Change agents have to be leaders. And yet, as you know, not all lead
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“Change agents have to be leaders. And yet, as you know, not all lead- ers are change agents. Which brings us to three traits that strike us as essential: First, true change agents see a future no one else does, and that vision won’t let them rest. They don’t lead change because it “makes sense” or because change is “necessary.” They lead change because they believe their organization must get change in order to survive and win. Second, change agents have courage. Some leaders will sit around all day talk- 1 ing about the future and how the organization might adjust for it. True change agents are willing to take bold action—and accept the consequences. They know that leading change can be messy, with few clear-cut answers about how events will play out. They understand that push back accompanies any change initia- tive and that they will take the brunt of it if things go wrong, termination includ- ed. That doesn’t stop them, either. Finally, change agents have something about them that galvanizes teams and turns people on.” “What Change Agents Are Made Of” By Jack and Suzy Welch
Course Description Johnson, creator of Manpacks, an online, subscription, men’s underwear company; nationally rec-
ognized creativity professor, Amy Whitaker, (Museum Legs); US Federal Attorney Richard Rose;
TACO INC Training and Development Manager Nan Quinlan; Roger Williams University Ad-
My name is Steve Cronin. I’m the President of TWOBOLT, formerly Mercury Print & Mail, in Paw- missions Counselor Don Mays; former Progreso Latino General Manager and Founder of the Elisha
tucket, Rhode Island. TWOBOLT is a direct marketing strategy and services company. We provide Project, George Ortiz; national Boys and Girls Club ‘Youth of the Year’ award winner Carolina
data-based strategy and an assortment of corresponding services for more personalized, measurable, Correra; Soren Ryherd, President of Working Planet; Kipp Bradford, Inventor and Entrepreneur
customer engagements. From variable digital printing, mailing services, and plastic membership and Brown University Professor; Marta Aparicio, Hope High and Georgetown University grad-
cards to web-to-print portals, e-fulfillment, graphic design, data collection, analytics, and strate- uate; and Rhode Island School of Design Fashion Design major Anya Valderanna and Industrial
gic consultation, TWOBOLT is helping companies collect and use information like never before. Design major Tino Chow are just some of the guests who have participated in classroom activities.
My community service for the past 11 years has been teaching a weekly class at Hope High School Business cards are printed for each student to facilitate the development of their networking
in Providence, Rhode Island, attempting to turn American history into an experience that introduces skills. Several remote, after-school activities are scheduled to develop and refine the pro-
and develops important ‘life skill’ concepts for each student’s lifetime success: gram’s life skills: The Rhode Island Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce Banquet, the
BIF annual Summit, an annual networking event at a Pawtucket Red Sox game in a corporate
suite at McCoy Stadium, a jobs tour at the CVS Corporate office in Woonsocket, RI, an
entrepreneurial orientation at Teespring in Providence, an interschool activity with LaSalle
leadership Academy students and a college tour .
change To close the widening technology gap between students from more affluent communities and
many of our Hope students, we’ve begun an experimental program awarding tablets to Life
success Skills students who have exceptional attendance records, shown maximum effort in all their
personal brand classes as well as meeting all the expectations of this class. This text has been produced as an
E-book on our class web site: www.hopelifeskills.com. All class activities and assignments
2 hope are posted on this web site. As Hope students prepare for college or technical schools as well 3
as career and lifetime learning, they need access to the latest web based software and hardware.
Technology enables them to develop research and analytic skills critical to success in college
Related skills, fundamental to these concepts, are also introduced: networking, critical thinking, and technical schools and, eventually, to compete for jobs in our highly competitive global mar-
risk management, interpersonal, creativity, collaboration, and empathy. ketplace. Access to technology also prepares them for current job opportunities provided by
some of our Life Skills class community partners like CVS, AAA, and Partridge, Snow, & Hahn.
Eight personalized textbooks are printed ‘on demand’ for each student; each text focuses on one of
the aforementioned concepts within a specific historical period. Several noteworthy Americans of Finally, we are sending students from our life skills program to the National Youth Leadership Fo-
each period are profiled to characterize each concept. The text includes activities to enhance concept rum (www.nylf.org) in Washington, DC each year. High school students from across the coun-
appreciation and skill development. try attend this week long conference. We also coordinate a visit to a Washington area university
for our student(s) prior to the start of the Forum. Our ‘Life Skills’ program pays for all student
You’ll notice many rectangular boxes, called QR codes (http://bit.ly/i4cZhy), throughout costs to the Forum: air fare, hotel, and program tuition. Marta Aparicio, class of 2010 at Hope,
this text. QR codes are barcodes providing a different source for the text information. was our first student to apply and be accepted for the 2009 conference. Marta visited George-
Most of the QR codes in this book link to a video. The video access is purposely offered town University prior to the Leadership Conference. Coincidently, Marta ultimately received a
as an alternative for any student who more readily processes video information than full scholarship from Georgetown and enrolled in the Fall of 2010. 4 Hope Students attended last
text. The video also provides enhancement or enrichment opportunities. For in- year’s Forum. These students also visited a University prior to the start of the Forum. Exciting stuff!
stance, what better way to appreciate the brand of modern Singapore than listening
Get the free mobile app at
to an interview of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s ‘Founding Father’ (page 46 QR code)! Another benefit This year’s Hope High Life Skill’s class will begin again in the Fall and continue to the end of the school
http:/ / gettag.mobi year in June. Thank you for your interest.
of QR codes is for tracking and soliciting feedback. One of the primary objectives of this program is a
two-way engagement between student and teacher, constantly collecting and measuring real data, to
All questions, comments, suggestions, and/or concerns are always welcomed and can be sent to my
refine the program so that the aforementioned ‘life skills’ do in fact have real, long term student value.
email address - (scronin@twobolt.com) .
A diverse group of local community leaders exemplifying each concept participate in the classroom
experience to share their life lessons for a deeper appreciation of the life skills. Entrepreneur Ken Stephen Cronin
GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS: The goal of this class, Chad, is to help you be successful, today and in your future.
