Finally our Government took Singaporeans' feedback and decided to rename Syonan gallery to " Surviving the Japanese Occupation: Wars and it's Legacies".
It is heartening to know that our government listen to the people and made the necessary change. I hope those historians who decided to name the gallery be wiser and less insensitive. Some people who are fine with the name Syonan doesn't mean the majority accept it. We do not want Japan to get their way of naming Singapore Syonan-to during world war 2 to be named in this permanent gallery. Syonan-to means Light of the South. But it was a period of darkness and despair in Singapore during World war 2.
Finally I hope those Japanese politicians have the courage to face their past instead of twisting history. I was told by my colleague that in Japan, they could not search Japan role in world war 2 via internet in Japan. It's sad that their younger generation are not taught of the past and their politicians still pray at the shrine housing those cruel class A war criminals. They should learn from Germany leaders who truly repented and have the courage to face their past. Their younger generation are taught of their roles during world war 2 and taught not to repeat what their earlier generation had done.
Click here to read Straits Times article on Syonan Gallery renamed: Never any intention to cause pain.
It is heartening to know that our government listen to the people and made the necessary change. I hope those historians who decided to name the gallery be wiser and less insensitive. Some people who are fine with the name Syonan doesn't mean the majority accept it. We do not want Japan to get their way of naming Singapore Syonan-to during world war 2 to be named in this permanent gallery. Syonan-to means Light of the South. But it was a period of darkness and despair in Singapore during World war 2.
Finally I hope those Japanese politicians have the courage to face their past instead of twisting history. I was told by my colleague that in Japan, they could not search Japan role in world war 2 via internet in Japan. It's sad that their younger generation are not taught of the past and their politicians still pray at the shrine housing those cruel class A war criminals. They should learn from Germany leaders who truly repented and have the courage to face their past. Their younger generation are taught of their roles during world war 2 and taught not to repeat what their earlier generation had done.
Click here to read Straits Times article on Syonan Gallery renamed: Never any intention to cause pain.
