Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Reflection - "Why does God allow evil?"

Source Website: http://www.gotquestions.org/God-allow-evil.html
By Got Questions Ministries  Copyright 2002-2015 and Bible Questions Answered (www.gotquestions.org)


Why does God allow evil?
PHOTO: Why does God allow evil?
If God has the power to prevent evil and desires to prevent evil, why does He still allow evil?
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOEOuEApJzR4wsP38kqcUJiiMlXcNBXfkp1QHfeMLUvMC76Z_9rpiNdypORgSl16xheIJxB7MEoMzKt8UinR_k_0LFHzO9ztWgk7rAglz5FmjXNdGYaGEXlsRwDIFPwBPKsj4qxMkqzo/s1600/1102012190_univ_cnt_1_xl.jpg
http://assets.jw.org/assets/m/fg/fg.art/1102012190_univ_cnt_1_xl.jpg
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/good-news-from-god/why-god-allows-evil-and-suffering/


The Bible describes God as holy (Isaiah 6:3), righteous (Psalm 7:11), just (Deuteronomy 32:4), and sovereign (Daniel 4:17-25). These attributes tell us the following about God: (1) God is capable of preventing evil, and (2) God desires to rid the universe of evil. So, if both of these are true, why does God allow evil? If God has the power to prevent evil and desires to prevent evil, why does He still allow evil?

Perhaps a practical way to look at this question would be to consider some alternative ways people might have God run the world:

1) God could change everyone's personality so that they cannot sin. This would also mean that we would not have a free will. We would not be able to choose right or wrong because we would be programmed to only do right. Had God chosen to do this, there would be no meaningful relationships between Him and His creation.


God made Adam and Eve innocent but with the ability to choose good or evil.
PHOTO: God made Adam and Eve innocent but with the ability to choose good or evil. Because of this, they could respond to His love and trust Him or choose to disobey.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJn3rTZRPEcFaBuHzD86pQI52yy9GBQxG_UG2W6c-R498HYPMvhmhSvT_8_Z2Nk2YwQpGVvSst5jbwSVQMcb0yY8GTq9QY4wB610qkjDAt3LIRmtJXLW0JFgCX0KahV7jBMU8nQFgonk0/s1600/adam-and-eve-kneeling-at-altar-praying.jpg
https://latterdaycommentary.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/adam-and-eve-kneeling-at-altar-praying.jpg
http://latterdaycommentary.blogspot.sg/2014/04/true-order-of-prayer-part-two.html


Instead, God made Adam and Eve innocent but with the ability to choose good or evil. Because of this, they could respond to His love and trust Him or choose to disobey. They chose to disobey. Because we live in a real world where we can choose our actions but not their consequences, their sin affected those who came after them (us). Similarly, our decisions to sin have an impact on us and those around us and those who will come after us.

2) God could compensate for people's evil actions through supernatural intervention 100 percent of the time. God would stop a drunk driver from causing an automobile accident. God would stop a lazy construction worker from doing a substandard job on a house that would later cause grief to the homeowners. God would stop a father who is addicted to drugs or alcohol from doing any harm to his wife, children, or extended family. God would stop gunmen from robbing convenience stores. God would stop high school bullies from tormenting the brainy kids. God would stop thieves from shoplifting. And, yes, God would stop terrorists from flying airplanes into buildings.


God could compensate for people’s evil actions through supernatural intervention 100 percent of the time.
PHOTO: God could compensate for people's evil actions through supernatural intervention 100 percent of the time. While this solution sounds attractive, it would lose its attractiveness as soon as Gods intervention infringed on something we wanted to do. We want God to prevent horribly evil actions, but we are willing to let lesser-evil actions slide, not realizing that those lesser-evil actions are what usually lead to the greater-evil actions.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifihN0k3VB6aha3GYmT5kWYO3P5bkVns6YgrsUI08D5uVI_ZtC7LxkroP_SQo0G3lDdONM6I835fEc7twapy8QpODc5nEGECKZT6sIogl52rdZEb0gdt-TczxNBElzmCbE2UyM5YCPzHY/s1600/o.png
http://jehovajirehradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/o.png
http://jehovajirehradio.com/?portfolio=lorem-ipsum


While this solution sounds attractive, it would lose its attractiveness as soon as Gods intervention infringed on something we wanted to do. We want God to prevent horribly evil actions, but we are willing to let lesser-evil actions slide, not realizing that those lesser-evil actions are what usually lead to the greater-evil actions. Should God only stop actual sexual affairs, or should He also block our access to pornography or end any inappropriate, but not yet sexual, relationships? Should God stop true thieves, or should He also stop us from cheating on our taxes? Should God only stop murder, or should He also stop the lesser-evil actions done to people that lead them to commit murder? Should God only stop acts of terrorism, or should He also stop the indoctrination that transformed a person into a terrorist?