You’ll decide what makes you feel ‘successful’. This class has been created to give you
specific skills to help you reach your goals.
There are certain skills that have been proven to help all people become a ‘success’. The skills we’ll
focus on in this class are called ‘Life Skills’. These skills include:
• networking
• personal brand development
• collaboration
INTERPRETATION, OPINION •
•
empathy
presentation: written, oral and behavioral
“This text is not fact, rather the view of one author; • risk management
consequently, it should not be automatically accepted as • creativity
‘truth’. Two time Pulitzer Prize winning historian and author, • leadership
Barbara Tuchman, stated ‘there is no such thing as a neutral • analysis; observation; listening;
or purely objective historian….without an opinion, a historian • basic computer skills
would simply be a ticking clock..…’
Your mission should be to determine the ‘truth’. Your challenge
These skills will be increasing in value in the 21st century. Jobs requiring these skills will grow 2
will be to explain why anyone should believe you.”
4 ½ times faster than ‘other’ jobs! In fact, The Employment Policy Foundation claims there won’t 5
be enough people with these critical skills to fill all the new jobs of the 21st century. While a
job doesn’t necessarily determine whether you’re ‘successful’, a job, career, or profession will
most likely determine how you’ll support yourself and the lifestyle you’ll live. You will be helped
understanding the connection between your ‘personal brand’ and how your brand creates op-
portunities for your success. Understanding ‘change’ and how to manage it will be important
too. Technology has and will continue to be the principal driver of ‘change’ in America and the
rest of the world; but, so will immigration, life expectancy, global competition, lifetime learning,
BELIEVABILITY ‘leadership’ and ‘hope’. The world is changing; getting you ready for the changes is our focus.
“It’s not a given, we acquiesce too quickly. Be respectfully This class concentrates on specific skills and behaviors
skeptical. Do your homework; check the record and the resume. to help you be the success you hope to be.
Ask the question – ‘should I trust this person as a credible My first question to you is:
source for the truth?’ Make it a prerequisite before embracing
the claims of anyone who professes to have the ‘answers’.” • are you ready to work on these skills and behaviors,
right now?
I understand if some of you are not ready to commit to the work of this class; you prob-
ably have other pressing issues. If you can’t commit, please find another class. For those
choosing to stay, I expect you to work as hard I do by coming to school, ON TIME, attend-
ing class, completing assignments, and showing up to some of our events. I am commit-
ted to your growth and success. I expect the same commitment from you. Thank You.
(1)
“The 2020 Workplace: How Innovative Companies, Attract, Develop, and Keep Tomorrow’s Employees Today”
“.....If you don’t change, you become extinct...” “Lead, follow or get out of the way!”
Thomas Paine. American Revolutionary.
6 Lee Kuan Yew 7
“The world is now tilting more to the right, that is, east rather than
west. China has returned to become the planet’s centrifugal force with
its emerging neighbors in tow.
“to improve is to change; The west, on the other hand,
8 9
to be perfect is to change often.” namely the United States and the European countries of
England, France, Germany and other Euro members,
wrestle with the consequences.
Winston Churchill
The impact of this global restructuring is now unfolding.”
Moi
Preface some people who want to be behind
the wheel, responsible for which way
and who’ll they’ll ultimately become. ‘success’ can be fleeting,
all but a brief
the proverbial bus is going. Most of us want ‘success’‘. We want to
moment in life.
Change. feel ‘fulfilled’, pleased about who we
They want to sit are. This
We speak about it a lot in our ‘Life in the big seat,
Skills’ class, not because it’s interest- in front, behind the wheel. feeling of ‘success’
ing, which it is, but because it’s a ne- or ‘fulfillment’
cessity for life time success and sur- They want a say in the destination often comes from
vival. and what they’ll experience along the the satisfaction of
way. They want a say in the life they’ll what we’re doing in life.
“Survival? live, the things they do and the people
Sounds drastic, they meet. Drivers want to chart the
Mr Cronin. course, decide what roads to take and
manage the ‘changes’ they’ll encoun-
Come on; we’re talking about ‘change’ ter along the way. They want to deter-
one time high school, college and professional basketball star, Alan Iverson,
not ‘death’. Aren’t you taking this a mine their destiny and not leave it to earned millions of dollars along the way yet eventually found himself bank-
rupt at age 35. In November 2010, Kate Fagan, a 76ers beat writer for the
little too far? “ someone else. Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper reported that Iverson was “broke” and heav-
ily in debt. At a divorce proceeding in Atlanta in 2012, Iverson shouted to his
estranged wife, Tawanna, “I don’t even have money for a cheeseburger!” She
handed him $61”. (Wikipedia)
10 You know, Chad, you might be They want to decide 11
right,........ for you. But for others, I the experiences they’ll live
know with great certainty, change is
critical. Like everything else in life,
it’s a matter of perspective,
that is, it’s about how you live your life
and what you want out of it. Edsel was an automobile planned, developed, and manufactured with great ex-
pectations by the Ford Motor Company in 1958, 1959, and 1960. The Edsel never
gained popularity with American car buyers and sold poorly. The Ford Motor
Company lost millions of dollars on the Edsel’s development, manufacturing and
Some people Malala Yousafzai at the international
Girl Summit in 2014
marketing. The very word “Edsel” became a popular symbol for failure
don’t want to be History is replete with momentary
a passenger Our jobs. Our relationships. Our success stories; a hero today, a nobody
on life’s bus; standard of living. How we live tomorrow; from ‘gotta have’ to ‘don’t
they want to drive! our life. Who we have become. want’; popularity, wealth and riches
only to be followed by unanticipated
Some people don’t want others to de- We know from the lives of others we misfortune in the form of a relation-
cide their future, i.e. where they will observe or read about that ship breakup, a job loss or company
go or what they’ll be in life. There are Classically trained cellists, Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser, decided to change
bankruptcy, poverty even shame.
their career course to become pop and rock artists in 2011. They released
three successful rock albums and have performed before large audiences all
over the world.
