The nation was in grief since Monday, 23 Mar 2015 and the hardest to take was when our PM, Mr Lee Hsien Loong announced in Parliament, the passing of his father; just hours after.
I immediately went into denial, wanting it to be just one of the malicious rumours people spread every year before National Day or before Mr Lee Kuan Yew's birthday. However, it wasn't a rumour.. it was the truth.
Condolences and tribute messages started flooding social media. Tribute centers were formed overnight and they were ready for people to pen their condolences for the late Mr Lee, place beautiful but mournful flowers as well as being a place for those who just want to spend a silent moment or two in front of numerous pictures of the great leader telling him "Thank you, Mr Lee for all you have done for Singapore, for us."
It was a diffcult 7 days for the entire nation when majority of the country men and women were weeping and grieving for a man who many were not that fortunate to have met him or spoke to him in person.
Our mourning made international headlines when people spent hours queuing to pay their last respects to Mr. Lee Kuan Yew lying in state at the Parliament House, despite all conditions.
The elderly in walking sticks, disabled seated in their wheelchairs, toddlers pushed in baby strollers, the sickly on strict medication schedule, the blue/white/no collar population taking time off work, and MPs taking turns to be with the queuing crowd, moves everyone (minus the odd minority) within the country and outside. Samaritians from all walks of life coming forward to give out food, drinks, fans, umbrellas to people in line with no expectation to be thanked or even be famed on tv/papers. It was a never seen before unity. Singaporeans coming together in times of distress, helping one another.
On the other hand, negativity built up and spread like wild fire. One article after another, inducing comments after comments. It got so bad that some young junevile was charged in court for his 'personal views' on Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and also Christianity. What this triggered was a question that people living in this country since day 1 were still doubting - "Is there no freedom of speech in Singapore?"
If we can't say what we want to say, then Singapore would be so much a 'quiet' country. Would your social media be this colorful (some say distasteful)?! Will there even be a need for a public speaking area in Hong Lim Park (if you have not already known and is asking the above question) if we Singaporeans can't speak freely.
Let me turn the tables around and ask you instead, "Freedom of speech - do we speak with absolute dignity and respect for others?" Think about it, think about A.Y. who spoke without considering this question..
No comments:
Post a Comment