Even many years has passed since the Japanese Occupation.i won't take it as nothing have happened. We all know very well that Japan have tried very hard the soft way to appease or make us forget the incident. But sorry, for the clear minded ones, we will never forgive nor forget. I believe their time will come.
To be honest, Singapore is just a small island country. Our priority is to survive and make ends meet for the past 60 years since independence. Its better to make allies rather than enemies.
Last year visited the Hiroshima Peace Museum and walked the Hiroshima Peace Museum Memorial park. At the museum, I learned about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945 by US. The bombing killed between 129,000 to 226,000 within that 3 days. Even helpers deployed from other parts of Japan who came to help were not spared due to the radiation contamination in that area. Saw the Atomic Dome building and all the horrifying pictures and artifacts of the aftermaths of the bombing at the museum. One particular picture that stands out was a shadow imprinted on the footstep of the A-Dome building. It was the shadow of a man who sat at the footstep just before the bomb dropped from the sky. He was practically fried or vaporized within seconds leaving behind his shadow still engraved on the footstep forever on the Dome building. Many survivors of that day died within the months or had cancer and died a painful death. Even unborn babies within the womb were not spared and had developed cancer and died in their early life. The Japanese had paid a heavy price in WWII. We must all learned from the war lesson and move on and most importantly to value peace at all time instead of war, hatred and destruction to mankind.
The survivors of WW2 are already 80-90 years old. There is no point to bring old hate to the new younger generation which has nothing to do with the crimes of the previous generations. As a teacher who teaches history/social studies to primary school students, I always emphasized to the students not to hate Japan for their previous war crimes because most of the Japanese soldiers are not in this world anymore.
Congratulations! As Singaporeans, we can forgive (painfully) but we cannot forget lest atrocities happen again, lessons must be learned. The Japanese army attacked from swampy Singapore western regions where the allies had little defence since they think it was too difficult to attack from this direction. One can see military barracks and camps in Singapore western area now, lessons learned. The current Japan and Japanese are different from then, just as the current Germany is different. We need to move forward, we cannot forget. The wounds need time to heal, hatred towards the Japanese or say the Germans for the sins of the previous generations will not help. Thanks for another interesting episode.
When one refuse to progress with time and era, they'll be left behind. Worst, when facts are altered by those who use fake information to their advantage. What done cannot be undone, except lessons learnt on mistakes and the extensive damages done. Thus, civilization could prevent and avoid such catastrophic events from occurring again.
Yeah, my parents lived through that Japanese colonisation period. I have learned a lots of terrifying stuff from them! No, we don't have any hatred towards Japan; it is the past....history.
Likewise happened to our families. Several of the relatives never returned after being dragged off by the Jap. Japan never once sincerely apologised committing this atrocities, not even in their history book and never admit it happened and even the Nankin massacre is not true but a propaganda by China. As a Singaporean mostly can 'forgive but never forget'
There are some older generation Singaporeans who still hate Japan. They lived through the horror during WW2. But most of the younger generation no longer bear this hatred. We learn only through history and its no longer a personal thing. Japan had also contributed to Singapore’s growth after the war. They are no longer an enemy and we had learnt much from them as well.
Regarding the radioactive waste water incident, to be fair, look at what the USA, Europe, and China does on a regular basis, you may realise that it's accepted protocol and already the Japanese waste water is even significantly less radioactive than Europe, not to mention China. It's just scientifically acceptable. For the Chinese to cry foul, is at best the pot calling the kettle black, and at worse, the overused dirty pot calling a brand new shiny pot black.
As a Singaporean, I must emphasize the importance of not harboring resentment towards the younger generation, as it is unjust to hold them accountable for past grievances. Instead, we must learn from our mistakes and move forward in unity to strengthen our nation. In Chinese culture, there is a saying that goes, "冤冤相报何时了", 做事不要做绝，须留有余地，也不要与人结怨，理解是相互的，误解也是相互的。
2 of my uncle/aunt die in ww2. hatred n seeking revenge is a sign of weakness and low self esteem. having said that denial is the same n worse risk repeating. Japan shd follow germany, apologise, pay dmg n build memorial. otherwise its future generations will nvr held their heads high
Our SG govt inform us of the atrocities done to Singaporeans during the Japanese occupation through education (history books) & museum BUT does not reinforce any hatred towards the Japanese. Things are different in China as it is in their government interest to keep the hatred for Japanese alive in China or among the China Chinese; especially when they need to divert the public attention to some things that are bad for the government, such as bad policies, weakening economy, etc. With the state media (controlled media) and videos of all the China vloggers (小粉红）, such hatred sentiments or thoughts are inculcated to the minds of the Chinese public. Such is the difference between a controlled state and a moderately controlled state (SG).
Wow James, you read my mind! About 2 days ago, I was thinking about how you converted from an ultra-nationalist little pink to someone with an open rational mind capable of intelligent thought and a clear perspective (vs. propaganda influenced little pink fan!) I am worried for most CN people who are constantly brain-washed by the government. I guess the liberation of the mind comes after CN people leave the home country to live abroad??
I am grateful that Canada and Singapore have given me a very open, positive perspective. Learning from these two countries really helped me a lot! Luckily I am still willing to learn new things. I am also curious about the world that i haven't seen! I believe, if everyone can be willing to learn no matter how old they are, the world is gonna be better! Thanks for your support!
So, what is the truth? May be you can enlighten us. By the way, I am a true blue Singaporean born 10+ years after Japan surrendered. My elders have gone through the Imperial Japan occupation of Singapore period. In those aspects, I do have first-hand information regarding how they suffered in those days. Are there hatred? Strictly speaking, those of us born after the war do not, but we will never forget (that's what we are thought; to forgive but never to forget), but those like my grandparents, my parents, my grand uncles and grand aunties, they all do but they are more glad that Japan occupation of Singapore is over. So tell me, what is your truth? I'm curious to know, and I assumed you are Japanese ( by your name).
@johnchua9387 hello? You presume too much. Why so much hostility. And you assume I'm japanese? Laughable. I'm a singaporean chinese and my father and grandparents lived through ww2. You take this comment negatively when I am making a statement about history in general. When people are shielded from what happened in the past, they are ignorant of what is the truth. Please take the time to think before commenting like this. Not all comments are what you perceived to be.
@shirobuta So what is the truth? Which true blue merdeka Singapirean parents or grandparents do not go through the ww2 occupational period? You should think before you even comment as if you know the truth.
@johnchua9387 uncle, as I said before, you presume too much. You think I'm some millennial or gen z. I really don't understand why you are so fixated on a sentence like this. Did I hurt your family or you in anyway? Did I say something contrary to the actual events of history? Like the useless British army was NOT defeated by the Japanese on bicycles? Why don't you enlighten me by telling me what you think I'm conveying?
死亡人数、换成是别族人、也许就已经被灭族了。。原谅?不仇日本?? If people thinks that they can just do anything to others, they themselves must be able to accept it if the others returns the favour... Well, just returning the favour, fair!
