Re: Jamie Han is WRONG!!!
- From: "ardeedee" <ardeedee1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2005 11:28:06 +0800
The life of LKY also teaches him that in his life he was always given a fair
deal by the opposition and by the governing authorities and they never
arrested him or charged him unfairly over any incident or behaviour that
they simply "did not like".
He should ensure that his rivals and enemies now get the same fair treatment
that he received from the British and the govt in power then./
<seeker9912@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1124150199.485138.84830@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> If we are governed by a despotic govt, we would have an
> Democratically ELECTED President.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Feb 1, 2005
> THE KENT RIDGE MINISTERIAL FORUM
>
>
> A STUDENT argued for less government control and remarked that even the
>
> 'most enlightened despot' could turn into a tyrant if his powers were
> left unchecked.
>
>
> The comment led Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew to throw this gauntlet
> down to the young: If they believe they have a better point of view to
> 'stake' their lives, organise, form a political party and win people
> over.
>
>
> 'There is nothing to prevent you from pushing your propaganda, to push
> your programme out either to the students or with the public at
> large... and if you can carry the ground, if you are right, you win.
> That's democracy. We're not preventing anybody,' he said.
>
>
> The exchange took place last night during a question-and-answer session
>
> he had with university students at the Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum
> held at the NUS University Cultural Centre.
>
>
> NUS history student Jamie Han had asked for the Internal Security Act
> and newspaper laws to be reviewed. This was when he made his comment on
>
> despots.
>
>
> Furthermore, he said, channels to offer different views 'were either
> directly or indirectly controlled by the Government'.
>
>
> Mr Lee first asked him if he had written to the newspapers, such as The
>
> Straits Times Forum page.
>
>
> Yes, he replied. But only one letter was published.
>
>
> Why not start a publication then, asked MM Lee.
>
>
> The laws made it 'very difficult', the student said.
>
>
> No, he could register it, said Mr Lee.
>
>
> Mr Han was not persuaded.
>
>
> To laughter, Mr Lee replied: 'Well, you have the Internet - put up a
> website. You know how to put up a website? If you don't, I know a
> friend who can help you.'
>
>
> He returned to the point about 'despots' only later, in reply to
> another question.
>
>
> This time, another student asked about the coming General Election.
>
>
> Mr Lee said the election did not have to be held until 2007 and between
>
> now and then, it was unlikely any group could form a team that can
> declare it will do better than the current Government. All it could
> offer was to be a 'different voice'.
>
>
> He asked: 'Those of you who really feel strongly that you got a better
> point of view, I say organise yourself - as I did. I took my life in my
>
> hands and said I stand for this.'
>
>
> He recalled how when he met the Plen, or Fang Chuan Pi, in Beijing in
> 1992, the communist leader had told him that he had saved his life when
>
> he could have ordered him killed for taking on the communists in the
> 1950s.
>
>
> Said Mr Lee: 'I said 'Thank you'. He could have shot me. But I told
> him, 'You are not a fool and you knew that if you had assassinated me,
> your organisation would have been crushed because I was not unpopular.'
>
>
>
> 'Had I been unpopular, then you have got rid of despot... but I was no
> despot. That generation knew that I fought for them.'
>
>
> At this point, Mr Lee asked the student who prompted the response: How
> old was his father?
>
>
> '50-plus,' said the student.
>
>
> MM Lee said: 'If he's 50 plus, then he will remember. You don't put
> your life at risk in calling me a despot. Well, in order to have your
> views heard, if you profoundly believe that you have that passion, I
> say stake your life, take on with your duties, come out, put your
> programme, sort it out.'
>
>
> He said too that the current leadership had proven its mettle, having
> seen the country through the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the
> Sars outbreak in 2003.
>
>
> Its team of 'resourceful and quick-witted, well-organised' leaders had
> responded to these problems methodically and systematically.
>
>
> 'If you believe that a vociferous opposition with good ideas would have
>
> responded in that way, you are wrong,' he said.
>
>
> He added that the People's Action Party had remained in power by
> delivering results and getting good people to be with the party.
>
>
> 'That's how we stay in office, not by monopolising... but by co-opting,
>
> incorporating and moving forward. So my message to you is a simple one.
>
> Remember how we got here. And before you make fundamental changes, make
>
> sure that your alternative is viable.
>
>
> 'This is not an ordinary country. You have two election terms of a dud,
>
> lousy, incompetent government and you will set Singapore back so badly,
>
> it may take you decades to recover, and maybe never. If you dismantle
> the organisation that brought us here, don't believe it will come
> back.'
>
.
- References:
- Jamie Han is WRONG!!!
- From: seeker9912
- Jamie Han is WRONG!!!
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