Comments on: A week of sadness – and hope

By: In memoriam, J B Jeyaretnam « Roderick’s Journal

In memoriam, J B Jeyaretnam « Roderick’s Journal — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:07:49 +0000

[...] A week of sadness – and hope (TOC) – in which Andrew Loh ruminates on his experiences around the events from JBJ’s wake to the weekend of his funeral. He mentions his response to the prime minister’s so-called condolence letter, the spontaneous singing of the Singapore national anthem at his cremation ceremony, and a hope that Singaporeans – more and more of us – carry on his legacy. [...]

By: Nan

Nan — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:46:58 +0000

Thank you for holding the Memorial, like the teacher said, I was too misled by media about JBJ and of other fear inflict upon us by the ruling party, now then I realised what a wonderful great man he is, to fight on behalf of the poor and oppressed which I only came to know after I read about him online after his passing. Thank you JBJ. I attended his wake, church service and service at mandai, yet I still feel a great sense of lost. A great good man is gone, its so unfair. Sorry for being a fool I am, JBJ please forgive me. I hope we can have a memorial for JBJ every year to commemorate his love for the people and his great sacrifice and work is he been doing all his life.

By: David Yap

David Yap — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:56:24 +0000

Dear Andrew,
Good Job and well done to help galvanised that “One drop” which eventually will arouse the sparks of Hope far and wide. So that in time to come it will be not just an ocean but a Tsunami to sweep across the nation to cleanse it (Kiasu and Kiasi mentality) to become a better place where alternative view are respected and not censor by the main stream.

By: Universe child

Universe child — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:43:05 +0000

Hi Andrew,

Just wanted to say that I share the same as how you felt about JBJ’s funeral service at St Andrew’s. Even before the sermon started, I wept as I watched clips of a younger JBJ with his wife and kids. Boy, was he dashing without his mutton chops. Like Philip said, he had a debonair air about it. My fave pic is of young JBJ in a car next to his wife, Margaret, flashing that mega watt smile – innocence of youth captured. I guess this makes it all the more painful when we know how much he suffered / soldiered later in life. He didn’t have to fight for human rights in Singapore, for principles of social justice, for the underdog – he could have had a more prosperous career as a lawyer – but he chose not to. It was his cross to bear. I shed tears not just because he’s gone, but because I rue the opportunity to know him. I could have talked to him more on the streets – but I didn’t. Finally, once a few years ago, I plucked up my courage to speak to him at Centrepoint. I saw a look familiar to me — someone who has gone through a lot of hardship, taken a lot of beatings, but still standing, still persevering. For some people – honour, justice, compassion and the love of God is far more important than money. JBJ was one of those people. Hope he’s happy with his Maker.

By: Rushking

Rushking — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:26:12 +0000

Hello Alex Au Rock,

what’s dong dong chang ??

By: Alex Au Rock!

Alex Au Rock! — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:06:24 +0000

but beware of dong dong chang events that may cause inconvenience. To avoid the dong dong chang, check the schedule of HLP bookings.

yesterday’s dong dong chang at HLP effectively disturbed the peaceful event.

By: Alex Au Rock!

Alex Au Rock! — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:04:19 +0000

To remember the late JBJ, I propose holding of discussions of social events every Saturday at HLP.

Once this becomes a regular fixture, each Saturday, many have a choice to come to HLP and listen to the speakers. A new culture can then be inculcated.
for this, we need many speakers ready to serve the people.

By: Clear eyed

Clear eyed — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:12:51 +0000

Thanks Andrew and the TOC team for the effort and hard work you put in to honour JBJ. He deserves no less. I am grateful to you for doing it on behalf of all Singaporeans.

By: patriot

patriot — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:27:56 +0000

Like to add that it is not going to be just a week of sadness for me, it is going to be disappointment for a long time.

patriot

By: patriot

patriot — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:24:57 +0000

Price of the Straits Times is not the issue, if only it could be politically neutral.

Do like to say here that I only see hope coming from the Singapore Youths, having been at the Memorial Vigil for Mr JB Jeyaretnam and the NTU Student Protest, I am utterly disappointed with most matured Singaporeans. I only saw a handful of people over their forties(in age) at both events.

I think the problem it is not only fear, the greatest problem is the Apathy of Singaporeans towards National Affairs.

patriot

By: Tew N S

Tew N S — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:04:35 +0000

Thanks TOC, an alternative source of media. I already abandoned ST not only because it treated unfairly to Sir JBJ, and also because it increased its price recently.

By: blackfeline

blackfeline — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:49:22 +0000

Excellent job!

By: theonlinecitizen

theonlinecitizen — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:36:38 +0000

Thanks, Rushkin.

The credit goes to everyone who turned up at the vigil, really. And to Melvin and Jacob for organising it as well.

Andrew

By: Rushking

Rushking — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:34:21 +0000

God bless you Andrew and your team for taking so much pain to honor Mr. JBJ with the vigil – the honor that he truly deserves. May Mr. JBJ rest in peace now.

By: theonlinecitizen

theonlinecitizen — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:11:56 +0000

Thanks, lips.

Great idea. I’ll do it now…

Andrew Loh

By: lips

lips — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:21:04 +0000

Thank you Andrew and the TOC team for all your coverage and organisation this week. Beautifully written piece.

Is it possible to create a sub-section of the TOC website that is accessible from the main page for all the JBJ coverage you had this past week? It would be good to have that in a sort of specific archive that was not mixed up with other previous content.