3) Another choice would be for God to judge and remove those who choose to commit evil acts. The problem with this possibility is that there would be no one left, for God would have to remove us all. We all sin and commit evil acts (Romans 3:23; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8). While some people are more evil than others, where would God draw the line? Ultimately, all evil causes harm to others.


God can judge and remove those who choose to commit evil acts.
PHOTO: God can judge and remove those who choose to commit evil acts. The problem with this possibility is that there would be no one left,  for God would have to remove us all. We all sin and commit evil acts.
Picture by Philip James de Loutherbourg, The Angel Binding Satan 
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DKPAgLR1iF0-LQJw9ueD2ZLXzW0n00lhv23WWPO_GOooWiFLq-ekxHz_J8oNEROtUVwI025pMikwPKekgsQtHxzTK1rIoEhHkdN0bB6tf3C9lpIfUFioV81Cq4oUsy3ma-trmsVcNXk/s1600/the-angel-binding-satan-philip-james-de-loutherbourg.jpg
http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/the-angel-binding-satan-philip-james-de-loutherbourg.jpg
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-angel-binding-satan-philip-james-de-loutherbourg.html


Instead of these options, God has chosen to create a real world in which real choices have real consequences. In this real world of ours, our actions affect others. Because of Adam's choice to sin, the world now lives under the curse, and we are all born with a sin nature (Romans 5:12). There will one day come a time when God will judge the sin in this world and make all things new, but He is purposely delaying in order to allow more time for people to repent so that He will not need to condemn them (2 Peter 3:9). Until then, He IS concerned about evil. When He created the Old Testament laws, the goal was to discourage and punish evil. He judges nations and rulers who disregard justice and pursue evil.

Likewise, in the New Testament, God states that it is the government's responsibility to provide justice in order to protect the innocent from evil (Romans 13). He also promises severe consequences for those who commit evil acts, especially against the "innocent" (Mark 9:36-42).


Jesus came to change men's hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit, and He does this for those who will turn from evil and call on Him to save them from their sin and its consequences (2 Corinthians 5:17).
PHOTO: Jesus came to change men's hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit, and He does this for those who will turn from evil and call on Him to save them from their sin and its consequences (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Uploaded by Enrique Guerrero, on May 10, 2011
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uAnSB2OYKYqkuRdgmmitJQDAlapCCFPQI8cF-_inJQd9KKnPjKo1Sn11kV7fEFVYuxST1xh6tGrGpnx3HzdgKdjSa_ZsGED4xCCTTPWZzl5MXggpEXKGjnpFm4_fhucX9ClkEHPsoIQ/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HpWDi_Q1hFw/maxresdefault.jpg
https://www.savetubevideo.com/?v=HpWDi_Q1hFw


In summary, we live in a real world where our good and evil actions have direct consequences and indirect consequences upon us and those around us. God's desire is that for all of our sakes we would obey Him that it might be well with us (Deuteronomy 5:29). Instead, what happens is that we choose our own way, and then we blame God for not doing anything about it. Such is the heart of sinful man. But Jesus came to change men's hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit, and He does this for those who will turn from evil and call on Him to save them from their sin and its consequences (2 Corinthians 5:17). God does prevent and restrain some acts of evil. This world would be MUCH WORSE were not God restraining evil. At the same time, God has given us the ability to choose good and evil, and when we choose evil, He allows us, and those around us, to suffer the consequences of evil. Rather than blaming God and questioning God on why He does not prevent all evil, we should be about the business of proclaiming the cure for evil and its consequences, Jesus Christ!

By Got Questions Ministries  Copyright 2002-2015 and Bible Questions Answered (www.gotquestions.org)


Because of Adam's choice to sin, the world now lives under the curse, and we are all born with a sin nature (Romans 5:12).
PHOTO: Because of Adam's choice to sin, the world now lives under the curse, and we are all born with a sin nature (Romans 5:12). We will suffer the consequences of evil unless we accept the cure for evil, Jesus Christ!
Adam & Eve-original, created by Walter Girotto (Italian, b. 1953) in 2001,
Posted by Reed V. Horth on 16 May 2011
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7ISEvMeLO_BZIVFk-DpVHBGkgeQlHs5NMJpcteDAWztXAIOHCk3cBSAd1JOACrbQi42soruCzC7Rm7-cnLaiu3dOR0wI2k98RzRQpXdhc04BOxDIynMHnxAai7W7d0_ChqGtuiefgGg/s1600/tumblr_llbjzemCzZ1qk3sv5o1_500.jpg
http://41.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llbjzemCzZ1qk3sv5o1_500.jpg
http://robinrile.tumblr.com/post/5565424793/walter-girotto-italian-b-1953-adam-eve


