Vicious Rants of an Angry Yellow Man

Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of Singapore has died.  I consider Lee the greatest leader of a country in the last 50 years.  Although Lee has many critics, Singapore is celebrating its 50 years of independence as a thriving economic powerhouse.  I don't think that in 1965, Lee or anyone else in the world could have predicted that Singapore would survive 50 years let alone be a rich nation.  There was problem with its much larger Muslim neighbor Malaysia.  There was also a restless native population that did not like the idea of being ruled by people of Chinese ancestry.  Lee had to act to protect the country and unify it at the same time.  Given all that and take the country from the third world to be one of the tigers of Asia in less than three decades is a great accomplishment. 

Of course there is the question of individual freedom in Singapore.  Lee did rule with an iron hand.  But when the country became stable and prosperous, Lee did step down even though his influence continued behind the scene.  Obviously laws such as no chewing gum in public will never be accepted in western countries.  But the type of discipline that Lee brought to Singapore helped it survive and thrive.  Lee is the father of the country, literally.  He is the father handing out tough love and the children do well as a result despite resentment.  The difference between him and other dictators is that he did not do it to benefit himself.  He lived frugally and did not become extremely wealthy while the country stayed in poverty.  With his passing, I am sure the laws will gradually loosen up.  Young people of this generation did not grow up in danger or poverty.  They may not appreciate what Lee had to do.  They will demand more individual freedom.  And that would be the right thing for Singapore.  But we must not forget that without Lee, Singaporeans would be living as Muslims under Malaysia today.  They would not have more freedom under that system and certainly will not be as rich.