Asiaone--Keeping heritage aliveThe Straits Times Tuesday, Feb 11, 2014 EDITORIAL The sooner the National Heritage Boards grant of $5 million is disbursed, the better it speaks of Singaporeans interest in preserving what is deemed to hold much cultural, historical, architectural or natural value. The scheme, launched last August, funds community projects celebrating Singapores heritage and aims to disburse the money over a period of four years. Nearly $1.4 million has been given out already and applications are pouring in. The momentum needs to be sustained for sufficient number of projects to bear fruit in time for the celebration of the nations 50th anniversary. Heritage has an essential role to play in stirring a strong sense of nationhood. More than just offering a window to the past, it anchors our sense of place and identity, as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted last year. It enables a nation to adapt and to progress as the world changes. And it is the yin which is an essential complement to the yang of material progress. No idea should be deemed off-limits in this endeavour and even the young can play a part, for example, by capturing local street culture over the years. Predictably, there are lofty projects like a maritime heritage centre and a hardcover book on pioneer leader E.W. Barker. Alongside these, there should also be creative projects that evoke nostalgia and strike a chord with all, regardless of social background. The challenge that even busy parents should take up is to help make Singapore heritage come alive for their children. Such emotional roots are vital in a globalised economy, to help build a common bond among the restless young. School excursions to places of historical significance like places of worship and clan associations are par for the course. But livelier encounters with the past should be dreamed up by social media activists, community clubs and other organisations. The best way to destroy a country, as writer Milan Kundera said, is to erase its past. Nothing would be worse than erasure by neglect. news.asiaone/news/singapore/keeping-heritage-alive
Posted on: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 05:08:30 +0000
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