Jesus Reaching Down From Heaven...
PHOTO: Jesus Reaching Down From Heaven...
Rather than blaming God and questioning God on why He does not prevent all evil, we should be about the business of proclaiming the cure for evil and its consequences.  Turn from evil and call on Him to save us from our sins and its consequences (2 Corinthians 5:17).
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaMw0TWGSkP2aFDfL5eq7kpkWhVW2wE8LViNEBzIWGnGodGvGaxqrFo2yVlgAryuolEtaJSoTeCjqCf2iuGpz3nQYJbA_HMS9Ez7lUTLnK7Le4CCfndsaY58C1gFigkUcVRe7s3T3DSU/s1600/7e287bb0f1774df717befe5c949b0cde-12-1.jpg
https://melaniejeanjuneau.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/7e287bb0f1774df717befe5c949b0cde-12.jpg
http://galleryhip.com/jesus-reaching-down-from-heaven.html



Reference
NIV, New International Version
1 John 1:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1%3A8&version=NIV

2 Corinthians 5:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A17&version=NIV

2 Peter 3:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+3%3A9&version=NIV

Daniel 4:17-25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+4%3A17-25&version=NIV

Deuteronomy 5:29 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+5%3A29&version=NIV

Deuteronomy 32:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+32%3A4&version=NIV

Ecclesiastes 7:20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+7%3A20&version=NIV

Isaiah 6:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+6%3A3&version=NIV

Mark 9:36-42 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+9%3A36-42&version=NIV

Psalm 7:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+7%3A11&version=NIV

Romans 3:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A23&version=NIV

Romans 5:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A12&version=NIV

Romans 13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13&version=NIV

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Reflection - "Did God create evil?"

Source Website: http://www.gotquestions.org/did-God-create-evil.html
By Got Questions Ministries © Copyright 2002-2015 and Bible Questions Answered (www.gotquestions.org)


God allowed these free angels and humans to choose good or reject good (evil).
PHOTO: God allowed these free angels and humans to choose good or reject good (evil). When a bad relationship exists between two good things we call that evil, but it does not become a “thing” that required God to create it.
God did not create evil, but He allowed it. If He had not allowed evil, we would be worshipping Him out of obligation, not by a choice of our own will.
Posted by Food For the Spiritual Soul's Blog on May 14, 2013
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTceKcgW2T46gDDAeDWghaToQW87VRufxPkvd4mzSvSVP5VwNt3rRnWBAh0e3gjTuipQ5YjGhQxt5JUIsOoGAXjQotMAqH937fuVCsYhdIoCp45BOITt-WyNn-vFSn26rftHOCaTT-OGc/s1600/fight-between-good-and-evil.jpg
https://foodforthespiritualsoul.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/fight-between-good-and-evil.jpg
https://foodforthespiritualsoul.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/anticipate-all-the-good-and-bad/


At first it might seem that if God created all things, then evil must have been created by God. However, evil is not a “thing” like a rock or electricity. You cannot have a jar of evil. Evil has no existence of its own; it is really the absence of good. For example, holes are real but they only exist in something else. We call the absence of dirt a hole, but it cannot be separated from the dirt. So when God created, it is true that all He created was good. One of the good things God made was creatures who had the freedom to choose good. In order to have a real choice, God had to allow there to be something besides good to choose. So, God allowed these free angels and humans to choose good or reject good (evil). When a bad relationship exists between two good things we call that evil, but it does not become a “thing” that required God to create it.


When God created, it is true that all He created was good.
PHOTO: When God created, it is true that all He created was good. One of the good things God made was creatures who had the freedom to choose good.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4gxXRkKhuY3SXUPsbLDCQ6Fcu9Hvw4GOFFiSMgu9wccuDZdLQHENuTB2HskE_p-A_V2MuyVhEuuVDqkhx_uglikfWIVO2sR00Qq3QMmouPffD-U9FQ1xqWrcuotYLvVp1MJEnpTQ1yw/s1600/1859ebaa0055.jpg
http://i048.radikal.ru/0911/7b/1859ebaa0055.jpg
http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/4242220/post162164677/


Perhaps a further illustration will help. If a person is asked, “Does cold exist?” the answer would likely be “yes.” However, this is incorrect. Cold does not exist. Cold is the absence of heat. Similarly, darkness does not exist; it is the absence of light. Evil is the absence of good, or better, evil is the absence of God. God did not have to create evil, but rather only allow for the absence of good.

God did not create evil, but He does allow evil. If God had not allowed for the possibility of evil, both mankind and angels would be serving God out of obligation, not choice. He did not want “robots” that simply did what He wanted them to do because of their “programming.” God allowed for the possibility of evil so that we could genuinely have a free will and choose whether or not we wanted to serve Him.


