Singapore, not foreign, history first
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Oct 13, 2011 - ST Forum
IN THE past week, the local media broadcast documentaries on the role of ethnic Chinese in colonial Singapore in ending 2,000 years of feudalism in China, to commemorate the centenary of the 1911 revolution that overthrew dynastic rule.
The eight visits here by the father of modern China, Sun Yat Sen, to raise funds for the revolutionary movement were given prime prominence. The Balestier Road villa where he stayed has been transformed into a historical monument ('Historic Sun Yat Sen villa reopens'; Sunday).
Visiting politicians, prominent businessmen and academics have called on Singaporeans to remember the contributions of Nanyang (overseas) Chinese to the villa.
While I do not discount the significance of the revolution, I am uncomfortable with how our local identity and history remain subordinated to foreign history.
Although Sun was an important figure, his stay here was extremely brief and his interest in Singapore, probably peripheral.
Yet, the villa where he stayed is preserved while the graves of prominent pioneers of Singapore like Lim Nee Soon, Chew Boon Lay and Ong Sam Leong are not.
The Bukit Brown Cemetery where these sons of Singapore are buried must make way for redevelopment ('Bukit Brown to make way for housing'; May 30).
In the rush to celebrate the first milestone of modern China on Oct 10, 1911, we have forgotten a local incident of immense historical significance, especially close to the hearts of older Singaporeans, which took place on Oct 10, 1943.
This was the Double Tenth Massacre, a tragic day when the Japanese military police arrested and tortured 57 people they suspected of being involved in an allied raid that sank several ships at the Singapore harbour in World War II. Fifteen of them died later. This date does not even rate an annual mention.
In an era of nation-building where we should regard ourselves as Singaporeans first and profess loyalty exclusively to Singapore, the assertion of Chinese pride by some Chinese Singaporeans on China's 1911 revolution is disturbing.
As Singapore approaches the bicentenary of its founding in 1819, the emphasis on writing our history and preserving our heritage should not be expended disproportionately on prominent foreigners who happened to pass through.
Our emphasis should be firmly focused on Singaporeans who helped shape the history of this little red dot.
Liew Kai Khiun
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Whether is it local or foreign, it's still history.
I mean, had not been for the revolution, I think we're still made to wear pig tails?
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Get rid of the colonial english as dominant language, de-westernise, de-anglicise Singapore and put local dialect chinese, malay and indians in power then come and talk to me about local history.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
Our emphasis should be firmly focused on Singaporeans who helped shape the history of this little red dot.
There were no local politics in Singapore until after 1945, most political groups and political activities in Singapore before that were oriented towards overseas aims. This was the nature of local political history.
Chinese politics in Singapore was about China politics, Indian politics was about India. The politics was not about Singapore. There was no concept, no idea of Singapore as state or Singapore identity. Singapore was considered as part of Malaya. The term "Malaya" includes Singapore.
Malays and peranakans were less politically active and politicised, although there was a KMM for the malays.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kesatuan_Melayu_Muda
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Originally posted by Dalforce 25:
Get rid of the colonial english as dominant language, de-westernise, de-anglicise Singapore and put local dialect chinese, malay and indians in power then come and talk to me about local history.
Yes I support!
We also must do our own support on the ground by using our dialect chinese, malay and tamil in our everyday day-to-day activities instead of colonial english
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"the assertion of Chinese pride by some Chinese Singaporeans on China's 1911 revolution is disturbing."
The truth is, majority of the majority thinks that they rule the world. THey may thinkk that they are better than others just becauase they have yellow skin and slitty eyes.
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Some ugly, old, senile, wicked , self centred dictator in this land sucking up to China thus making this big. Always not much concern or no concern preserving locals but all for sucking up to China. He is redundant.
Waiting for holiday.
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Originally posted by Siliconchip:
"the assertion of Chinese pride by some Chinese Singaporeans on China's 1911 revolution is disturbing."
