The name of the gallery may have been changed, but history remains.
REMEMBER SYONAN AND WHAT IT STOOD FOR.
The gallery has been renamed "Surviving the Japanese Occupation", a name that evokes little reaction. ...
Dr Yaacob said: “Over the past two days, I have read the comments made on this issue, and received many letters from Singaporeans of all races. While they agreed that we need to teach Singaporeans about the Japanese Occupation, they also shared that the words “Syonan Gallery” had evoked deep hurt in them, as well as their parents and grandparents.”
Stressing this was never the intention, Dr Yaacob said: “I am sorry for the pain the name has caused. I have reflected deeply on what I heard. We must honour and respect the feelings of those who suffered terribly and lost family members during the Japanese Occupation.”
Singapore was renamed Syonan-to by the Japanese in 1942, following the British surrender. It means "Light of the South".
WHY DID NLB CHOOSE THE NAME 'SYONAN' FOR THE GALLERY?
NLB said that after consulting historians and its advisory panel, it "decided that no other name captured the time and all that it stood for. "The period when Singapore was known as Syonan was a very important part of our history. The new name of the gallery reminds us how brittle our sovereignty can be, as Singapore lost not only its freedom, but also its name during the Japanese Occupation. It is a sombre reminder not to take our peace and harmony for granted, and to appreciate the need to defend ourselves."
Well, that name is no more.
In all intent and purpose, the name "Syonan" would have been a grim and powerful reminder of this dark period of our past.
The name of the gallery may have been changed, but history remains. Remember Syonan and what it stood for. Visit the gallery and learn history.
The gallery has been renamed "Surviving the Japanese Occupation", a name that evokes little reaction. ...
Dr Yaacob said: “Over the past two days, I have read the comments made on this issue, and received many letters from Singaporeans of all races. While they agreed that we need to teach Singaporeans about the Japanese Occupation, they also shared that the words “Syonan Gallery” had evoked deep hurt in them, as well as their parents and grandparents.”
Stressing this was never the intention, Dr Yaacob said: “I am sorry for the pain the name has caused. I have reflected deeply on what I heard. We must honour and respect the feelings of those who suffered terribly and lost family members during the Japanese Occupation.”
Singapore was renamed Syonan-to by the Japanese in 1942, following the British surrender. It means "Light of the South".
WHY DID NLB CHOOSE THE NAME 'SYONAN' FOR THE GALLERY?
NLB said that after consulting historians and its advisory panel, it "decided that no other name captured the time and all that it stood for. "The period when Singapore was known as Syonan was a very important part of our history. The new name of the gallery reminds us how brittle our sovereignty can be, as Singapore lost not only its freedom, but also its name during the Japanese Occupation. It is a sombre reminder not to take our peace and harmony for granted, and to appreciate the need to defend ourselves."
Well, that name is no more.
In all intent and purpose, the name "Syonan" would have been a grim and powerful reminder of this dark period of our past.
The name of the gallery may have been changed, but history remains. Remember Syonan and what it stood for. Visit the gallery and learn history.
No comments:
Post a Comment