The Dark Shadow Shrine

embrace the darkness; that you may see the light nestled within it......

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Japan, Singapore and 50 years of post-war friendship

Click HERE
Given the recent 50th anniversary in the ties btw Japan and Singapore, this article gives a good look at the background on the friendship btw the two countries....

it's interesting how our ordeal is not used to induce hatred but to bind us in a shared destiny and identity instead:
then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew said: "We meet not to rekindle old fires of hatred nor to seek settlements for blood debts. We meet to remember the men and women who are the hapless victims of one of the fires of history. We suffered together. It told us that we shared one destiny."
The Singapore Government's attitude was to remember the past but not to be imprisoned by it.

but realise that this is only possible if both countries think the same way....I suppose the same cannot be said of Malaysia (and perhaps Singapore too?) which is why relations btw the two still remain patchy despite us being next-door neighbours....

Here's another article from an old post which suggests reasons why Singaporeans do not hate the Japanese : (See HERE)

Qn: How far is it possible for one country to forgive another for its past actions? (Cam. 2015)