaur is still running Animal Farm when he should have been put to pasture a long time ago.
History has always been - and always will be - subjective.
Ben, u are always welcome once Singaporeans get rid of the dino, all right. well, at least u have a choice, and we have none, for now.
I don't think you understand how elections are held in Singapore. There is no way the ruling party and Lee Kuan Yew's ruling family can be voted out. But yes, there are some locals who still vote for them, either on blind faith or they have a stake in the regime. It's like the recent elections in North Korea. You already know who's going to win! By the way, Lee once made a veiled threat to call in the army if his party were to lose the elections.
He always thought humanity was animal-like. No wonder he behaves like an animal and inhumane to others not connected to him and with no money. YOU MONEY FACED, UNGRATEFUL OLD COIN! Follow below links..... http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=344_1235192149 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17qhGIwyGj0 http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/2009/12/singapore-how-will-it-be-when-lee-kuan.html http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/09/ptw-week-time-to-review-performance-of-millionaire-ministers http://singaporenewsalternative.blogspot.com/ http://www.singazine.com/ http://www.temasekreview.com/
To anonymous #2, Residents in Malaysia generally enjoy a standard of living that are comparable to those in Singapore. There are no such syndicates ferrying Malaysians to scrape a living off the streets in Singapore. To enter Singapore from Malaysia require immigration and customs checks. To suggest that destitutes in Malaysia would go through all that to scavenge in Singapore is just a gross insult to Malaysia and even the Singapore authorities. I've been travelling to and fro Singapore for years, and can vouch that poverty among its elderly population is becoming increasingly visible in the island-state. It is sad that Singaporeans themselves turn a blind eye to the problem.
There are clearly those who believe in big government. That the government is responsible for taking care of every aspect of life from cradle to grave. Who knows if any of these old folks were abandoned by their successful grown up children?
# to by Anonymous on 12/30/2009 01:21 pm, it goes without saying that successful grown up children MIGHT abandon their parents due to work stress, cramped island for millions of people making life so overwhelming, and work stress. Did I mention work stress and cramped land? The very moment they need to compare their cramped land with Malaysia, we know how out-of-the-island the thinking is! Just FYI
i don't think it is impossible to be disgusted with someone and write an account that makes you seem "enamoured". that's the point in journalism, isn't it - you sing the tune of those who pay your bills. or you could be interviewing a wonderfully convincing actor. or both. or neither. by the way, being a (legal) busker in singapore is damn troublesome. you need to apply for (probably more than) a permit (but i've never tried myself). even the uncles selling ice cream at the roadside have limited edition now-out-of-production permits. and then there's the minor issue of typically stingy singaporeans having no compassion/appreciation for artistic expression and donating nary a cent.
Many people can cry foul to the government now, but one thing's for certain, that as long as any kind of opposition is unable to prove themselves capable, people will naturally vote for the best available, which has always been the PAP. It's like voting for the lesser of evils, or for the most capable people around. I don't see why is there a need for anyone to whine and say pointless things like "money-face, ungrateful old coin", that's just being childish and stupid. If you have a damn problem (everyone has problems), get out of your comfort zone and do something, get organised with like-minded individuals, propose and suggest improvements, render a service to the people, not just sit and complain and ask for more - that's just a lazy loser's way of living.
Come on! All of this criticism needs to be put into context. Look at all the surrounding countries... their problems put Singapores very minoro issues into persepctive. I personally value the following much higher than the ability to vote "Who is in power". - Clean Water - Education - Healthcare - Employment - Low Crime Of course Singapore will will have problems as highlighted in this video. But which country doesn't. Singapore is a beacon of light in a very shadowy part of the world.
Singaporeans are rightfully very unhappy with the direction the present government is taking. This unhappiness will clearly manifest itself in the upcoming general elections. Despite what all the bootlickers are saying, 2010 will be a year of change in Singapore.
Malaysian on 12/30/2009 12:45 pm I apologize on behalf of Singaporeans for that imbecile who insulted Malaysians. Generally, Singaporeans are nice people despite the hardships we face here. However, there are a few apple polishers who always try to prove their points by denigrating our neighbours. Please remember that this idiots are in a minority and are the ones who are benefitting greatly by exploiting foreigners. Hope you accept our apologies.
Grinding you proverbial axe, Mr Bland?... and accusing others of producing "pretty soft piece of journalism" just because you were booted out of the country with perhaps a spur "stuck in (your) hide".
I've no axe to grind Bryan, proverbial or otherwise. Whether or not you are a fan of Lee Kuan Yew, I don't think many people would disagree that the Nat Geo interview is a rather unchallenging piece of journalism. That said, it's worth noting that Nat Geo isn't exactly known for its critical political reporting.
I used to be a fan of LKY, but not any more. His time is past. That style of leadership worked in the 60s and 70s because that was what was needed then. The world has changed, Singapore has changed. Its time for the nanny to leave and find work elsewhere. We survived and flourished in spite of the old man's monster errors like restricting child birth, rigid didactic education and throwing billions of our national savings down the Temasek toilet, we can certainly survive political change.
Those who can DO Those can't comment Or worse still are self-delusional and negative.
Change is already happening. One day, the dictator will pass on. Spurs on my hide? How dare you!
Lee Kuan Yew has stayed in power through brute force. Closing down independent media, throwing activists into decades of detention & torture without trial, and bankrupting political opposition who are astute enough to challenge him. Would he still be in power if he had not done all that? Obviously, some PAP internet agents are posting comments on this topic to delude people. |
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