Rising From The Rubble - Singapore Story

I was feeling down. But when things seem their worst, they can only get better.

Remembered a tale me late grandfather told me. About our minister mentor, then prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. The day he cried in front of the nation he led.

Dug up an old video -- about when Singapore was kicked out of Malaysia. With no natural resources, correct me if I'm wrong but I remember grandpa saying that Singapore had only $4,000 savings, as a nation. We seemed doomed.



Not enough drinking water. Not enough resources to support the nation. The only thing we had -- our people.

Our forefathers struggled to build our nation.

This is Singapore today.

My Optimistic Late Grandpa

I was reading a booklet about optimism. One thing that struck me was the optimistic mindset of survivors. In face of adversity, optimists take action while pessimists stand around passively as they give up hope.

My grandpa was an optimist.

His favourite catchphrase, which kept playing on in my head was, "God helps those who help themselves"

During world war 2, when the Japanese troops occupied Singapore, Chinese men were rounded up, lined up in front of their graves and shot. My grandpa was one of those selected for slaughter.

In pitch darkness, he waited with the other victims uncertain of the fate that the Japs had in store for them.

While others waited for his death, he took action.

He prayed to God, whom he had heard about. Then he ran for his life. From the slaughterhouse to Katong. Across half of Singapore from what I understand.

Miraculously, although Japanese soldiers were posted at every gantry, no one stopped him. He made it all the way home, where grandma, dad and my uncles (was my aunt born yet?) were praying desperately for him. Grandma was crying.

Once the fugitive arrived, tears stopped, joy came and the entire family packed minimal belongings, and fled.

My grandpa lived to the ripe old age of 91.