Ms Sun on Mr Lee’s legacy: I am a product of the late 1970s. At the edge of Gen X, not quite Gen Y.

孙燕姿-李光耀时代下的产物：我是1970年代的产物。在X世代的边缘，却不像Y世代。

Those in my generation have parents who are part of the “grateful old” – a term I coined not to offend, but in recognition of the fact that they had witnessed the transition from what was to what is under the rule of the PAP.

在我那一代的同辈们，都有着“心存感恩”的父母与长辈。我用这个词是为了不得罪人，但无可否认的，他们见证了在人民行动党的领导下所带来的改变。

But my peers and I grew up in a different era. We read English literature and watched American sitcoms. For us, leaders are not idolised, change is openly embraced and alternative opinions are often taken to be “cool” and to be a sign that one has personality.

但是，我和我的同辈都成长在不同的时代。我们阅读的是英国文学，看的是美国情景喜剧。对我们而言，领袖是不能被偶像化的，我们对变化抱持着开放的态度，接纳不同的意见被认为是一件很酷也很有个性的事。

As we entered the workforce, we heard phrases like “Lee dynasty” and “false democracy”.

当我们踏入社会，我们听到了一些名词，例如“李家王朝”和“假民主”。

Suddenly, it was deemed intellectual for one to have another opinion about the man behind the Singapore Story.

突然间，我们对这位新加坡领导人有了不一样的见解。

Human rights and freedom of the press were pressing issues of the day for my generation – not wealth or capitalism. Mr Nelson Mandela won universal reverence, as did Ms Aung San Suu Kyi. What about Mr Lee Kuan Yew?

在我的那个年代，财富和资本主义不是一个很重要的议题，而是人权与新闻自由。曼德拉和昂山素季得到了世人的敬仰。那李光耀先生呢？

In the midst of this, I remembered my father’s advice, that I should always strive to have a mind of my own.

在这中间，我想起来了父亲对我的教导，那就是我必须要有自己的主见。

I believed it took special insight, otherwise known as wisdom, that comes only with time, to pass judgments or form opinions. More so on a man. I remained circumspect then.

我相信这需要一定的洞察力，这种智慧会随着时间的推移，帮助我们做出决策与决定。对一个人来说也是如此。所以我时刻都保持谨慎。

Today, I do not see myself as a direct result of Mr Lee’s exceptional accomplishments. I do, however, look to the people whom I love the most as living testimonials of his legac

对我而言，我不认为今天的自己与李光耀有太直接的关系，我反而认为，在他的领导下为我和我爱的人带来更好的环境有更直接的关系。

My mother once lived in what was effectively an illegal opium den, but later moved into a beautiful HUDC apartment by working long hours and walking home to save on 25-cent bus trips.

我妈妈曾经住在非法的毒窟，后来她努力地加班赚钱，每天走路回家只为了省下25毛钱的巴士票，最后她如愿地搬到环境比较好的政府公寓。

My father washed dishes to pay for his doctoral studies, but later could afford to take us on holidays to Malaysia and eventually New Zealand.

我爸爸为了完成他的博士学位帮人打工洗碗，后来他有能力带我们一家人到马来西亚和新西兰旅游。

Eventually, my son will have a shot at making it to the best university in Asia.

He will be able to afford an HDB flat on his own and will enjoy beautiful greenery and waterways wherever he chooses to work or live in Singapore.

最终，我的孩子会有机会入读亚洲最好的大学。无论他选择在新加坡居住或工作，他都有能力居住在政府组屋，享受着这片美丽的土地。

He will not have to worry constantly about air pollution, clean water and two-hour-long traffic jams. And he will be secure in the knowledge that hard work, good ethics and a good education will get him somewhere.

他不需要担心空气污染问题，水源问题，和塞车问题。他能确保他的知识受到保护，他的努力，良好的职业操守，以及良好的教育能带领他到他想要的位置。

Perhaps these have come to be taken as basic expectations of many of my fellow Singaporeans. But these are needs that I have decided are important to me and my loved ones, now and for the future.

也许这也是大多数新加坡人的期许。但对我而言，这个期许对我和我爱的人都很重要，无论是现在还是未来。

I remember vividly my meetings with Mr Lee. Some were formal and austere, rather quiet and awkward – or at least in my imagination. But there were also fleeting moments of intimate friendliness and genuine warmth.

我清楚地记得我每一次与李光耀先生的见面。有时是正式场合，有时是安静带点尴尬的 – 也许只是我自己想像是尴尬的。但是我每次都能感受到他带来一丝真诚的温暖。

It was hard to not be in awe of this man. I remember thinking to myself: This must be what it feels like to be a fan.

你很难不对这个男人心生敬畏。我记得我心里说过：这就是粉丝面对偶像的心情吧。

I remember one incident when we were to be photographed together. As I kept a respectful distance, he impatiently asked me to move closer to him.

我记得有一次我们被安排一起拍照。我尊敬地对他保持一定的距离，但是他很耐心地让我站得离他近一点。

Another time, he was in good spirits and asked me jovially who was the lucky man whom I was married to.

还有一次他精神很好地问我，是哪个幸运的男人娶了我。

I like a smiling Harry. (This is how I address him – a rather rude way, I know, to speak to the founding father of Singapore, and therefore, I do it only in private.)

我喜欢微笑的哈利。（这样称呼新加坡的开国元老有点粗鲁，但我只在私底下这样称呼他）

注：Harry是李光耀的英文名

It felt like a very precious moment for me.

这对我来说是很珍贵的一刻。

I remember singing his wife’s favourite song, Que Sera Sera, at the Business China Awards in 2011, not long after her demise. (Senior Minister of State) Josephine Teo later told me in private that she saw tears in his eyes.

我记得在李光耀夫人逝世不久，我在2011年通商中国上演唱了李光耀夫人最爱的的Que Sera Sera。杨莉明（高级国务部长）后来私下告诉我，在我演唱时，她看到了李光耀的眼里含着泪水。

That was probably one of my proudest moments as a singer.

这是作为歌手最让人骄傲和光荣的时刻之一。

孙燕姿 写于2015年

再见，李光耀.......愿天堂安好，新加坡国运永昌......