Anticipating the future and taking the
measured risks to ensure its success or
Where in the world It’s the reason why some refer to Sin-
gapore as a city state. It’s found off the
avoid its catastrophe is what ‘change
agents’ do. According to Jack Welch,
is Singapore? southern part of the continent of Asia
separated from the country of Malay-
one of the 21st century’s best com- Singapore is an island. It’s a relatively sia by a narrow body of water called
pany leaders at the General Electric small place, only 277 square miles. the strait of Johor. Singapore finds
Corporation, ‘change agents’ have the That makes it itself south of the countries of China,
curiosity and ability to ‘look around Viet Nam, India, Cambodia, Laos,
corners to see into the future’. Steve Thailand and Myanmar (Burma) and
Jobs had a similar saying, borrowed smaller than
from hockey great, Wayne Gretsky. “I New York City
skate to where the puck is going to be,
not where it is.” in land area. If you combine the land
of the Rhode Island cities of Provi-
This text is yet another story about dence, Cranston, Warwick, Foster/
‘change’ and the agents who envision Gloucester, Burriville and Situate,
it and lead others to it. More specifi- you’d have the size of the country of
cally, Singapore. It’s
Steve Jobs, co-Founder of Apple, was essentially ‘fired’ from his company in
this is the story of more like a city
12 1985. In 1996, Jobs returned to find his former company with its brand in de-
but officially a country. 13
cline, depreciating stock value with millions of dollars in financial losses. Jobs
began collaborating with Apple Vice President of Industrial Design, Jonathan Ive, the country of Singapore
to create a number of successful products, including the IPod and IPhone, restor-
ing Apple’s brand to prominence and making Apple the most valuable company
in the world.
and its
irrepressible and passionate
‘change agent’,
This is where the concept of ‘change
agent’ reveals its saving value to peo- Lee Kuan Yew.
ple, companies and the organizations
like schools they’re a part of.
‘Change agents’ are
visionaries.
They’re people
who look
to the future
to determine
what they should be doing
in the
present.
The Port of Singapore is the world’s second-busiest port in terms of total shipping tonnage. It ships a fifth of the world’s shipping containers and a significant
percentage of the world’s supply of refined oil.
north of the large island of Indonesia to turn oil companies’ crude oil into
14 and the continent of Australia. It is lo- gasoline, heating oil and other refined 15
cated at the crossroads of one of the products. When Singapore started re- no oil, lumber, or gold, people have a job. Most Singapor-
busiest shipping seaways in the world. fining oil, oil companies didn’t have to and very little fresh water. eans work at least 45 hours per week
In other words, ship their crude oil to refineries far- at their jobs. A person’s work ethic
ther away. Their shipping costs were Most of Singapore’s drinking water is held in high regard. The country
perfect geography reduced and profits increased. The has to be imported from Malaysia. claims jobs are earned through merit,
Singapore government Singapore must earn money in oth- by one’s work ethic and performance,
for an international port.
er ways to optimize the potential of not through family, political or union
used the money their geography like banks, refineries connections or other forms of crony-
Realizing this opportunity, Lee nego-
and other businesses. The plan has ism.
tiated deals with major, international they were now earning from
oil companies who were shipping refineries in Singapore worked!
their crude oil through Singapore to Corruption among politicians
to build
refineries farther away to be refined. Singapore is one of the is rare
a world class with dire consequences
richest countries
Lee invested in infrastructure and for anyone caught
in the world.
the construction of education system.
oil refineries One out of six Singaporean house- taking bribes or stealing government
Singapore has holds are millionaires! The unemploy- funds. According to a March 2015
in Singapore Atlantic Magazine article, “each year,
ment rate is 2% which means most
no natural resources; the World Bank produces GovernanceSingapore’s popular by design” according to Singa-
porean Tino Chow.
population is one of the
most diverse There are several public holidays dur-
ing the year, many celebrating the
in the world.
cultures of the many different ethnic
groups within the Singaporean popu-
It’s official population in 2014 was
lation: Indian, Malay, Chinese and
5,469,700; 3,343,000 (61.12%) were
many western groups like English,
citizens and while the remaining
Dutch and American.
2,126,700 (38.88%) were permanent
residents (527,700) or foreign stu-
Because the island of Singapore is so
dents, foreign workers or dependants
small, most people live in high rise,
(1,599,000).
government subsidized apartments.
Yet, the government has dedicated
Racial and religious harmony more than 10% of the available land
is stressed for parks and nature reserves.
by the government.
Singapore has one of the best public
Lee encouraged Singapore’s diverse school systems in the world boasting
16 Indicator metrics on government effec- only 8 percent ethnic groups to live together in the some of the highest scores on inter- 17
tiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, of Singaporeans same neighborhoods and work co- national tests. There is standardized
and control of corruption. Singapore
believe operatively. He mandated English as testing at each stage of a student’s ed-
leads the United States by a significant the official language of the country as ucation.
margin on each of these measures. their government
a way of unifying the country while
Singapore’s widest lead over both the is corrupt.”
mandating a second language, the lan- Singaporean students
United States and comparable nations guage of a person’s ethnic group, as a
comes in the prevention of corruption Illegal drug use is rare as a result of ranked first
person’s second language. “English is
and graft. Singapore scores in the top Singapore’s mandatory death penalty
10 for honest government while the for many drug related offenses.
United States ranks 20 countries lower
on the list in the bottom third. Accord- Singapore has
ing to the one of the lowest
crime rates in the world.
