<TABLE id=msgUN cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>
Coffee Shop Talk - Thinking about Mr. JBJ</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right>
Subscribe </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgF noWrap align=right width="1%">From: </TD><TD class=msgFname noWrap width="68%">Meat_Lover <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate noWrap align=right width="30%">Sep-30 7:17 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT noWrap align=right width="1%" height=20>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname noWrap width="68%">ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 16) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%" rowSpan=4> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>6388.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>The passing away of JBJ in the midst of one of the worst economic crises since 1997 have left us with the legacy that indeed, there is more to life than financial spreedsheets, data analysis and unbridled risks and rewards. There is something called freedom and democracy, which JBJ stood for consistently in his political career. His one mindneness in bringing about political change have meant that he has lost much monetarily and socially. He has won and lost parliamentary seats, debated countless MPs from the other side for two generations, spoke at hundreds of rallies and meetings calling for a fundemental re-think of the Singapore spirit, and voted to secure the rights and freedom for his countrymen in parliament.
Perhaps the most poignant moment is still his victory at the Anson by-election, which shattered the myth of an invincible and omnipotent PAP, which continues to be the historical faultline in the othewise dominant PAP narrative. The relentless search for cracks and pains within the Singapore polity to remedy, which irritated contented Singaporeans and even yours truly at times, did not meant widespread dislike for Mr. JBJ. Rather, many Singaporeans often attended his rallies, buy his books, donated money, voted for him and listened to him in his fiery encounters with the powers-to-be. Some even made a play out of him to raise political awarness in the polity. What most did not do was to vote for the party he represented, and to extend the same respect for him to other members of the opposition.
Why will happen next is a question for another time, but at present, if Singaporeans stop to think about JBJ and what he stood for a moment as they contemplate their studies, their AIG shares, their electricity bill, the goodness of our government and their loved ones, I think Mr. JBJ and his family will be satisfied.
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Perhaps the most poignant moment is still his victory at the Anson by-election, which shattered the myth of an invincible and omnipotent PAP, which continues to be the historical faultline in the othewise dominant PAP narrative. The relentless search for cracks and pains within the Singapore polity to remedy, which irritated contented Singaporeans and even yours truly at times, did not meant widespread dislike for Mr. JBJ. Rather, many Singaporeans often attended his rallies, buy his books, donated money, voted for him and listened to him in his fiery encounters with the powers-to-be. Some even made a play out of him to raise political awarness in the polity. What most did not do was to vote for the party he represented, and to extend the same respect for him to other members of the opposition.
Why will happen next is a question for another time, but at present, if Singaporeans stop to think about JBJ and what he stood for a moment as they contemplate their studies, their AIG shares, their electricity bill, the goodness of our government and their loved ones, I think Mr. JBJ and his family will be satisfied.
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