Can Forgive But Not Forget...

[Vulcann]

I think the writer is over-sensitive and barking up the wrong tree.

 

The 3 years and 8 months under the barbaric rule of Imperial Japan was the darkest period in our short history and the act of the school teacher to illustrate this painful history to his students is nothing short of admiration. We should in fact encourage more of such acts to make our children realise why we need to have national service and that the peace which we all enjoy now does not come at a easy price.

 

Besdies, I believe both young Israelites and Germans are taught in schools about the horrors of Holocaust and the evil Nazi empire respectively as part of a very important passage in their lives.

 

We have, however, heard occasionally that some Japanese today still tried to white-wash the attrocities committed by their ancestors during WWII and even claim some like the massacre of Nanking residents did not happen. Being a victim of the atomic bomb twice does not mean they can ignore what happened to innocent people who died at their hands or suffered under their inhuman acts.

 

I believe many of us do not bear any grudge against the Japanese today and are sympathetic to what happened to them because of the tsunami. Many of us also chip in in terms of donations and some even went there to help them.

 

Like many before us have said, we can forgive but not forget.

 

From ST Forum:

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_781977.html

 

Let's not remain stuck in teaching a one-sided view of a cruel Japan

Published on Mar 27, 2012

 

IN THE month when the world falls silent to mark the first anniversary of the devastating Tohoku earthquake, I was shocked to read of a Chung Cheng High School teacher's insensitive portrayal of a Japanese soldier as one who wields a sword, is cruel and one-dimensional ('Japanese soldier bursts in... to teach history'; Sunday).

 

As a reminder of Singapore's vulnerability even when it was part of the powerful British empire, the 31/2 year nightmare of the Japanese Occupation of Singapore during World War II remains a core focus of our national education syllabus.

 

However creative the teacher's intention, his simplistic vilification of the Japanese risks a mistreatment of history and disrespect to other societies that run counter to efforts of cultivating a progressive education culture.

 

Beyond the need to take our national security seriously, it is time for schools to consider crafting more balanced and broader perspectives about the Japanese Occupation.

 

These should include examining how ordinary Japanese were also victims of Japanese militarism, and how the country was able to stoically and collectively face huge challenges in pulling itself together - be it from the nuclear rubble of Hiroshima and Nagasaki left by American atomic bombs in 1945, or the debris from Sendai deposited by the receding waves of last year's tsunami.

 

For a long time, we have taught the young about the worst in mankind in the shape of the stereotypical Japanese imperial officer of World War II.

 

Perhaps it may be beneficial for students to learn about the more positive images of Japan in the national education curriculum.

 

I am reminded of a photograph taken during the aftermath of the earthquake showing ordinary Japanese calmly buying groceries at a makeshift convenience store amid the wreckage of the tsunami.

 

For me, it revealed the best of Japan and the best of humanity, one that Singaporeans should work towards, bringing out the best in themselves and in Singapore.

 

Liew Kai Khiun

[Kiario]

till today, i doubt they teach their children the real thing in their history books.

[TVT]

It should be "cannot forgive and cannot forget" instead.

 

Yes, the Japanese suffered too due to natural disasters, but many countries also have natural disasters but they don't invade other terrority and torture their people.

[Fcw75]

KNN, japanese dog. Some young punk, as can be seen from his facebook acct.

 

Pui! Go sux some jap balls dude!

[Watwheels]

What had happened in the past best is to leave it in the past. What history teaches us is not to repeat it again. Bringing history back for discussion in the wrong context and in the negative example will only give ppl the wrong impression.

[KARTer]

The thing is history teaches us many lessons and therefore we learn and not repeat things that shouldnt be repeated. Those actions which caused human sufferings and the loss of innocent lives as shown in ww2 local history cannot be glorified or overlooked even today. However, the decendents of the persons who were responsible for such actions have little to do with the tradegy, and if the latter are not doing what their anccestors had done, there's no reason to hold grudges against them.

[Vulcann]

Not sure about your guys but during my history lessons in secondary school donkey years back, we learnt and could regurgitate word for word entire chapters on the rise and fall of the Roman empire, how great Alexander the Great was or how the King Richard III the Lionheart went about in the crusade but knew nuts about local heroes like Lim Bo Sheng or 2LT Adnan bin Saidi.