2014 Gallup World Poll,
85 percent of Americans According to a recent Atlantic Maga-
see “widespread” corruption zine article, “a citizen is 24 times more
in their government; likely to be murdered in the United
while States than in Singapore”.
photo of the Bishan and Ang Mo Kio housing projects in Singapore. A beautiful and well kept park separates both building complexes.in the 2011 Trends in International with one of four local languages: Man- poreans reported that they struggled to
Mathematics and Science Study. Sin- darian Chinese (65%), Malay (17%) afford food or shelter, by far the lowest
gapore students consistently rank in and Tamil (4%). percentage in the world. In 2013,
the top five in the world in mathemat-
ics, science, and reading scores. Most Bloomberg Business News
Singaporeans are Singaporeans are some of the world’s judged Singapore
most healthy people. Only
“the world’s Singapore American school
bilingual,
10% healthiest country”; Soup kitchens do exist, but foreign la-
English
of Singapore’s population the United States bourers are often first in line..... Disad-
being
is considered was ranked 33. vantaged families receive support for
the most common language their utilities and additional subsidy
(80%) obese Severe poverty is rare in Singapore, for health care. Singapore also pro-
compared to 36% yet, the vides more education support for the
in the United States children of disadvantaged families, so
government does not that a cycle of poverty does not arise.”
(according to the Centers for Disease have a welfare system
Control and Prevention).
similar to
Chad, what do you think about Sin-
Life expectancy the United States; gapore?
18 instead, Singapore believes 19
in Singapore is 80 for males
and 85 for females, each person Let’s take a few moments now to find
the 4th highest in the world has the responsibility out how Singapore became the coun-
compared to to earn and save for a lifetime try it is today. In the process, let’s
acceptable living standard. compare Singapore’s quality of life to
the United States the United States as we read the next
ranking of several pages.
Most people who want jobs have jobs.
#36
(79.8 males and 82.2 females) accord- The government does,
ing to The World Health Organization however,
in 2012. Singapore has the lowest in- provide support for
fant mortality rates in the world. At- affordable housing,
lantic Magazine, in a comparison be- health care, education
tween Singapore and the United States
in the March 2015 edition, claimed “a
and job training.
Sports are popular in Singapore. There are professional basketball and soccer child born in the United States has
leagues. Horse racing and Formula 1 auto racing are also popular. Cricket, According to a 2010 Economist maga-
swimming, sailing, table tennis, badminton, water skiing, kayaking and scu- three times the chance of dying in in-
ba diving attract considerable participation. zine story, “public housing is in good
Wong Wei Long is a popular Singaporean born professional basketball play- fancy as a child in Singapore.... And
er shown in the white uniform above playing for the Singapore Slingers shape; no slums are allowed to fester. The fountain is called the ‘Merlion’ in Merlion Park near the Singapore CBD.
team. The 5’ 9” player earned the nickname “Singapore assassin” for his in 2012, less than 1 percent of Singa- The Merlion is a well-known tourist symbol of Singapore.
long range shooting prowess.British East India Company, island was a poor, underdeveloped,
establishing a trading post mostly swamp filled area. There were
approximately 1,000 people living on
in Singapore.
the island of Singapore prior to this
treaty, mostly native Malays along
The British East India company was
with a handful of Chinese. By 1860,
owned by rich English merchants
the population grew to over 80,000
and aristocrats. The company owned
when the English developed the is-
ships and had its own army to protect
land into a critically located trading
its interests throughout the world.
and shipping center. More than half
The
the people were soon Chinese. Many
immigrants came to work on the rub-
British East India Company ber plantations on the island. After
eventually accounted for the 1870s, the island became a global
half of the world’s trade leader in the export of rubber.
especially in
Lee Kuan Yew in 1955.
cotton, silk, indigo dye, salt, During World War 2,
saltpetre, tea and opium. the Japanese army
If there is a person in Singapore’s his- when the Sultan leader of the Malay- took control of Singapore
20 tory sian state of Johor in southern Malay- The company ultimately governed after defeating the British 21
sia, signed an agreement with a pri- many of England’s colonial territories army
similar to America’s vate British company, the in Asia. Around 1770s, when the East
India company was loosing money,
at the Battle of Singapore.
George Washington, the company leaders asked the British
Lee Kuan Yew government for financial help. The The Japanese army murdered thou-
would unquestionably be British Parliament decided to raise sands of Singaporeans during their
that person. money for the East India Company occupation of the island. The Japanese
by taxing all tea shipped to America military secret police committed nu-
When Singapore faced its darkest except tea shipped by the East India merous atrocities against the people
hours in the early years of its modern Company. This tax essentially made of Singapore. The
history in 1964, Lee Kuan Yew stepped East India tea much less expensive
forward to save the country by rally- that other teas sold in the American Japanese army introduced
ing its people to follow his plan and colonies. American colonists quickly a system of terror
his code of conduct for personal and responded with the Boston Tea Party
national success. on December 16, 1773. to get rid of anyone thought to be
anti-Japanese. A massacre unfolded
Singapore’s By 1824, the entire island of Singa- claiming the lives of 25,000 to 50,000
international importance pore became a British possession un- Chinese people living in Singapore
der a new treaty with the Sultan. The and Malaysia. The victims were of-
began around 1819
Lee Kuan Yew in 2002ten rounded up and taken to deserted as well as a clerk in his grandfather’s The Japanese were finally defeated and Lee decided that Singapore
spots around the island and executed. friend’s company—a textile importer. Singapore liberated by the combined must eventually
Japanese military leaders also estab- At one point during the occupation, Allied armies of England and America
govern itself.
lished a network of spies around the Lee was asked by a Japanese soldier to in 1945.
island to help them identify those join a group of Chinese men at a sepa-
who might undermine their control. rate location. A suspicious Lee, whose Life under Japanese military rule had England ruled Singapore until 1955
Informers were well-paid by the Japa- ancestors were Chinese, knew of the a profound impact on Lee Kuan Yew. when they turned over control to the
nese and had no fear of being arrested. animosity the Japanese occupiers had Singapore people and its first leader,
Lim Yew Hock.
