world of expression

What do you guys think of when the word “WAR” came across to you? As for me, I will be thinking of the innocent life killed and tortured during the war. Basically not only the poor suffered, it is actually the whole nation and country suffered. I grew up in Singapore and history was part of the education curriculum, therefore I have quite an understanding of Singapore’s darkest moment, that is the “Japanese Occupation.” Singapore was under the Japanese occupation for 3 years, from 1942 to 1945. The people were living in fear during that period, as many do not know who were loyal who were traitors. Each of them have to place guards even to those who were close to them like their own blood related brother. Girls and women were afraid to walk on the streets alone as they can be approached by the Japanese soldiers and brought back to their camp to give them service. The females were forced fully to have sex with not only with one of them instead many of them. The males were captured too. Some were brought back to camps to be tortured while others were killed right away. The males were forced to do harsh labors and were fed with little food. Due to this, many of them became as this as skeleton. The anti-Japanese suspects were brought back for questions. This was when the Japanese tortured them using various cruel torture such as stuffing pencils into their ears, water treatment, burning and electric shock treatment, tearing the nails off from the fingers and toes, breaking fingers using sticks and there were more. These were done to get the location and names of anti-Japanese. In this websites (http://picasaweb.google.com/kusumi.jane/NankingMassacre1937#5181219770976881698) are some pictures taken during the war. Until today, I am still wondering how can people treat one another so cruelly when each of them are the same, all are human beings created by God and have families of their own. How does it feel when their own family members are being treated and killed brutally? I am sure it will be agonizing and may even cause trauma to many.

Reading Persepolis, reminded me of all of these. The torture suffered by Mohsen and other prisoners are definitely painful. The marks left on their bodies were really horrible. Those who suffered were not only the prisoners but also their family. One great example is Madam Yong Thim Fook who lost her husband during the Japanese Occupation in Singapore and to raised her six children alone by herself. Just like, Marjane Satrapi’s grandmother who had to raise her six sons on herself. Here is some short clips of Madam Yong Thim Fook :







I believe that we should be treated equally regardless of our race, language, religion or nationality. We should respect and appreciate one another because every war that we enter there will sure be cost be it life, food, necessities, economy and love. There will always be something precious that we lose. It is important that we learn our history and teach the young future generation not to repeat the mistakes done in the past and not to repeat these mistakes again. I also believe that this is also one of the reasons that Marjane Satrapi decided to write her story. Not only to tell story to others but also to create awareness around the world.

For more information on Prisoners of War during Japanese Occupation in Singapore go to : http://s1942.org.sg/s1942/dir_defence7.html