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Wo(Man) of the hour

As I read the tribute to the late Dr Goh Keng Swee, I can't help but feel this profoundly deep admiration for this immensely brilliant forefather of Singapore.

I was in awe of his contributions and how his influence is so pervasive in modern Singapore, yet so few actually heard and know of his legacy. The more I read on about what people remembered of him and his long list of accolades, the more proud I am to be a Singaporean.

I never knew places of interests like our zoo, bird park and even Sentosa were his ideas! These are just a tiny fraction of his contributions. My gosh....it was just an incredible discovery and I was hooked to the Saturday's Special edition on 'Remember Dr Goh Keng Swee'. Strangely, my heart was pounding as I read and later reflected on this titan's life. Instinctively, a question came to mind i.e. will there be another titan like Dr Goh, Mr Lee KY, Mr Wee Kim Wee or the other members of the Old Guard in my generation?

Will I get to see one emerge in my life-time?

Almost immediately, I gave an answer : "NO!". Pessimistic? Cynical? Maybe. But I just feel that as the era of our forefathers is about to come to an end, the next era to come will not be as illustrious as it was. More talented young people yes...but less resillient to hardship and hard work. Shall I also say...less humble.

That is just me.

But I came across this excerpt by Mr J.Y Pillay that gave me a glimmer of hope. He said this: " It will be a long time bfore another like him (Dr Goh) turns up. But, perhaps, Dr Goh was a man for the hour, and the needs of the hour have changed."

Yeah...the needs of the hour have indeed changed. The people of today are just a different breed but there's so much truth in the last statement. As the needs of society have evolved, so must the leadership of the nation. For better or worse, there must be individuals who are found worthy to answer the needs of the hour isn't it?

There and then, I felt challenged and inspired. Like a moment of eureka! I may not be as intelligent or far-sighted as many of those in the Old Guard, but if I can have their tenacity, steadfastness and commitment, I might just fit the bill to be the woman of the hour, should my time come. Need not be ultra-significant role to be impactful. Many of our great leaders left the scene as quietly and simply as they came. Yet when they are being recognized, the impact is far-reaching and will be fondly remembered by many for a long long time.

I do hope I am not the only one who feels this way. I pray many more of my peers and the younger generations to come can really see the gems that our forefathers have left behind and not be like fools who just walk past, failing to recognize the treasures that are very much our inheritance. Its surely time to wake up from our myopism and really start thinking and dreaming big.

What a great legacy many have left behind. Will we waste it and let it just be another thing of the past or will we be determined to carry it on?

I hope I can get the answer in my life time.

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