Amos Yee's mom pens heartfelt note on her son's birthday

'Thank you for your last few words to me before leaving Singapore.'

Belmont Lay | November 05, 2017, 03:12 AM

Amos Yee's mother, Mary Toh, who is usually guarded with what she says about her son in public, has penned an open heartfelt note.

It was published on her personal Facebook page on Oct. 31 -- on Yee's 19th birthday -- and partially addressed to her son, as well as a general audience.

Son's struggle

In it, Toh compared her son's two-and-a-half-year struggle -- from March 29, 2015 when he was first arrested to Sept. 26, 2017, when he won his asylum bid -- to the National Service that Singaporean males are obligated to take on.

She noted that this was a period where Yee spent his time in "police stations, state courts, prisons, mental institution, lawyers’ offices, detention centres and many unfamiliar places".

Toh also wrote that it pained her to see her son spend his 18th birthday last year in jail in Singapore.

Yee's date of birth is Oct. 31, 1998.

[related_story]

Still supportive

Despite Yee publicly lashing out against his mother on social media previously, it appears Toh is still very supportive of her son's chosen path and purpose.

She wrote that she is glad to see his "19th year of life is going to start fresh on a new chapter" and is also glad that he is "always taking things so positively".

Yee is currently residing in the United States having been successfully granted asylum.

Toh is also convinced of her son's humanistic outlook:

Thank you for reassuring me that the world is filled with kind-hearted people who will help one another in need. I start to see your belief that people become evil only when circumstances force them to be.

She also revealed what Yee told her before he left for the US:

Thank you for your last few words to me before leaving Singapore. You told me to spend time helping people instead of worrying for you or missing you. You said that if any mishap happens to you, you are ready to die without any regrets as you have already led a very fulfilling life. These words give me strength and relief.

Prior note

On Oct. 27, Toh had also published an earlier note saying she is proud to have brought her son into the world.

In this earlier note, she mentioned that Halloween -- which falls annually on Oct. 31 and coincides with her son's birthday -- had never carried any significance, except it was a day "a new life was brought to the world".

She also provided the backstory as to how she named her son.

She wrote that the letter "A" is her "personal preference" and she likes the teachings of Prophet Amos, and hence, chose the Christian name, "Amos".

Here is her birthday note in full:

My Dear Son,

Your ordeal from 29 March 2015 to 26 Sep 2017 is a really tough journey, not only to yourself but also to all the loved ones. Last year, on this special day, you were in jail. I was heart-pained to see that you passed your 18th birthday in the Singapore jail. I am now glad to see that your 19th year of life is going to start fresh on a new chapter.

Two-and-a-half years is a long period to a teenager! When your peers were busy with school work and National Service, you were spending time in police stations, state courts, prisons, mental institution, lawyers’ offices, detention centres and many unfamiliar places. While your haters say that you have wasted so much of your precious youth time, you proudly claim that your life experience is something that no one has ever or will ever come across. I am glad that you are always taking things so positively.

Your success in gaining asylum in USA is a piece of great news to many people who have been standing by you, supporting you in various ways, and showing concerns about your well-being every now and then. You are very blessed to be acquainted with adults who consistently provide you the guidance, love and care.

Besides the pro bono lawyers and human rights activists, those who were involved in the protests against inappropriate treatment of Amos Yee and in the appeals against your conviction and remand, and those supporters providing financial and emotional support, are the many people that I am very grateful to; so many that I haven’t got the opportunity to thank one by one. It’s a blessing that you have gained so much trust and support from so many people.

Thank you for reassuring me that the world is filled with kind-hearted people who will help one another in need. I start to see your belief that people become evil only when circumstances force them to be. Your haters feel that you have brought shame to your country but your supporters see you bringing hopes instead. I am proud of you for insisting on your beliefs on human rights and for being kind and non-violent always.

Thank you for your last few words to me before leaving Singapore. You told me to spend time helping people instead of worrying for you or missing you. You said that if any mishap happens to you, you are ready to die without any regrets as you have already led a very fulfilling life. These words give me strength and relief. I know you have always wanted the world to be a better place for everyone and you wish to see everybody leading a happy life.

Wishing you all the best in your chosen life journey.

Please stay safe and healthy.

Happy Birthday, Amos!

Mummy

In recent days, Yee has publicly sought for donations from his followers so that he can carry on making videos online: