Remembering Spore's dead

[johnny333]

Many countries remember their war dead: the americans have Arlington, the Japanese the Yasukuni, the Jews have various holocaust sites,.. Even poor countries like Indonesia, Philippines you'll find cemetries, statues, honoring the war dead. What about Spore

We've all heard about the many Sporeans who were put away by the Japanese. In modern Spore with NS there must have been many deaths. Why is there no memorial

Its been a long time since I've visited the Kranji war memorial but from what I remember is that its a memorial for angmos. Yes the angmos have a memorial in Spore where "locals" are evicted to make room for foreigners

If the nation ignores our past can we ever develop as a nation?

 

[makapaaa]

The WW2 Japanese collaborators in power would rather you forget this episode and 'move on'. In fact, they'd rather you die and be leeplaced by FTrash just so that they can perpetuate their power!

 

[halsey02]

Many countries remember their war dead: the americans have Arlington, the Japanese the Yasukuni, the Jews have various holocaust sites,.. Even poor countries like Indonesia, Philippines you'll find cemetries, statues, honoring the war dead. What about Spore

We've all heard about the many Sporeans who were put away by the Japanese. In modern Spore with NS there must have been many deaths. Why is there no memorial

Its been a long time since I've visited the Kranji war memorial but from what I remember is that its a memorial for angmos. Yes the angmos have a memorial in Spore where "locals" are evicted to make room for foreigners

If the nation ignores our past can we ever develop as a nation?

Either you have visited the Kranji Memorial in textbooks or through a website or the libraries..

The many Asians who died during the war are listed there from the Pacific Theatre of war....the Indian regiments, the Gurkhas..the Sikh Regiments..the Burmese regiments..and so forth..

The man on your dollar note is buried there & at the opposite end is Dr.Benjamin Shears...and there is a huge lawn in the middle..maybe that will be the masoleum for you know who..daddy..who knows...

Go there are study the names on the list..before you mouth anything....:o

Oh yes! if I am not mistaken there is a tomb for the unknown soldier.... go figure, what this means...

We have the WWII civilians who died during the Japanese occupation at BEACH ROAD....

 

[johnny333]

The many Asians who died during the war are listed there from the Pacific Theatre of war....the Indian regiments, the Gurkhas..the Sikh Regiments..the Burmese regiments..and so forth..

The man on your dollar note is buried there & at the opposite end is Dr.Benjamin Shears...and there is a huge lawn in the middle..maybe that will be the masoleum for you know who..daddy..who knows...

Go there are study the names on the list..before you mouth anything....:o

Oh yes! if I am not mistaken there is a tomb for the unknown soldier.... go figure, what this means...

We have the WWII civilians who died during the Japanese occupation at BEACH ROAD....

I visited Kranji long ago and only remember reading tombstones that were those of angmos. Didn't see any non-angmo names but then its a big place & after reading a few tombstones it gets kinda repetitve.

I've never understood the connection of being a President & a Centoph? Spore's had 6 presidents so far, are they going to bury them all at Kranji ?

Many civilians died but why isn't there some kind of memorial plaque, statue., holiday,... to comemorate this.

 

[halsey02]

I visited Kranji long ago and only remember reading tombstones that were those of angmos. Didn't see any non-angmo names but then its a big place & after reading a few tombstones it gets kinda repetitve.

I've never understood the connection of being a President & a Centoph? Spore's had 6 presidents so far, are they going to bury them all at Kranji ?

Many civilians died but why isn't there some kind of memorial plaque, statue., holiday,... to comemorate this.

The civilians are remembered at the Beach Road Site, whereas Kranji is a millitary war memorial, remembering those who had fought the wars.

We do not have any military engagements like most nations, even during the confrontation it was the British..the Malaysians have theirs...the Indonesians have theirs, for they fought the Dutch..whereas the military here farked the civilians under the NS Act and some have died during their duty to the ACT. Maybe you could suggest a memorial site at Pasar Labar to remembered those who gave their young lives? a holiday perhaps for all those who had been farked under the NS Act and didn't die...and losing out to the foreign PR's...so called talents, who became citizen, and did not have to serve..

A memorial each year..for all those youth whose two years or more had DIED and as an adult more good years, giving over to reservist.

Is this what you are asking for? a war that was fought in our minds...to overcome the undeniable task?

 

[HTOLAS]

Please look again, especially at the walls of the memorial on top of the hill. There you will find names of the fallen from the Sikh Regiment, the Malay Regiment and the Singapore Volunteer Force (SVF).