Why did God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden?
PHOTO: Why did God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden?
[1] There was nothing essentially evil about the tree or the fruit of the tree. It is unlikely that eating the fruit truly gave Adam and Eve any further knowledge. It was the act of disobedience that opened Adam and Eve’s eyes to evil. Their sin of disobeying God brought sin and evil into the world and into their lives. Eating the fruit, as an act of disobedience against God, was what gave Adam and Eve knowledge of evil (Genesis 3:6-7).
God created Adam and Eve to be “free” beings, able to make decisions, able to choose between good and evil. In order for Adam and Eve to truly be free, they had to have a choice.  If God had not given Adam and Eve the choice, they would have essentially been robots, simply doing what they were programmed to do. [1]

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgqmlJ-WLKdd0kExK4ZbZV6T4iVXAdlg4WUshtTqDMZMY9ZMwj661BwaAAwMINeP2oFgByG00DPy7WezuDptdjN0b5qbI3e7_cmkaldHTLUChyphenhyphenuHoSpzXxvRSJh8AUAAziwQicur9Hig/s1600/900x736_1394_Temptation_Of_Eve_2d_illustration_snake_apple_eve_girl_female_woman_picture_image_digital_art.jpg 
http://digital-art-gallery.com/oid/2/900x736_1394_Temptation_Of_Eve_2d_illustration_snake_apple_eve_girl_female_woman_picture_image_digital_art.jpghttp://www.liveinternet.ru/users/4242220/post162164677/
http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/4242220/tags/%F4%FD%ED%F2%E0%E7%E8/


As finite human beings, we can never fully understand an infinite God (Romans 11:33-34). Sometimes we think we understand why God is doing something, only to find out later that it was for a different purpose than we originally thought. God looks at things from a holy, eternal perspective. We look at things from a sinful, earthly, and temporal perspective. Why did God put man on earth knowing that Adam and Eve would sin and therefore bring evil, death, and suffering on all mankind? Why didn’t He just create us all and leave us in heaven where we would be perfect and without suffering? These questions cannot be adequately answered this side of eternity. What we can know is whatever God does is holy and perfect and ultimately will glorify Him. God allowed for the possibility of evil in order to give us a true choice in regards to whether we worship Him. God did not create evil, but He allowed it. If He had not allowed evil, we would be worshipping Him out of obligation, not by a choice of our own will.

By Got Questions Ministries © Copyright 2002-2015 and Bible Questions Answered (www.gotquestions.org)


Adam, Eve and Satan
PHOTO: Adam, Eve and Satan
God did not create evil, but He allowed it. If He had not allowed evil, we would be worshipping Him out of obligation, not by a choice of our own will.
Posted by Wickedbutterflly, Traditional Art / Mixed Media / Fantasy, ©2013-2015 Wickedbutterflly
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKY9kGKs4oWPBeIzwE3PLeJcD8PSO03_0wqBoyuWvY-N39jVSSyEnMvM53tPMMFFDipqz-epHAhg4nPb2A2M4t1m6fSF-dpZV8HGej3g4dx5WJ58ZiUoWJOKWQSYMWVAmxLs79nBBqVw/s1600/adam_and_eve_by_wickedbutterflly-d5rc04v.jpg
http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/012/0/6/adam_and_eve_by_wickedbutterflly-d5rc04v.jpg
http://wickedbutterflly.deviantart.com/art/Adam-And-Eve-348240559


Lucifer rebelled against God
PHOTO: Lucifer rebelled against God, his words were, "I will not serve."
[2] If God is good—and can do only good—but Satan is evil, then who created Satan?
God created Satan.
Scripture proclaims that “all things” were created by God and for God. It makes sense, therefore, that this comprehensive category—“all things”—includes even the devil.
After all, if God wasn’t responsible for the creation of Satan, then who was? Another powerful being? If so, then that being would—at least in one sphere of existence—be in charge. There would be a realm over which the God of the Bible wouldn’t be in complete control.

God created Satan good.
As the source of all goodness, beauty, and truth, God creates only what is consistent with his nature. That is, God creates only things that are good, beautiful, and true.
Every facet of creation, whether in heaven or on earth, was originally “very good.” The Apostle Paul says it clearly: “Everything God created is good.” The character of the Creator is entirely pure; there isn’t a shred of darkness within him.
Obviously, something went wrong.

Satan’s evil came from within himself.
No one was around to tempt or lure Satan into sin; his evil arose from within. It’s not surprising, then, that Jesus would call him “the father of lies” and “a murderer from the beginning”—language hearkening back to the very outset of history.
God did not create evil, even though He knew about it.  By his pride when Lucifer rebelled against God, his words were, "I will not serve."  Lucifer spoke rebellion against God into existence by these words. (This is why obedience of mind and heart is such a powerful weapon against the evil one.)  Rebellion and all that is evil is the sole creation of the evil one.

Lingering questions
There remain many unanswered questions on which the Scriptures are simply silent. How could a morally pure creature rebel against God? Why did the other angels join the revolt? When did all of this happen?
Even though Christians don’t know all the answers, we do know the God who does. And we know that “the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” [2]
Picture posted by Adele Horne on 21 October 2013 at 11:01 pm (Where Does Evil Come From?)
 
