I have made peace with sporadic LKY critics on my newsfeed.
On the first day, the offense i took was visceral and instinctive. With knowledge of his faults and failings, but respect for his brilliance, i had felt a personal loss. To have others take away my privilege to mourn this loss – much less to say for Lee’s family – seemed unfair. They can do this any other time, i thought. Why now? Why the need to be cruel?
On the second day, it became a more diffuse disappointment. I shook my head as friends showed me the latest snark amidst the mass of adulatory tributes. But this time, shaking off the bias that came with my private attachment to LKY, i reviewed these critiques. The anti-LKYs posts were varied: there were the irreverent, the pompous; the political, and the emotional. Some raised relevant arguments against his ideology, others dived straight into cold satire.
I then realized that these voices are necessary.
It is not that i agree or condone them – far from it. But it is exactly that: as we are allowed to mourn, to exalt, to love LKY; others have their right to do otherwise. How can we condemn others for not feeling the way we do, as if it were a choice? As we are allowed to decry critics for their lack of appreciation, so are critics free to denounce what they perceive as blind idolatry.
If every. single. citizen. in Singapore expressed only grief, what would that make us? North Korea.
Ironically, education for our generation – which Mr Lee had placed a premium on – is precisely why the nation consists of a multiplicity of voices. It is why we are discerning, capable of appreciating or disagreeing, bold enough to ram a foot against authority where ideology clashes with one’s own. In a twisted way, we should be proud to some degree that we have space for dissidence.
Mr Lee was a political legend. A controversial one. And rightfully, such a legend should have his fair share of fans and haters. It means he has been doing it right. If he had been as much of a tyrant as some claim, there would be no criticisms (allowed).
There was a particular thought i came across: “you cannot separate the man from his politics”. And it’s true. Much as most wish for compassion towards him and his family in a time of mourning, it is inevitable that the outpouring of love will be met with comments from some of his detractors. Many have the tact to keep it in, but others would see this as exactly the right time to voice out against support for LKY — because it is now that it has become most apparent and effusive.
So here i am to take back my words, or at least dilute them. Yes, i can accept the need for criticism, even if i do not understand it. I’m heartened, of course, that such a vast majority of us care enough to grieve, to be angered by critics. But it is also assuring that Singapore has come to a place where disgruntled netizens can speak up without the fear of arrest.
I have been accused of many things in my life, but not even my worst enemy has ever accused me of being afraid to speak my mind.
– 1955, The Wit & Wisdom of Lee Kuan Yew
Mr Lee, if as a hypothetical other, may have been proud of the presence of dissent, might have been the voice of dissent himself.
Q 