Shortly after Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away, a young person shrugged his death off. "What has Lee Kuan Yew done for me?"
Well, you may not realize it, but your life has been affected in many ways by him. Whether you like him or not, your life has been undeniably shaped by him. Take a look at your Secondary Two history textbook or syllabus. (http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/syllabuses/humanities/files/history-lower-secondary-2014.pdf)
Perhaps an illustration of his impact on your daily life may help too.
1. You wake up in the morning in your HDB flat. Hmm... HDB? In 1960, Mr Lee Kuan Yew deployed Mr Lim Kim San to build public housing for all. Previous attempts at public housing in the form of SIT (Singapore Improvement Trust) was nowhere as successful.
2. You have a glass of water with breakfast. Don't take the drinkable tap water and reliable electricity supply for granted! (http://www.eco-business.com/news/lee-kuan-yew-the-architect-of-singapores-water-story/)
3. Next, you walk out of the HDB flat and greet your neighbours. Are all of your neighbours the same race as you? No. You get to encounter Chinese, Malay, and Indian neighbours due to Lee Kuan Yew's policy of preventing racial enclaves. For example, in a HDB neighbourhood, a maximum of 84% can be Chinese, and a maximum of 22% can be Malay. See http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10296p.nsf/PressReleases/C515273FA068DD58482576DD00169155?OpenDocument
4. You take the public transport to school. Lee Kuan Yew realized that an all-bus system was inadequate, and decided to start the MRT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_Rapid_Transit_%28Singapore%29)
5. Next, you're at school. Who made Singapore's schools so good that they are a magnet for foreign students from all over the region? Take a look at this article: http://sekolahsg.com/lee-kuan-yew-meant-foreign-students-singapore/
And so on and so forth...
All this is not to say that Mr Lee's rule was without controversy. Indeed, there were some questionable policies such as the Graduate Mothers policy. However, do not forget his long lasting legacy, and the many good things he has done for us.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Help to 'tag' a piece of Singapore's history
WANTED: History enthusiasts to caption old photographs and transcribe handwritten manuscripts with a piece of Singapore history.
They are invited to contribute to an upcoming portal with about 3,000 unidentified photographs dating back to the late 1800s, and 3,000 pages of Straits Settlement records, including letters from the time of Sir Stamford Raffles' administration.
These historical treasures, from the collections of the Government and individuals, are waiting to be "tagged" on the portal The Citizen Archivist Project at www.nas.gov.sg/citizenarchivist.
See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/help-tag-piece-singapores-history#sthash.5d2cQc8q.dpuf
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Slice of history recreated at Serangoon Rd
In Secondary 2, we learn about the history of Singapore. But it is mainly on the political history of Singapore (how Singapore's government changed). We don't learn much about Singapore's society. Here's an interesting excerpt from Channel News Asia.
=======
SINGAPORE : A slice of Singapore history has been recreated at Serangoon Road on the site of the former New World Amusement Park.
For more than 60 years, New World Amusement Park was one of Singapore’s biggest night spots, well—known for its cabarets and open—air cinemas.
And thrill—seekers would have passed through its arched gateway.
The park closed in 1987 and the land had been redeveloped into the City Square Mall.
But on Thursday, the amusement park’s famous gate was unveiled at the same site.
Developer City Developments hopes it will bring back nostalgia for an era long past.
— CNA/al
Friday, December 17, 2010
A new Korean War?
If you thought that what's happening in today's newspapers has nothing to do with history, you're wrong. Just look at what's happening in the Korean peninsula.
In November 2010, North Korean artillery attacked an island controlled by South Korea, causing massive harm. Today, many newspapers are asking why North Korea attacked the South, as well as whether there will be another Korean War. For example, AOL News and Korean Times.
In order to answer these questions, one must understand Korea's past. After the end of World War Two in 1945, Korea was temporarily split into two halves (North and South). They were supposed to unite in a few years time. However, there were disagreements over how they should unite. In 1950, believing that these differences could not be settled, North Korea invaded the South in what was known as the Korean War.
Fighting stopped in 1953, but both Koreas have not made up and there are still a large number of disagreements.
To find out more about the Korean War, do read Wikipedia.
In November 2010, North Korean artillery attacked an island controlled by South Korea, causing massive harm. Today, many newspapers are asking why North Korea attacked the South, as well as whether there will be another Korean War. For example, AOL News and Korean Times.
In order to answer these questions, one must understand Korea's past. After the end of World War Two in 1945, Korea was temporarily split into two halves (North and South). They were supposed to unite in a few years time. However, there were disagreements over how they should unite. In 1950, believing that these differences could not be settled, North Korea invaded the South in what was known as the Korean War.
Fighting stopped in 1953, but both Koreas have not made up and there are still a large number of disagreements.
To find out more about the Korean War, do read Wikipedia.
Hitler loses citizenship
After Hitler came to power in 1933, many towns and cities in Germany made him an "honorary citizen". That means that he was welcome to stay in the town, because of his contributions.
Surprisingly, he is still a honorary citizen of many towns. However, the Guardian reports that some have only just recently decided to remove him from the list.
Just one more of the lingering effects of history.
Surprisingly, he is still a honorary citizen of many towns. However, the Guardian reports that some have only just recently decided to remove him from the list.
Just one more of the lingering effects of history.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Mein Kampf a hit on Dhaka streets
By Alastair Lawson BBC News, Dhaka (Bangladesh)
Booksellers touting their wares amid the heavy traffic in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, have discovered an unusual best-seller.
Adolf Hitler's autobiography manifesto Mein Kampf is selling as well as Dan Brown's latest novel, The Lost Symbol.
The street vendors in Dhaka are found at every major road junction and intersection.
Most of the sellers are young boys and many compete with beggars to attract the attention of motorists.
Last week, Mein Kampf did unusually well because many bought the book to give it away as an Eid present...
Something to think about:
Hitler wrote his autobiography Mein Kampf in 1925 & 1926. The book sold very well. Hitler was able to buy a Mercedes when he was still in prison (according to Wikipedia).
Which of Hitler's ideas made him popular among Germans, and why? Why are Bangladeshis still finding him popular?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Excavation in downtown Singapore yields wartime artefacts
Straits Times, 18 January 2010
NO ONE would bat an eyelid at demolition works in Singapore, so a torn-up carpark between City Hall and the old Supreme Court has probably drawn few curious gazes.
But it happens to be the site of a rare downtown archaeological dig, which has yielded precious secrets about the island’s past.
Click here for the full story.
NO ONE would bat an eyelid at demolition works in Singapore, so a torn-up carpark between City Hall and the old Supreme Court has probably drawn few curious gazes.
But it happens to be the site of a rare downtown archaeological dig, which has yielded precious secrets about the island’s past.
Click here for the full story.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)