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4rtlXmTWQFxJOs1Pq4BVvpl1MJ_V-UFKeXKHvDkFUv1W-7QpNE4ezM_cB3joirYkXMPbc0-TfvxB6AYJALcLFv1DIWADCqo7sGrfu9RNJin_RO_WOzb1pvLbyHtFeKi5zGam-ZseRB8/s1600/I-WILL-NOT-SERVE.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjDShZladfZ5rQNF8DFs2nAcuLfkiQ8oTcWw0cOClFwClq659nFdzf5AMyOnC2fVoMFPvlc_WoKsQL2N31r3u_liInj8iCbzIvK5GD72xAGPiQXLoh94iSM0XwRGYA9cj0jAfDM584X0/s1600/I-WILL-NOT-SERVE.jpg
http://associationofcatholicwomenbloggers.blogspot.sg/2013/10/where-does-evil-come-from.html



Reference
[1] http://www.gotquestions.org/tree-knowledge-good-evil.html,  "Why did God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden?", By Got Questions Ministries © Copyright 2002-2015 and Bible Questions Answered (www.gotquestions.org).

[2] http://www.exploregod.com/who-created-satan?gclid=CMuYvbngz8QCFdYXjgodInsAkA, Who Created Satan?, By Matt Smethurst, © 2014 Explore God.

NIV, New International Version
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Monday, March 30, 2015

It's time to let him go - 永远怀念你 (yǒng yuǎn huái niàn nǐ)

My Paper, Monday, March 30, 2015, Page A6, Top Stories
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/emnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2015-03-30
Source Website: http://mypaper.sg/top-stories/its-time-let-him-go-20150330
By Mak Mun San, munsan@sph.com.sg, mypaper, myp@sph.com.sg, Published on Mar 30, 2015


DEVOTED HUSBAND
PHOTO: DEVOTED HUSBAND: A tribute by Singapore illustrator Lee Kow Fong, titled Into The Garden, In Hands. Mr Lee loved taking long walks with his wife.
PHOTO: LEE KOW FONG
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6x5FIaKfffscLzPNbMAj0mqNYK83fZL2FisEo3Rm7ZfMNI30gMDMDlxbv01F60Lk1Q8TBrYvcWba1NBIeC8_cA73JaR2Uwz6ZQJ6Kzy6zlY8f6_sSzkfPXJ9-YiKkKR6JNkPb0qqRDHE/s1600/It's+time+to+let+him+go.jpg
My Paper, Monday, March 30, 2015, Page A6, Top Stories


AFTER paying my respects at the Ang Mo Kio community tribute site on Saturday afternoon, I was looking at some photos on my phone while queueing for lunch at a hawker centre when I sensed someone peering over my shoulder.

"Do you think Lee Kuan Yew knew how much the people loved him?" a middle-aged woman waiting behind me asked in Mandarin.

I turned to face her. "I don't know," I replied. "I have been thinking about this the past few days too."

She nodded and said: "We are so used to criticising him. I think many people went down to Parliament House because we are sorry we haven't shown him our gratitude all these years. But now he's gone. This is life, full of regrets."

I thought about her words for a moment. "He may not have known, but I don't think it mattered to him whether Singaporeans were grateful or not. He didn't serve to win our gratitude," I said.

We continued chatting, two strangers united in grief.

All over Singapore this past week, I am sure this scene has played out many times in different corners of the island, be it under the scorching sun on the Padang, in coffee shops or online in the privacy of our homes; Singaporeans united (or Yew-nited, as some have coined) in our unbridled grief over the passing of a man whom most of us have had a love-hate relationship with all our lives. The finality of his death hit those who loved him, hated him and even those who were neutral about him.

I have never been a big fan - but you do not need to be a fan to respect what he has done for this country.

There are some things he has said and done that I do not agree with, and I know many of my friends feel the same way. But that has not stopped us from giving credit where credit is due and we do feel a deep sense of gratitude towards him.

Even then, for the longest time, he was just that - a founding father, a name I revered and feared. He became a normal human being in my eyes only when I learnt more about his love story. This was a husband who read to his wife every night when she was bedridden in the final years of her life.

I thought: "How scary can this man be if he can love with such tenderness and devotion?" That was when he grew in my heart.

By now, you must have heard about Mr Lee's red box. But what about his knife? According to an employee at Taiwan's The Grand Hotel, where he would stay whenever he visited Taipei, his personal secretary would always carry a knife, not for security, but for Mr Lee to cut his fruit. He would carefully cut the fruit, give them to his wife, before cutting another portion for himself.

When the news came on Monday, my first thought was: "Finally, they are reunited." I can picture him reading poems to her again.

On Thursday morning, as I walked out of Parliament House after a five-hour queue, all I felt was an overpowering sense of emptiness. The man is really gone. Where would Singapore go from here?

In my family, while my mother has never been shy about expressing her admiration for the man, my 75-year-old father has always been in the anti-LKY camp. Although he was actively involved in People's Action Party grassroots activities in the 1950s ("I've sat in meetings with LKY. I went around hanging posters during elections and hid the ones from opposition parties."), he became disillusioned about politics in the early 1960s and distanced himself from the party.

