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In mourning, let’s also learn to remember the living

I was born in 1986, when the foundations of modern Singapore were more or less in place. Mr Lee Kuan Yew was more of a textbook political figure who was revered, but whose work was not truly understood.

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Magdelene Sim Jialing

I was born in 1986, when the foundations of modern Singapore were more or less in place. Mr Lee Kuan Yew was more of a textbook political figure who was revered, but whose work was not truly understood.

Only when I grew up and started to see the world did I truly begin to appreciate Singapore as my home and beloved country.

As I got older, Mr Lee became the grandfatherly figure who continued to watch and guide this nation. A part of me slept soundly at night knowing that he was still protecting this country relentlessly.

He was the face I sort of took for granted to see every National Day. His influence and position in modern history is so overwhelming that I sometimes attributed a certain immortality to him.

That is probably what shook me when he fell critically ill. The outpouring of good wishes and blessings for him has touched me and prompted immense reflection.

A part of me had hoped that he would recover just so he could see the amount of love and prayers his people had for him — to see all the flowers, cards and well-wishers.

His work had given him detractors, but I wanted this great man to know that he has more fans than haters, and a special place in our hearts that we, sadly, did not show enough of when he was alive.

We should perhaps learn to remember the living and their work; there is no better time to cherish greatness. It pains me that Mr Lee will not get to see or feel the nation’s love and mourning for him.

One wishes that all the heart-warming anecdotes we are hearing now from citizens had surfaced earlier and that, as a nation, we had honoured him more as our founding father in his lifetime.

Mr Lee, your legacy lives on through your people. You built this nation and, even in death, you brought your people together again, even if only for a while.

The best way to remember and honour you is to value and grow the peace and prosperity you left for us. As one nation, we cannot let your work crumble after your demise.

The world lost a visionary and a great political figure; we lost our father.

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