There is also a plaque in the former Beach Rd Camp (on a wall facing the main gate and near the guard room) which is a shrine to the fallen from the SVF.

Keep your eyes open on 11 Nov when Armistice Day is observed.

As far as I know, there is not yet a monument to fallen NSMen. It should be noted though that every SAF Day parade on 1 July starts with a minutes silence in their memory.

I visited Kranji long ago and only remember reading tombstones that were those of angmos. Didn't see any non-angmo names but then its a big place & after reading a few tombstones it gets kinda repetitve.

I've never understood the connection of being a President & a Centoph? Spore's had 6 presidents so far, are they going to bury them all at Kranji ?

Many civilians died but why isn't there some kind of memorial plaque, statue., holiday,... to comemorate this.

 

[Ramseth]

We've all heard about the many Sporeans who were put away by the Japanese. In modern Spore with NS there must have been many deaths. Why is there no memorial

The Singapore WW2 memorial monument is just between Raffles City and Esplanade. I'm surprised you didn't know that. It's been there for decades. Even Japanese tourists have held group respect visits there.

 

[HTOLAS]

It is a bit of a surprise that many do not realise it is such an important memorial. Perhaps we are more used to grandiose statues and flags but to me the simple unfettered 'chopsticks' rising from the ground is one of the most beautiful memorials in the world. It is a simple dignified statement that remembers without glorifying. It does perhaps need a little more indication of its purpose.

The Singapore WW2 memorial monument is just between Raffles City and Esplanade. I'm surprised you didn't know that. It's been there for decades. Even Japanese tourists have held group respect visits there.

 

[johnny333]

The civilians are remembered at the Beach Road Site, whereas Kranji is a millitary war memorial, remembering those who had fought the wars.

...

We are influenced by our past. Who we are is linked to our past. What I see is the PAP throwing away the past. From the dead in the cemetries, our past, to the old , & now the current generation. Some may argue that they are encouraging the discarding of our culture.

If you look at all the successful countries, they've preserved their past history. Whether its a building or memory of sacrifices made by both of the civilians & soldiers. Even Indonesia , Philippines,... are trying to preserve some of their past.

What has the PAP done to preserve our past.

Kranji survives because the Brits, Aussies, New Zealanders DO remember. Sorry for ignoring the Gurkhas, Burmese & Indians but I doubt theres anyone alive who still cares.

If it was up to the PAP Kranji would be converted to HDB flats or a parking lot
Putting dead presidents into Kranji was probably a case of making use of space already available. I'm sure many people are anxiously waiting for LKY to occupy his plot. However they'll have to increase the security around that place when he occupies his plot

 

[HTOLAS]

Kranji comprises two parts - the War Cemetery (for fallen servicemen, including the Gurkhas, etc.) and the National Cemetery, where only two late presidents have been deemed good enough to be buried there. Leaving room for a mausoleum?

We are influenced by our past. Who we are is linked to our past. What I see is the PAP throwing away the past. From the dead in the cemetries, our past, to the old , & now the current generation. Some may argue that they are encouraging the discarding of our culture.

If you look at all the successful countries, they've preserved their past history. Whether its a building or memory of sacrifices made by both of the civilians & soldiers. Even Indonesia , Philippines,... are trying to preserve some of their past.

What has the PAP done to preserve our past.

Kranji survives because the Brits, Aussies, New Zealanders DO remember. Sorry for ignoring the Gurkhas, Burmese & Indians but I doubt theres anyone alive who still cares.

If it was up to the PAP Kranji would be converted to HDB flats or a parking lot
Putting dead presidents into Kranji was probably a case of making use of space already available. I'm sure many people are anxiously waiting for LKY to occupy his plot. However they'll have to increase the security around that place when he occupies his plot

 

[Ramseth]

It is a bit of a surprise that many do not realise it is such an important memorial. Perhaps we are more used to grandiose statues and flags but to me the simple unfettered 'chopsticks' rising from the ground is one of the most beautiful memorials in the world. It is a simple dignified statement that remembers without glorifying. It does perhaps need a little more indication of its purpose.

I understand that the building of this monument shortly after independence was financed jointly by the Singapore government (from war reparation funds received from the Japanese government) and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Catching a glimpse of the chopstick momument while passing by in a vehicle may be sight-pleasing, but tells nothing much meaningful. I'd encourage Singaporeans, especially when shopping around the Raffles City-Suntec-Marina area, should take a walk across the turf there and read for yourselves the inscription at the base.

 

[Ramseth]

Kranji survives because the Brits, Aussies, New Zealanders DO remember. Sorry for ignoring the Gurkhas, Burmese & Indians but I doubt theres anyone alive who still cares.

I think that you're a bit mixed up here. Kranji memorial is a military memorial, for soldiers who died with distinction of bravery, sacrifice etc.

 

[Watchman]

Johnny you better learn from the lessons of war !

That is no men are innocent !

 

[johnny333]

The Singapore WW2 memorial monument is just between Raffles City and Esplanade. I'm surprised you didn't know that. It's been there for decades. Even Japanese tourists have held group respect visits there.

I know about that Cenotaph in Connaught Drive.
It was put in place when Spore was still under the Brits to honor those who died in WW1 and latter they upgraded it to include WW2.

Since the PAP has taken over, what have they done to honor the Sporean's who died

In various parts of the commonwealth you have Anzac Day. What has Spore got LKY can only recall standing in the rain during National day. Why no mention about those who died under the Japanese?

 

[johnny333]

I think that you're a bit mixed up here. Kranji memorial is a military memorial, for soldiers who died with distinction of bravery, sacrifice etc.

From what I know the majority of troops died in captivity in Changi prison or were sent to Thailand to die building the infamous "Death Railroad"

 

[Ramseth]

I know about that Cenotaph in Connaught Drive.
It was put in place when Spore was still under the Brits to honor those who died in WW1 and latter they upgraded it to include WW2.

That's for WW1 soldiers contributed from the Singapore colonial forces in WW1. Singapore wasn't invaded in WW1.

Since the PAP has taken over, what have they done to honor the Sporean's who died

In various parts of the commonwealth you have Anzac Day. What has Spore got LKY can only recall standing in the rain during National day. Why no mention about those who died under the Japanese?

Perhaps you're still not getting an idea where the WW2 memorial "chopstick" monument is. It's not the the same as the the WW1 cenotaph. It's at least 20 times the size and height. It was built by PAP government after much lobbying by SCCC after independence.

The ground wasn't chosen at random. It was the mass burial ground of Singaporean deads during the Japanese occupation and slaughtering. There're actually still many unexhumed deads under the ground. That's why, despite the development of Raffles City, Marina, Suntec, Esplanade etc. it's the only ground in the area left untouched.

 

[johnny333]

Johnny you better learn from the lessons of war !

That is no men are innocent !

Sporeans really know very little about WW2. This is a criticm I have about our so call world class education system

All the years I spent in primary, secondary, pre-U, I learn't very little about WW2. I've learn't more as an adult from watching documentaries & reading books about WW2.

 

[Ramseth]

Sporeans really know very little about WW2. This is a criticm I have about our so call world class education system

All the years I spent in primary, secondary, pre-U, I learn't very little about WW2. I've learn't more as an adult from watching documentaries & reading books about WW2.

Can't blame the school textbook writers. Who wants or dares to mention L.K.Y. and S.R.N. worked for the Japanese during the occupation? Might as well gloss through the whole eposide in a few paragraphs, at most one short chapter. China and Korea have been criticising Japanese textbooks for doing that too, but I agree with you, Singapore is even worse than Japan, and surprisingly so as a supposedly victim whereas Japan was the aggressor and understandably trying to mitigate.

 

[johnny333]

Perhaps you're still not getting an idea where the WW2 memorial "chopstick" monument is. It's not the the same as the the WW1 cenotaph. It's at least 20 times the size and height. It was built by PAP government after much lobbying by SCCC after independence.

.

Oh you mean the monument just opposite the recreation club, the civilian war memorial.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_War_Memorial

As you mention it was built after "much lobbying" and it was funded by the donations collected by Spore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and industry(SCCC)

So its a privately funded & built monument & the only input from the Spore gov't is that it "supported" it. What does "supported" mean

Thanks for the info. I have often wondered about that structure, now I know a bit more. However it was a community based project & NOT a recognition by the PAP gov't

 

[johnny333]

It is a bit of a surprise that many do not realise it is such an important memorial. Perhaps we are more used to grandiose statues and flags but to me the simple unfettered 'chopsticks' rising from the ground is one of the most beautiful memorials in the world. It is a simple dignified statement that remembers without glorifying. It does perhaps need a little more indication of its purpose.

For years I was puzzled about that structure. When I did visit this monument there was no plaque detailing the purpose of this monument

So now I know