Growing up, I have lost count of the number of times my father repeated his criticism of the decision to close down Nanyang University (Nantah) in 1980. There he goes again, I would think to myself. Move on, papa, I begged him, impatiently. I have graduated from the National University of Singapore with a degree in Chinese studies. The closure of Nantah did not rob me of the chance to continue studying my mother tongue or affect my life. Let go, please.

So I was most taken aback when my father left a comment in response to a friend's Facebook tribute on Monday. "You can disagree with some of his policies, but you cannot deny his contribution to Singapore," he wrote in Chinese.

It was the first time I heard him say something objective about the man. When I went home for dinner on Saturday, he had another surprise for me.

"Let's observe a minute of silence," he announced in Cantonese before we began eating. "I'm still unhappy about Nantah, but he's dead. Nothing matters any more. I've let go."

After dinner, I went to the tribute site in Ang Mo Kio again, this time with my parents. I asked my father if he wanted to sign the condolence book. He sat down and wrote five Chinese words, yong yuan huai nian nin (We will miss you forever). 永远怀念你 (yǒng yuǎn huái niàn nǐ)

Looking at the crowds of people at the site, and the lonely figure of my father staring intently at the wall of photos of Mr Lee, I recall something I read about him.

Asked once how he wanted history to judge him, Mr Lee replied without missing a beat: "I'm dead by then."

He has also been quoted as saying: "I have never been overconcerned or obsessed with opinion polls or popularity polls. I think a leader who is, is a weak leader."

He may not have sweated about small matters like whether the people love him or how he would be remembered, but I would like to believe, he knows now. And I think even the man himself would have been surprised and humbled by what he has seen this past week (and he has seen a lot).

Thank you for giving your life so that others could enjoy theirs. Singapore will be fine. Now go, Harry. She is waiting.

By Mak Mun San, munsan@sph.com.sg, mypaper, myp@sph.com.sg, Published on Mar 30, 2015
The writer is news editor of My Paper.


Come, it’s time to go
PHOTO: Mr and Mrs Lee Kuan Yew
Mr Lee was a husband who read to his wife every night when she was bedridden in the final years of her life. Finally, they are reunited. We can picture him reading poems to her again.
Artwork from Evacomics and Phoebe Lau (BPDGTravels)
Posted by Grace on 28 March 2015
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbLQbCxbdmNOkiXNsxuypgHqgqInBahl1sxb8XzD3sUkakqFPjG_8dz_gVjKo1oFUTnd-AfvdEQlpm751mA0t9g-QtQwJUWoKrjIGB-8npcHEaVPoA5p33fDILMBQ29LhXs0qiHrpUPU/s1600/bpdg-tribute-to-lee-kuan-yew.jpg
https://workingwithgrace.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/bpdg-tribute-to-lee-kuan-yew.jpg
https://workingwithgrace.wordpress.com/2015/03/28/artist-and-blogger-tributes-to-mr-lee-kuan-yew/


Mr and Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, 永远怀念你  - Miss you forever
PHOTO: Mr and Mrs Lee Kuan Yew
永远怀念你  - Miss you forever
yǒng yuǎn huái niàn nǐ
Artwork from Evacomics and Phoebe Lau (BPDGTravels)
Posted by Grace on 28 March 2015
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UPdPmkPe9Q6snnGtBdf_Xg09wva9TEuXPDy5LM-wKXbDFGsvpYDQrtrZmKRwpGykYNPhcl4wu5tnBuXiDDEgP4Xk4PG6fQu1fDGiEz3WweiHjJUxHKC_t4-xeclwsLpiX3fTZYyJk4I/s1600/evacomics-tribute-to-lee-kuan-yew.jpeg
https://workingwithgrace.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/evacomics-tribute-to-lee-kuan-yew.jpeg
https://workingwithgrace.wordpress.com/2015/03/28/artist-and-blogger-tributes-to-mr-lee-kuan-yew/



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Sunday, March 29, 2015

Remembering Lee Kuan Yew - Annie Chang (23 March 2015)

My Paper, Friday, March 27, 2015, Page A5, Top Stories
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/emnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2015-03-27

Source Website:
http://mypaper.sg/top-stories/singapore-spirit-shines-through-20150327
By Ong Ye Kung, mypaper, myp@sph.com.sg, Published on 27 March, 2015 (Singapore spirit shines through)

http://www.rememberingleekuanyew.sg/category/tributes/page/15/
By Annie Chang, © Ministry of Communications and Information 2015