 

I hope MOE has since re-focused on the more important history that our young kids should and must know since then so that they know about our young nation's history and never to take things such as peace or racial harmony for granted ( sound like a typical MIW speech hor? )

 

The latest case of the poly girl alledgedly making seditious remarks is a prime example that if the young are not taught the right values, such intolerable acts will surface.

[Vulcann]

  On 3/26/2012 at 11:18 PM, Kiario said:

till today, i doubt they teach their children the real thing in their history books.

 

Very different between them and the Germans.

 

IIRC it is a crime in today's Germany not to acknowledge the Holocaust taking place and the existence of their evil Nazi regime which resulted in the deaths of millions, their own citizens included.

 

That said, it is now all in the past and we should not linger on past hatred feelings but move forward...

 

 

[Mockngbrd]

  On 3/27/2012 at 12:35 AM, Watwheels said:

What had happened in the past best is to leave it in the past. What history teaches us is not to repeat it again. Bringing history back for discussion in the wrong context and in the negative example will only give ppl the wrong impression.

ya... its over.. just leave it... cannot forgive cannot forget, end up like PRC ppl....

 

and its cannot forgive cannot forget mentality that germany started another war after WW1

[Antlau]

the writer of the above article was funny, what was so shocked about the teacher's methods of teaching History? The teacher is teaching History (and it is Local History) as the subject is it, to know the history of why, how and when was the fall of Singapore, in a more interesting manner that could generate the students' interest to learn more and be more involved. The teacher is not teaching about Japanese culture, National Security etc...

[2009k]

I watch japanese av also cannot forget some actress and scene.

 

Not to laugh at those that suffered, at really it's in the past and nothing can change it even if the japanese makes an official apology. The dead don't care and the living still pains.

 

Move on but if history repeats, the invaders should be doubly punished.

[Ender]

  On 3/27/2012 at 1:05 AM, Vulcann said:

Not sure about your guys but during my history lessons in secondary school donkey years back, we learnt and could regurgitate word for word entire chapters on the rise and fall of the Roman empire, how great Alexander the Great was or how the King Richard III the Lionheart went about in the crusade but knew nuts about local heroes like Lim Bo Sheng or 2LT Adnan bin Saidi.

 

I hope MOE has since re-focused on the more important history that our young kids should and must know since then so that they know about our young nation's history and never to take things such as peace or racial harmony for granted ( sound like a typical MIW speech hor? )

 

The latest case of the poly girl alledgedly making seditious remarks is a prime example that if the young are not taught the right values, such intolerable acts will surface.

 

I didn't learn that in school, but from hollywood movies.

Edited March 27, 2012 by Ender

[KARTer]

  On 3/27/2012 at 1:59 AM, 2009k said:

I watch japanese av also cannot forget some actress and scene.

 

Not to laugh at those that suffered, at really it's in the past and nothing can change it even if the japanese makes an official apology. The dead don't care and the living still pains.

 

Move on but if history repeats, the invaders should be doubly punished.

How did the germans manage their past (ww2)? it seems that the europeans whose ancesdors suffered during the war have "forgive and forget" the episode and moved on....

 

but those who suffered under the Japanese during ww2 seem to find it hard to do the same.

[Leeshunda100]

善有善报 恶有恶报 因果不报 只是时辰未到 到了你就知道 Edited March 27, 2012 by Leeshunda100

[The_Bear]

  On 3/27/2012 at 1:52 AM, Mockngbrd said:

ya... its over.. just leave it... cannot forgive cannot forget, end up like PRC ppl....

 

and its cannot forgive cannot forget mentality that germany started another war after WW1

 

Yalor, what do you expect them to do? Let us conquer for 3yrs 8mths back? They already sending us all the AV we ever need to make up for their atrocities.

[Mockngbrd]

japanese also kenna 2x nukes... which other country in the world got nuked b4?

 

just get over it la. Jap give us jav and Ps3.

Edited March 27, 2012 by Mockngbrd

[2009k]

  On 3/27/2012 at 2:03 AM, KARTer said:

How did the germans manage their past (ww2)? it seems that the europeans whose ancesdors suffered during the war have "forgive and forget" the episode and moved on....

 

but those who suffered under the Japanese during ww2 seem to find it hard to do the same.

 

Apparently (or I was told) was that the Germans made official apology and acknowledged their crime. The Japanese did not do so.

[Leeshunda100]

善有善报 恶有恶报 因过不报 只是时辰未到 到了你就知道！