<Pic: People queuing to pay their respects to Lee Kuan Yew, AP>
I AM one of the "silent majority".
I have never written or blogged or Facebooked about national issues. But there's always a time for it.
I mourn the loss of our national giant, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. My heart is saddened as if I have lost someone close to me. At the same time, my heart is bursting with pride at the unprecedented show of gratitude and patriotism.
If there was one good thing that came out of Mr Lee's death, this must be it. Grieving together has enlarged our horizons and our souls.
Once, as I was leaving my exercise class, I remarked that it was extremely humid outside. Quick as lightning, my exercise mate from Hong Kong told me: "Don't complain, Singapore is half a paradise." She is right. And this, in no small part, is due to the work of Mr Lee, who really could not have done more in his life for this nation.
To the "noisy minority" in relentless search of freedom of speech, political freedom and all, the acid test is this: Have you given 50 per cent of your life for this country? How about 25 per cent, 10 per cent or even 5 per cent? If not, why the noise?
There are always places where such freedom can be found. But together with it, there will be freedom to be discriminated against, freedom to be raped, freedom to be mugged, freedom to be shot - complete freedom.
As for me, I am staying put, humidity and all. I am blessed and proud to be a Singaporean.
Loh Lay San (Madam)
*Letter first appeared on ST Forums (1 April)