How can there be lessons from the past when different people draw diametrically opposite lessons from their long working relationship with LKY? Even his children seem to disagree with each other. The elder son has not come to a firm conviction about the house which at least half, possibly lots more think his father wanted it torn down. No, the man is alive as with anyone is, you let him explain and do not second guess him. Now he is gone, can you interpret him when in life you do not but check with him? How do you hope read him correctly? You might not succeed with a regular guy, what is the chance of doing the same with a genius? History informs us that societies have regularly failed to continue the legacy of the great leader once he is gone. We learn what we can and make up the rest ourselves.
Now we read the great man not with our thought but our hearts. Science have caught up with the faith books on this - our thoughts are directed solely by our hearts. Anyone can easily cherry pick quite a few sayings and speeches from LKY to support either an optimistic or pessimistic case. People regularly do the same to their religious scripture too. The words and works LKY left us will be used or abused according to where our hearts lead us.
History is only a guide. It is not easy to draw lessons from history. If history is a treasure map then the terrain has changed and the treasure might also have. We have to update our maps and careful about getting it right whilst working together on it.
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