Japanese soldiers patrolled the streets for Chinese so he quickly asked per- The Japanese occupation
forcing Singaporeans to bow to them mission to go to his home first to col- of Singapore
when they passed by. Those who failed lect his clothes before going with the Lee Kuan Yew became a member of
changed Lee the ‘socialist’ People’s Action Party
to do so would be slapped or beaten Japanese soldier; the Japanese soldier
and some people would be taken away. agreed. Lee did not return to meet the (PAP) in 1954 which had strong ties
Japanese soldier. He fled. in a number of ways. He vowed never to the pro-communist trade unions.
to submit to a foreign influence in de- In the national elections of 1959, Lee’s
Lee Kuan Yew party won 43 of the 51 seats in the leg-
termining Singapore’s future. He also
worked as an interpreter Lee eventually learned islative assembly. Singapore gained
reflected on best practices for running
for the Japanese army he was to be murdered a country. Not that he ever consid- self-government in all state matters
during their occupation of with other Chinese ered using the horrific and inhumane except defence and foreign affairs
Singapore by the Japanese army. tactics of the Japanese military during which were overseen by the British.
22 their occupation of Singapore, but the Lee became the first Prime Minister 23
Japanese military occupation of Singapore taking over from Chief
Minister Lim Yew Hock.
made him reflect
Lee soon questioned whether Singa-
on the use of power
pore could survive as an independent
and nation. Indonesia and other regional
a criminal justice system countries were intimidating and Sin-
to ensure compliance gapore had little leverage to create
with a support and protection. He asked
country’s laws. ‘why would anyone want Singapore as
an ally’? When Malayan Prime Min-
Lee emigrated to England after the ister
war to go to college. He returned to
Singapore in 1949 to work as a lawyer. Tunku Abdul Rahman
proposed a union of
The British regained control of Singa- former British territories
pore, with American help, in 1945. to include
Malaysia, Singapore,
the charismatic Lee speaking at a public rally in the 1970sand Sarawak in 1961, Lee felt a responsibility for his coun- regardless of race or ethnicity. No ra- this means a man is loyal to his father
try. cial or ethnic discrimination would be and mother, faithful to his wife, brings
Lee campaigned for the union as a way He decided to become tolerated. According to an Economist up his children well, treats his friends
to end British colonial influence and March 28th, 2015 article properly and he is a good, loyal citizen
an ‘agent of change’
of his country.........”. Lee’s
increase the value of to save it. Lee immediately began “the race riots
Singapore’s brand preparing Singapore for independent, that erupted in Singapore “Asian values” of
stand alone status in the international in the 1960s family, diligence, education
within their geographic region. In community of nations by colored Lee’s thinking and obedience to authority
1963, Singapore became part of the
for the rest of his life.” were perfectly suited
new Federation of Malaysia. creating
for unifying a poor, vulnerable
a new Singaporean brand He realized he had to find some way
Race riots soon followed. 23 people former European colony
built upon of unifying his diverse country of dif-
were killed and hundreds injured as
Chinese and Malays attacked each a code of conduct ferent races and religions who had
aspiring to be independent, safe and
other. founded on successful according to Orville Schell
Confucian and British in a Wall Street Journal retrospective
Two years later in 1963, principles. on Lee in March of 2015. In another
Singapore was expelled retrospective column by the New York
24 Times in March of 2115, its Editorial 25
from the Malaysian union He demanded men be “gentlemen” by
Board acknowledged Singapore’s post
by Malaysia’s leader. showing respect to all Singaporeans
colonial success relative to the disas-
ters of other former European colo-
Lee was crestfallen. He feared for nies like Cambodia, Nigeria, Burma
Singapore’s future as a stand alone, and Libya. Any behavior perceived by
independent country again. Lee tried Lee Kuan Yew in 1965
Prime Minister Lee as offensive, dis-
to work out a compromise but with- respectful or harmful to the Singapor-
out success. The failure of the merger previously been hostile to each other. ean community or Singapore’s inter-
with Malaysia saddened Lee who be- It was at this time Lee introduced the national brand would have criminal
lieved the union with Malaysia was Confucian philosophy to bring all Sin- consequences. Unacceptable behav-
critical for Singapore’s long term sur- gaporeans together. “The ior included spitting in public, graffiti,
vival. In a televised press conference, littering, not flushing public toilets af-
Confucianist belief ter use, vandalism and inconsiderate
Lee fought back tears is loud music as well as major offenses
society works best like selling of illegal drugs and dishon-
est politics. He also mandated that all
as he announced the separation from when Singaporeans had to vote and enacted
Malaysia and full independence of every man
Singapore. aggressive laws to ensure honest and
aims to be fair elections.
a gentleman....
Lee Kwan YewEnding corruption in tors and terrorists. As a result, he im- the nation and the families who live current Prime Minister of
the Singapore government mediately invested in the Singapore in it. Singaporeans are proud people Singapore,
Armed Forces (SAF) and requested by design.”
became a priority. Lee Hsein Loong,
help from other countries, like Israel,
for advice, training and facilities. Lee At the same time, Lee realized Sin- earns $1.7 million per year.
Lee established an agency, the Cor-
gapore’s vulnerable location among
rupt Practices Investigation Bureau To make sure Singapore’s economy
(CPIB), to conduct arrests, searches introduced a draft hostile and competing nations. He
not only survived but grew and com-
of all able-bodied male believed for Singapore to be safe and
and investigation of bank accounts peted in the evolving, internet-centric
successful, the smartest, most intelli-
and income-tax returns of suspected Singaporean citizens global economy, Lee Kuan Yew made
gent and honest citizens must serve in
persons and their families. If found age 18 and above sure Singapore had
the government. To ensure this goal,
guilty of corruption, imprisonment
he established guidelines for
and deportation would be potential to serve National Service (NS) either business friendly regulations
consequences. in the Singapore Armed Forces, Sin- government leaders and the
gapore Police Force or the Singapore least amount of corruption
In 1965, Singapore joined the United to be paid
Civil Defence Force. According to
Nations and later founded the Asso- high wages in the world
Singaporean friend, Tino Chow, “Na-
ciation of Southeast Asian Nations
tional Service has been a powerful tool in order to maintain to encourage companies
(ASEAN) in 1967 with four other
for the government to instill national an effective from all over the world
southeast Asian countries. to do business
pride and identity. National service is and
26 an extension of the idea that everyone in Singapore. 27
honest government.