The real story behind the LKY black ribbon
PHOTO: The real story behind the LKY black ribbon
It started as a spur of the moment decision…  Member of Parliament (MP) Alex Yam and  team worked through the night, brainstormed and deliberated. Finally the simple but dignified version was selected out of 6 final versions. It then went viral: manually, digitally and spiritually.
Posted by Jonathan Lim on March 23, 2015
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgY0eVmeoNYW_ussQYXnwzbv50v36WZw23A61wtPc7YEXhiIDa3EqcZLrgp1GC7liMw9NVk3D4wycxODii-E3_fXkzRnBnhgr5Q07nKSG2rzzfULt7fm6l06txVBfCnl9m0AIs_aewfIw/s1600/LKY-tribute-3.jpg
http://cdn.mothership.sg/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/LKY-tribute-3.jpg
http://mothership.sg/2015/03/graphics-of-lee-kuan-yew-are-appearing-online-in-tribute-of-him/


Looking at the situation of the loooong queues to Parliament House, it is clear the death of Mr LKY has brought out the best in Singaporeans.
No matter how long the queue, nobody complains. Everyone is determined to make it to the destination, step by step.
No matter how hot the sun, everyone soldiers on together.
No matter how tough/ rough/ long the road is, we have proven that we are the tough that gets going.
Now, wouldn’t Mr Lee be pleased to witness such a sight, to see how tenacious yet gracious his people are? Whilst the nation is mourning, Singapore has also shown how truly beautiful it can be.
I am very proud to be a Singaporean. Thank you Mr Lee, for the Singapore Spirit that you have built in us.
- Annie Chang (from Ministry of Communications and Information 2015)


I WAS at the Istana gate and at the Sembawang tribute centre to pay my respects to Lee Kuan Yew. For the past two days, what I did not see made me as proud as what I did see.

At the Sembawang tribute centre, I saw volunteers handing out hundreds of bottles of water to visitors - but no empty bottles were strewn on the floor. As boxes became empty, I helped the volunteers fold and recycle them.

Queueing to enter Parliament House, I was in a huge crowd - but no litter. At 5pm, under the hot sun, I saw many opportunities for queue-cutting - but no one did.


Act of kindness: Singapore Management University student Koh Kang Liang, 22, dug into his own pocket and bought 20 burgers for those waiting to enter Parliment House.
PHOTO: Act of kindness: Singapore Management University student Koh Kang Liang, 22, dug into his own pocket and bought 20 burgers for those waiting to enter Parliment House. He was worried that people in the queue would go hungry.
Photo: The New Paper
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuSSduMHa8Cfp8o0JjlqYCufDGmi6uJtd9PYjffo_N8O8-kb0OaTzkkv_y0oTmy8u8E8JUHgcWcXuGYYyMUC6ThROBMxSZjzPI4y4vREZMI8Q6Y8ofHlAKv-axsA7ODHbSlWCSR0lqOk/s1600/Remembering+Lee+Kuan+Yew.jpg
My Paper, Friday, March 27, 2015, Page A5, Top Stories


At the tribute event for Mr Lee at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital on Tuesday, Liak Teng Lit gave a spirited speech on the former prime minister. Mr Liak, who is currently group chief executive of Alexandra Health System, has a near obsession for public cleanliness and deserves his appointment as the next chairman of the National Environment Agency.

Mr Lee had started the Keep Singapore Clean Campaign in 1968. "Every word he said then continues to be relevant today," Mr Liak told the audience.

I looked up the speech in the National Archives that evening - a short, punchy speech. Mr Lee said:

"Everyone can see the point of a neat home, clean kitchen, clean food and healthy children. But responsibility stops too often at the doorstep…Not only our young in schools, but also our adults, must learn new habits…Everyone can learn and acquire the habit of treating common user areas as one's own home, to be kept clean and maintained."

Recently, there were some unflattering comments that Singapore is a "cleaned city", a "garbage city". But over the past days, I have seen Singapore at its best.

We have seen an outpouring of grief for the loss of Mr Lee, and a generous outpouring of grace and kindness. Of hotel and restaurant staff serving free drinks to the visitors in the queue; volunteers taking leave to man the memorial sites; visitors stoic and patient under the hot sun, unfazed by the eight-hour queue.


Open to Public: The first public visitors paying their respect to Mr. Lee at the Parliment House on Wednesday, 25 March 2015.
PHOTO: Open to Public: The first public visitors paying their respect to Mr. Lee at the Parliment House on Wednesday, 25 March 2015.
ST Photo: Desmond Lim
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QserlvXUtoboiPClsvj1rNgDmjjiWR12n48wao7aJnhih1HxI75MYa-FhkQkxNOtdo2ixGu1GXJpjnAouWy-qot2DHOU_1eCxAMhGU0p81i_n0PnZdzzPlpWyT4-1NE_hDGlXGu-3QQ/s1600/Public+visitors+to+Parliment+House.jpg
My Paper, Thursday, March 26, 2015, Page A2, Top Stories


I read in the newspapers someone saying the sun is good - it could be worse if it rained. Another said she would camp a week to pay her respects to Mr Lee, after all he has done.

