Starting with our outpour of emotions and respect for the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, followed by our sportsmen doing us proud in Sea Games and finally witnessing a spectacular Jubilee NDP, I have never felt prouder to be a Singaporean. The feeling was especially strong while I was listening to PM Lee Hsien Loong's rally speech on 23 Aug. As with previous rallies, he started by recounting notable events in the past year, but this was a special year. The events he recounted were things that all Singaporeans can relate to, and will always remember. We have seen and heard many stories of how our pioneers fought and succeeded in building a democratic and sovereign nation based on principles of meritocracy, justice and incorruptibility. As someone who was fortunate to be born well after the unsettling periods, there are many things I assumed was the way of life. The reality ......