Lee was always concerned has a part to play to build and protect
the young country Today, Singapore boasts one of the
of Singapore world’s most successful economies
was vulnerable with more
to threats
from powerful neighbors than 7,000 multinational
corporations
like Indonesia and communist agita-
Lee Kuan Yew (left) shaking hands with his son and present Singapore
Prime Minister, Lee Hsein Loong. In comparison to Prime Minister
Loong’s $1.7 million compensation, US President Obama’s 2014 annual
compensation was $395,000.
In 1994, Lee proposed to link the sala-
ries of ministers, judges, and top civil
servants to the salaries of top profes-
sionals in private companies, arguing
this would help recruit and retain tal-
ent to serve in the public sector. TheWhile Lee was concerned about a ity between rich and poor would ac- As a result, Lee invested in Singa-
strong infrastructure and skilled tually harm Singapore’s economy and pore’s infrastructure and the nation
workforce to help Singapore create citizens according to Lee. Rather than and its people successfully competed
jobs and grow its economy, Singapore redistribute income from the rich to with larger countries like America
does not have a minimum wage. Lee the poor of Singapore to lessen in- and China in the global marketplace.
believed a minimum wage would make equality, When a country like
it harder to attract great companies to
Singapore. While there is a widening Lee claimed Singapore is more
gap in income between Singapore’s
money invested in competitive internationally,
richest and poorest, Lee believed
the nation’s infrastructure more opportunities for
equality of opportunity like roads, ports, jobs and wealth
is more important education system, are created
for Singaporeans high speed rail, for
and Singapore universal internet, all Singaporeans.
than water resources and
clean energy Some American economists, like Ty-
equality of income.
would better serve all ler Cowen, agree. “Focusing on in-
equality draws us to redistribution
Raising taxes on companies and Singapore’s people - whereas a mobility focus is more con-
28 wealthy citizens to narrow the dispar- 29
rich, middle class and poor. ducive to ideas of wealth creation” for
from the United States, Japan, and Eu-
rope with offices in Singapore. There
are also approximately 1,500 compa-
nies from China and a similar number
from India. Foreign companies are
found in almost all sectors of Singa-
pore’s economy. Many of the world’s
richest people have also moved to
Singapore because of its low income
tax rates. Singapore is home to in-
ternational banks and a vibrant stock
market. The island nation has the sec-
ond largest casino in the world. Sin-
gapore is one of the world’s top three
oil-refining centers, the world’s larg-
est oil-rig maker and a major hub for
ship repair services. Singapore is an
education hub with many foreign stu-
dents studying there.tivation to perform and succeed.” The
opportunity to attend great schools
for a world class education while living
in a racially diverse, safe and healthy
society with exceptional health care,
broadband internet access, highways,
ports and high speed trains should en-
able most Singaporeans with a strong
work ethic to find good paying, fulfill- the 2nd most expensive building in the world, the Marina Bay Sands in
Singapore
business people at lunch break in Singapore ing jobs to be successful according to
individuals and a nation. This is the Lee. To protect
reason why Singapore invests in its Singapore’s security
world class port, airport and schools Singapore has near and hard earned
and not replicating America’s welfare full employment
system. Lee believed American style
economic success,
welfare is too expensive and forces Lee created a
with one of the lowest unemployment
America to borrow too much money highly regulated society
rates in the world (2%) in 2015.
to support it. Tax money would be
better spent on infrastructure, schools with severe criminal penalties for ac-
Singapore does, in fact, subsidize
and internet access. Lee claimed tivities considered fairly harmless in
30 housing, health care and education, A display of rattan judicial canes from the Johor Bahru Prison museum, 31
American welfare discourages people America and western European coun- Malaysia.
not the same level as America, but at
from working hard and persevering tries like England, Sweden and France.
a basic level to help its citizens take caning as a punishment for many of
to create their own wealth opportuni-
advantage of the country’s education these aforementioned offenses.
ties. “Honesty, meritocracy, multi-ra- and employment opportunities. Ac- Singapore
cialism, fairness in rewards according cording to The Economist magazine, criminalized Caning is
to one’s contributions to society. This is Lee’s “public housing policy is one of the failure to a form of
why welfare and subsidies destroy mo- Singapore’s greatest success stories.” flush public toilets
It not only reinforced Lee’s credo of
corporal punishment
after use, where an
universal Singaporean respect but it
“also prevented discrimination against littering, appointed administrator
poor Malays and Indians to help them graffiti, uses a stiff reed or stick
avoid a life in a ghetto.” vandalism, to ‘hit’
jaywalking, a convicted offender
Singapore has and the across the
the world’s sale of chewing gum. offender’s bare or clothed
highest percentage of buttocks
millionaires. No penalty has arguably created more
or
questioning than Singapore’s practice
Lee Kuan Yew
of caning. Singaporean courts order the palm of the hand,one ‘hit’ every 10 or 15 seconds, in a sentenced on March 3, 1994 to four “Some freedoms, like freedom of the
sequestered environment usually be- months in jail, a fine of 3,500 Singa- press, had to be sacrificed......
hind the walls of a prison. The size pore dollars, and
and flexibility of the cane as well as the A liberal democracy
number of the strokes vary from a cou- like America
ple of light strokes with a small cane six strokes of the cane would not work
across the seat of a schoolboy’s trou- for graffiti and vandalism.
sers or palm to 24 very hard, wounding in Singapore.....
cuts on the bare buttocks with a large, Freedom of the press, Port of Singapore
heavy, soaked rattan. Singaporean freedom of expression Economic success
law allows caning to be ordered with must be subordinate and social order
a prison sentence for over 35 offences, to the needs of
including hostage-taking, kidnapping, fully justify
the integrity whatever state controls
robbery, gang robbery, murder, drug
abuse, vandalism, rioting and unlaw- of Singapore” were necessary.”
ful possession of weapons. Caning Lee stated.
is also a mandatory punishment for Singapore police mortorcyclists
Journalists and Singaporean citizens
rape, drug trafficking, illegal money- critical or opposed to Lee’s govern-
lending, and for visiting foreigners ment policies were often imprisoned,
Lee was seemingly always concerned
who overstay their visa by more than detained or sued into bankruptcy.