The truth is, majority of the majority thinks that they rule the world. THey may thinkk that they are better than others just becauase they have yellow skin and slitty eyes.
Most don't have slitty eyes, in fact Dr Sun has big eyes.
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Originally posted by Dalforce 25:
Get rid of the colonial english as dominant language, de-westernise, de-anglicise Singapore and put local dialect chinese, malay and indians in power then come and talk to me about local history.
It is more practical to get rid of him .
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Originally posted by Dalforce 25:
Get rid of the colonial english as dominant language, de-westernise, de-anglicise Singapore and put local dialect chinese, malay and indians in power then come and talk to me about local history.
+1 -
Originally posted by gorgorlokaychyong:
Most don't have slitty eyes, in fact Dr Sun has big eyes.
zz i meant that they think highly of themselves just because they belong to their race.
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Originally posted by gorgorlokaychyong:
It is more practical to get rid of him .
But he never leaves sia!
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Originally posted by Siliconchip:
But he never leaves sia!
He will leave. At the moment, he is still reluctant to go, wants to create more bad karma for himself to bring along to report to hell.
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Originally posted by gorgorlokaychyong:
He will leave. At the moment, he is still reluctant to go, wants to create more bad karma for himself to bring along to report to hell.
How are you going to celebrate on that fine day?
I'm going to make my presence felt to his supporters.
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Originally posted by alize:
How are you going to celebrate on that fine day?
I'm going to make my presence felt to his supporters.
Drink , shout for joy and go round telling others I am happy.
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I hope there is a minute of silent mourning...
What item will you burn for him?
Frankly I'm discouraged. Though he's 88, his ancestors lived to a ripe old age. The fact his wife and others in the same privileged circumstances have passed while he has not, shows that family lineage is important.
He might be aware of the scorn people heap on him, but stubborn old men block out the voices of others very effectively.
If he lives to 95...
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Originally posted by alize:
I hope there is a minute of silent mourning...
What item will you burn for him?
Frankly I'm discouraged. Though he's 88, his ancestors lived to a ripe old age. The fact his wife and others in the same privileged circumstances have passed while he has not, shows that family lineage is important.
He might be aware of the scorn people heap on him, but stubborn old men block out the voices of others very effectively.
If he lives to 95...
may be like his wife the useless son will go before him.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
may be like his wife the useless son will go before him.
If so, he'll live to see the end of his family's political role. Unless he put LTA Lee HY in charge.
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Originally posted by alize:
If so, he'll live to see the end of his family's political role. Unless he put LTA Lee HY in charge.
may be no such luck.
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Or get Goh Junior to chop place?
I'll be grateful if his descendents just take their money and live it up in another country.
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Originally posted by alize:
Or get Goh Junior to chop place?
I'll be grateful if his descendents just take their money and live it up in another country.
FTs take over liao.
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Originally posted by alize:
I hope there is a minute of silent mourning...
What item will you burn for him?
Frankly I'm discouraged. Though he's 88, his ancestors lived to a ripe old age. The fact his wife and others in the same privileged circumstances have passed while he has not, shows that family lineage is important.
He might be aware of the scorn people heap on him, but stubborn old men block out the voices of others very effectively.
If he lives to 95...
He has been "conning" us of our money, I see no reason why I should burn him anything. The only thing I hope for after his death is he will not come back haunt Singapore to give the people a hard time. I know some deceased with strong nasty character will remain as their nasty character even after death.
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Up to you what offerings you want to give, traditional or "exotic"
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Originally posted by gorgorlokaychyong:
He has been "conning" us of our money, I see no reason why I should burn him anything. The only thing I hope for after his death is he will not come back haunt Singapore to give the people a hard time. I know some deceased with strong nasty character will remain as their nasty character even after death.
I would not be sad or anything, as he has lived to the ripe and rotten age of 88 already. But I think that it would be good for Singapore, not to sound terrible.