I received some inquiries from organisations asking if they could be given a specific time slot for a group visit at Parliament House. I called to ask a former colleague if this was possible. She said no, the organisers have decided not to allow group visits. Everyone queues.

Only visitors such as the aged, the disabled and pregnant have a shorter queue. So whether we are a worker, teacher, student, CEO or Stefanie Sun, we are all the same, coming to pay our last respects to Mr Lee and we will all queue.

The mourning for the loss of our founding prime minister has brought out a rare creature, the sort of Singaporean hiding inside each of us - I like to think this is the real Singaporean. Hardy and impervious to physical discomforts, generous and kind in spirit, filled with solidarity, magnanimity, scrupulously fair and completely at home in queues.

What triggered it? Four possible reasons.
  • First, we are at this moment both united and bereft at the loss of Mr Lee. Standing in queue, I look at the person next to me, and (even though he may be looking at his phone) I know that he shares my emotions. I will help him if he needs it. The last thing I want is to cause him inconvenience through anti-social behaviour.
  • Second, the great majority of Singaporeans feel a deep sense of gratitude that we have a safe and secure home. Speaking personally, I have been reminding myself over the past few days: "Yes, I love this land. This did not come easy and we must cherish this." Littering and anti-social behaviour goes against this thinking.
  • Third, so many people are working so very hard during this important moment for Singapore - the marches, the ceremonies, musicians, volunteers at the tribute centres, uniformed personnel maintaining safety at crowded locations, media crews that made the documentaries and videos. It is not just the effort, but the clear sense that they are doing it for Singapore and for everyone making their way to pay respects. Every announcement was to give useful information to the public. Every step and action to bring dignity to the occasion and country. We witnessed a back-to-basics approach, and the heart of public service.
  • Fourth, with such a strong collective display of cooperation, consideration for one another and public spiritedness, the small irresponsible minority is silenced or ignored. Bad things happen when good people keep quiet. Likewise, I believe anti-social behaviour like littering and creating a public nuisance become rampant only when responsible people keep quiet. There has to be social pressure for good behaviour. Try littering in Japan and you will know what I mean.

This is Mr Lee's parting gift. He famously said at the 1988 National Day Rally: "Even from my sick bed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel something is going wrong, I will get up!"

Mr Lee cannot physically get up again. But his sense of public service, the public spiritedness and social responsibility he wished in all Singaporeans, can get up in all of us. The next level of development for Singapore is not to raise ever-taller buildings or burrow deeper tunnels, but to bring out our best selves for a gracious society that looks out for one another.

By Ong Ye Kung, mypaper, myp@sph.com.sg, Published on 27 March, 2015 (Singapore spirit shines through)
The writer is chairman of the NTUC Employment and Employability Institute.


When 2 become 1.
PHOTO: Looking at the situation of the loooong queues to Parliament House, it is clear the death of Mr LKY has brought out the best in Singaporeans.
No matter how long the queue, nobody complains. Everyone is determined to make it to the destination, step by step.
No matter how hot the sun, everyone soldiers on together.
No matter how tough/ rough/ long the road is, we have proven that we are the tough that gets going.
Now, wouldn’t Mr Lee be pleased to witness such a sight, to see how tenacious yet gracious his people are? Whilst the nation is mourning, Singapore has also shown how truly beautiful it can be.
From Annie Chang (from Ministry of Communications and Information 2015)
Source of picture: A Good Citizen, Posted by Jonathan Lim on March 23, 2015
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzmrsXH5Amok_fbIL_VDBjr4lhVUExZJ9I6kmvjfswpFVCSmXOc3n7GG0YNQ0UQb9GtST3tgLRvWyUanF-XO3pb8-KHcO2DNyqbsLqE8OFBe8aG4yX3NUJhwp8RdNI2Z1sPSD_CZbjTU/s1600/lky-tribute-8.jpg
http://cdn.mothership.sg/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/lky-tribute-8.jpg
http://mothership.sg/2015/03/graphics-of-lee-kuan-yew-are-appearing-online-in-tribute-of-him/


A great man has passed and people are remembering him in their own ways. Some have come up with creative ways and they are making rounds on the social media.
PHOTO: A great man has passed and people are remembering him in their own ways. Some have come up with creative ways and they are making rounds on the social media.
Source of Picture: Evacomics, Posted by Jonathan Lim on March 23, 2015
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmaxvXSC8OOi636Ixi6r5a4gnk0_kJuQTzbuUSguVMTOZ7KYbQqF-JsydS3B0pfJbHH05qPZEoyXNoU5XhPUEXq_glx8mWMxRI2vLC6JwhyphenhyphenebvSYTSVLQ0-G-moFFx8JAWj-MAmgEMJo/s1600/LKY-Evacomics.jpg
http://cdn.mothership.sg/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/LKY-Evacomics.jpg
http://mothership.sg/2015/03/graphics-of-lee-kuan-yew-are-appearing-online-in-tribute-of-him/



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