32 about racial tensions in his ethnically 33
90 days (a measure designed to deter The government also censored music,
diverse country. Even as many in the
illegal immigrant workers). According films and other art considered ‘unde-
world perceived life in Singapore as
to a Wikipedia reference, USA Today sirable’.
peaceful, successful and harmoni-
reported that caning often involved
ous, Lee’s government behaved like
“bits of flesh flying with each stroke” Besides rigid controls over the press,
the country was always on the brink
during caning for crimes like rape and Lee Kuan Yew and President Barack Obama
Lee took steps to control Singapore’s
of rebellion. His goal was always to
robbery. In 2007, there were 6,404 population within the limited space of
“transform Singapore from a cesspool
canings in Singapore. Since 2007, the As Wall Street Journal, long time the island’s 277 square miles. He cre-
of squalor and degradation to a mod-
number of caning sentences has de- Singapore observer, Orville Schell, ated legislation so that
ern, industrialized country” accord-
clined to just 2,500. Some people by wrote in 2015, Lee felt some individ-
ing to a BBC report after his death in
law can not be canned; men over 50 ual rights had to be sacrificed for the
2015. “To do this, he maintained tight parents were charged
and all women. good of the country; “the
political control over every aspect of higher taxes
the country making it one of the most for having more
An infamous caning case regulated countries in the world. ...” curtailment
involved American born, of one freedom than
Michael Fay. As a result, certain liberties enjoyed sometimes 2 children.
in western countries like the United best assures
Fay pleaded guilty to vandalizing States, France, England, and Canada Lee later reversed these taxes when
the advancement Singapore’s population became dan-
cars and stealing road signs. Fay was were not extended to Singaporeans.
of others..... gerously below population replace-ment levels threatening Singapore’s created. He admittedly had his crit- “We were creating a country out of a And, in a 2010 Economist Magazine
long term prosperity that Lee worked ics as well as admirers. While some in collection of diverse immigrants from article, several Singaporeans also
so hard to create and preserve. the western media have criticized his China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and weighed in on Lee’s legacy:
apparent dictator style of government several other parts of Asia” according
Lee also and ‘inhuman’ penal system, others to Lee. When I die, “close the coffin,
established measures are praiseworthy. Through the praise then decide” how I did; in other words, “Singapore definitely
to protect
and criticism, Singapore remains does not have
steadfast and an economic power in history will determine my a perfect system.
Singapore’s today’s global economy quite differ- legacy.
environment. ent from the third world poverty and
vulnerability that was Singapore in the Lee had said on another occasion as But I’m proud of
1960s. reported by Aljazeera America, the achievements of
my country.
“I did some sharp things and “We would not have made
hard things economic progress Like it or not, it was the authorita-
to get things right.... if we had not intervened on tive ways of our leaders that brought
very personal matters — us to where we are today. Poverty and
I’m not saying everything crime DO still exist in our country. But
who your neighbor is,
Singapore Botanic Gardens
I dare say the government has done an
I did was right. how you live,
34 In an effort to alleviate traffic conges- awesome job in keeping them low. We 35
tion on Singapore streets and, in the the noise you make, already have a working system; we do
(Singapore’s future) how you spit not need to follow a failing Western
process, raise tax revenues, Singa-
pore’s government permits only a lim- was at stake; or (like America and Europe) - Socialist
ited number of car licenses and charg- I wanted this place what language you use. model. Welfare is not always about
es motorists as much as 1.5 times the to succeed” Lee said. providing money. Welfare is also about
value of the car just to get the license! We decide what is right!” providing opportunities. Let me assure
You need the license before you can
buy the car.
As a result, buying a car
in Singapore is
very, very expensive!
Lee also launched Singapore’s first
tree-planting campaign by planting
mempat trees to beautify life in the
city of Singapore.
This is the Singapore Lee Kuan Yew Lee Kuan Yew
The Merlion symbol overlooking the Port of Singaporeyou the Singaporean system spoils the In contrast, the top schools in the US don’t tell us Singaporeans competition from countries with some
majority of its citizens. We enjoy the are dominated by the rich and the how to run this nation. of the most vibrant economies in the
best health-care system in the world. white who have only a superficial un- world; we have no hinterland or natu-
Universal medical insurance AND low derstanding of poverty and social in- It’s still our country. ral resources of our own to fall back on
hospital fees. I have been to the States, justice. At home and our future depends on being a dy-
to Europe, to Japan and Korea, and It’s no longer yours...” namic, well educated and self-reliant
nowhere else is world-class health care in Singapore, people who strive our utmost to excel
made affordable to all. Michael Eng Cheng Teo, a Singapor- and create wealth for ourselves, our
we walk our streets at night ean official, reinforced Lee’s philoso- families and our society. Each genera-
unmolested by crime.... phy: “Each society has to decide for tion must earn and save enough for its
itself the appropriate balance between entire life cycle.......
Here in the United States, unconditional welfare and self-reli-
I won’t even dream of ance.
we have substantial
walking downtown state subsidies for education,
once the Singapore has concluded
health care
sun goes down. we cannot afford
and public housing.
