http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2013/04/vandalism-cenotaph-tocs-statement/
This vandalism really brought questions to my mind. Is this art or prank? The resident alternative view point website The Online Citizen seems to feel that this is not funny, after all this is war we are talking about.
Graffiti is not tolerated in Singapore. A wall can be quickly painted over when there're unwelcomed intrusions. Sometimes I wonder if my town council has spare paint of all shades in reserve so they can easily whip something out in events such as these.
In any case, the graffiti in this case is quite unique. Instead of the usual "suck ass" or "fuck you" quotes, this simply wrote "Democracy". I find it quite poignant, because these people who fought for the freedom of Singapore against the Japanese and invaders who wanted to take over because of the abundance of resources and strategic position that Singapore was in. It was seen as a fight against the oppressors, and indeed, while the British colonisers did lose to the Japanese in WWII, from an embarrassing attempt since the Japanese cycled from Malaya instead of coming up from Sentosa as the British predicted. Well, the running joke is that we were attacked from our buttocks.
I digress.
The problem with graffiti, is that it is out of place, and therefore not welcomed. After all, most Singaporeans find that it is "unsightly", and not "pretty". However the point of graffiti is not about aesthetics, although there are some very beautiful works. The issue here is that it is a form of intrusion, it is meant to be. This attempt on the war memorial, is not about disrespecting the dead, but to remind us why we fight and what are the stakes of freedom. To recall, we were colonised by the British, and there were also injustices upon us, but why is they glorified while our malay forefathers wiped off from the landscapes of our little island? Where are the sultans? Where are the cenotaphs to commenmorate the lost of Singapore to the British? Is colonialism really that good?
I hope to bring questions rather than answers, to bring doubt rather than judgement to this incident.
