iTHINK - Issue 8

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History. Does, and should the past matter? I think it does, and should.

I first became intrigued by the past when I visited Egypt many years ago. The towering pyramids of Egypt fascinated me, but not as much as the beliefs of afterlife that lay as the foundation of these wonders of the world. In this issue, I share with you my journey into secret passageways inside these pyramids, revealing what (or who) lies beneath.

History teaches us about how quirky humans can get. Read the story about the young Chinese maiden who had to bind her feet, enduring unbelievable pain, at the tender age of six – just so that she would be able to find a rich suitor a few years later. In our article on spittoons, find out what old ladies in China, robust cowboys in North America and fine ladies in Europe had in common.

The past holds great lessons for us, too. From Adolf Hitler, we learn how a leader should not be, and from Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi, we learn about the true virtues of humankind. Of course, history is after all ‘his-story’, a version of the past according to one person or a group of people. It is naturally prone to be biased. That is why learning about history is a great lesson on learning to be a critical thinker. Do not believe everything blindly. Instead, learn to question to unveil the true reality for yourself.

This issue also finds inspiration from “a true giant of history” (US President Barack Obama, 2015) and Singapore’s highly-respected founding father, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Take a leaf or two from this visionary leader’s life as you read about the values that governed him.

I hope you love the read.