CID reflection 5- Remembering Lee Kuan Yew

Tang Dynasty is very rich in arts and culture. That era is known for their pottery, painting and poetry. Their painting is extremely well known, even till today. They are famous for their landscape painting also known as "山水画". Chinese pottery during the Tang era made significant advances and pottery created was often exported to exotic countries where it's priced highly. Tang Dynasty is a golden era because there was economic growth during that period of time. Exquisite art paintings and pottery were traded and sold for a high price. People from all around the world would also have a better understanding of what art and culture in China represents. Also, poetry was also greatly appreciated during the Tang Dynasty and it became an integral part of Chinese culture. People who wished to pass important exams are required to study and do well for poetry. Art and culture thus flourished during the Tang Dynasty and made it a golden era.

                               

Next, I'm going to talk about Mr Lee and his contributions to Singapore. Mr Lee contributed greatly to Singapore and oversaw Singapore’s transformation from a Third World country to a First World country. He was the man that helped transform Singapore from a small, undeveloped fishing village into the metropolitan city we have today. In addition to the industrialization of the country, he was able to create trade contracts with other countries. These trade agreements allowed the country to continue producing goods while obtaining important resources from the other. He helped us build and strengthen relationships with other countries. He wanted the world to know what Singapore, a small country is capable of. Mr Lee believed strongly in building a nation that does not discriminate and citizens lived here in harmony. That's why he broke of the merger with Malaysia even though it was an extremely difficult decision for him to make. He wanted to have an equal society while the Malaysian government believed in Malay supremacy. He trusted his decision and believed that Singapore would be able to flourish under his rule. Mr Lee also made English the common language in Singapore to integrate the immigrant society and to facilitate trade with the West. However, Lee also made schools bilingual for students to preserve their mother tongue roots and cultural identity. Because of Mr Lee's strong belief in maintaining bilingualism, we are then able to study in a SAP school where higher Chinese is heavily emphasized on. Without him, We would not even be studying in a SAP school now. He was, indeed a great man who have led Singapore to where it is today. Everyday when I now see the Singapore flag flying high in the sky, I think of him, and the contributions he has made for Singapore. 

 

       

We are able to live in harmony though from different races all because of Mr Lee's efforts in ensuring that we have a democratic society. 

 

Singapore is seen as its own version of "the golden age" as people of all races here live in harmony with no conflicts. Singapore is flourishing in wealth and we have good relations with all the countries in the world. We have managed to prosper even though we do not have much natural resources,without much help from other countries. We are independent. All children in this country undergo good education and have equal opportunities to get a job. We have good healthcare and healthcare is subsidized by the government at poly clinics. The pioneer generation is cared well for and they do not have to work at a old age. We have created our own water system known as "NEWater", and do not have to rely on importing clean water into our country. We are what we are today all because of Mr Lee. He believed in this small nation and with his vision of Singapore, we flourished. 

      

Singapore in its golden age era, flourishing in wealth and having people from different races living in peace and harmony.