National University of Singapore American and European-style
state welfare, These are major investments that lift
the skills, promote health and increase
36 Our education is not because of dogma, but because our 37
the assets of all Singaporeans. The re-
top-notch circumstances are different. We face
and
free.
downtown Singapore
I disagree
with many things
Mr Lee’s (PAP) party does.
It’s why I vote
National University of Singapore (NUS) High School of Math and Science is a for the opposition.......
WORLD CLASS, specialised independent high school in Singapore offering a
six-year Integrated Programme (IP) leading to the NUS High School Diploma,
which is recognized by the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang
Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU)
and top AMERICAN universities in the Ivy League like Brown and Harvard, If you fly off to America or
and world class universities in England like Oxbridge and others.
The school offers an accelerated mathematics and science curriculum integrat-
ed with language, humanities, arts, sports, co-curricular activities, in a modu-
Europe,
lar system. It is the second specialized school in Singapore after the Singapore Lee Kuan Yew and Hillary Clinton in 2010
Sports School.sult has been high growth, low unem- So, what do you think, And,
ployment, high savings and the highest Chad? could it be From Barack Obama
home-ownership rates in the world.
possible to
Lee Kuan Yew was an admirer of the the United States Prime Minister
United States of America. Yet, he did Is would be Margaret Thatcher
not believe the American system of the code of conduct and of England
a safer, healthier,
government would have been condu- laws and penalties and
better educated,
cive to Singapore success in 1965 nor enacted by
today, in the 21st century. more prosperous country President Xi Jinging
Prime Minister
where people of all races of China,
Lee Kuan Yew
“ America’s media and creeds all routinely
justified by
beats us up got along better met
Singapore’s impressive
calling Singapore if with
success of the
dictatorial America adopted Prime Minister
world’s best schools,
and Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew.
the safest place to live,
authoritarian....
high median incomes, kind of government?
because we have complied
full employment,
38 with own ideas 39
the highest life expectancy Here’s what they’ve said:
of how Leaders from all over the world regu-
and harmony
we should govern ourselves. larly met with Lee Kuan Yew to listen
among to his perspective on world affairs.
diverse races
America has a
living in their country?
sense of
cultural superiority...
Is American democracy
Their ideas for East Asia the best government model
are theories, for every country
not proven. in the world
I do not believe regardless of
the American system is a country’s
either desirable or history, culture
affordable or geography?
for Singapore.”
Lee Kuan Yew (left) and President Barack Obama in 2009President Barack Obama: John Chambers, On March 23, 2015,
Chairman and CEO Lee Kuan Yew
“Lee is one of the legendary of Cisco: died
figures of Asia in the 20th and at the age of 91.
21st centuries. He is someone “There are 2 equalizers in life:
who helped trigger the Asian the Internet and education! Lee He spent more than 5 decades in the
service of his country, Singapore,
economic miracle”. Kuan Yew is a world leader who including 31 years as the country’s
10/29/2009 understands this fact and is us- Prime Minister until 1990. More than
ing the power of the Internet to a dozen foreign heads of state and gov-
President George W. Bush: position Singapore for survival ernment attended his funeral, includ-
ing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo
and success in the Internet Abe, Indian Prime Minister Narendra
“In my long life, I have encoun- economy.” Modi, South Korean President Park
tered many bright, able people. 2000 Geun-hye and Australian Prime Min-
None is more impressive than ister Tony Abbott.
Lee Kuan Yew.”
2011
Former American president Newspaper announcing the passing of Lee
40 Bill Clinton 41
Robert Murdoch:
led
English Prime Minister, Tony Chairman and CEO
the U.S. delegation
Blair (1997 to 2007: of the at the funeral,
News
“Lee is the smartest leader I Corporation. which included former secretary of
think I ever met.” state Henry Kissinger, a close friend of
2010 “Lee Kuan Yew transformed Mr. Lee’s. Vice President Li Yuanchao
represented China. lines of mourners waiting up to 10 hours to pay their respects at Lee Kuan
what was the poor, decrepit col- Yew’s public wake
Chinese President Xi Jinping: ony of Singapore into a shinning, The question of our time will be -
rich and modern metropolis - all
“You have my admiration, Mr the time around hostile powers. will Singapore
Lee. Our country will never With his brilliant intellect, he is remain as
forget the important contribu- one of the world’s most outspo- Lee Kuan Yew
tion you have made to the China ken and respected statesman.” created it?
- Singapore relationship.” 2000 The casket of the late Lee Kuan Yew during the state funeral service at the
National University of Singapore’s University Cultural Centre on Sunday.
Ministry of Communications and Information of Singapore/Getty Images
2011 Time will tell.The Words of
Lee Kuan Yew
“Different races, cultures, religious, languages and histories require different paths to
democracy and the free market.”
“the Confucianist belief is society works best
when every man aims to be a gentleman....
this means a man is loyal to his father and mother, faithful to his wife, brings up his children
well, treats his friends properly and
he is a good, loyal citizen of his country.........
“society takes priority over the interests of the individual...”
“my colleagues and I realize how we benefited from the tough times in the early years of
Singapore. We met street thugs. Had we not become streetwise, we would have been clobbered.”
42 “I learned since 1973 that human beings and societies are fragile.......
43
I also realize that people can be made to do better........ ”
“we must not lose our original languages and cultures and basic strengths. They should not be
changed unless absolutely necessary. Honesty, meritocracy, multi-racialism, fairness in re-
wards according to one’s contributions to society. This is why welfare and subsidies destroy the
motivation to perform and succeed.”
“China’s stagnation in the 1700s was caused by its arrogance and complacency. The Emperor
Qian Long refused to learn from the West. China paid the price for this arrogance with 200
years of decline.”
“Singaporeans want a striving, acquisitive community. We must have a desire to improve. We
must equate rewards to performance......”
“A privileged society based on rank and wealth must give way to a society where people are
rewarded according to their ability and their contributions to society. Everyone should not be
given equal rewards but equal opportunities. Society should make it worth people’s while to
give their best....”You can also read
