Essay On Historical Amnesia

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Historical amnesia is defined as the act of selectively forgetting negative memories of significant historical events. It is in my opinion that it has no place in facilitating nation-building and ensuring Singapore’s growth as a nation. Understanding and acknowledging our nation’s past is essential to shape our national identity. Based on Rupert Emerson’s definition, Singapore does not fulfill the prerequisites to qualify as a ‘nation’. This creates a pressing need for a national identity that could inspire future generations. The use of our history’s negative aspect would showcase how our forefathers overcame hurdles, providing a sense of comradeship that glue citizens together and maintain social cohesion in times of need. As a nation that practices free trade, negative effects …show more content…

They also pointed out that preventing historical amnesia would only flare up emotions and bring up painful memories that would be better remained buried. I disagree as the knowledge of our past, whether positive or negative, will allow our leaders to take appropriate actions to maintain diplomatic ties with our neighbours. It is unlikely for countries to practice the policy of “forgive and forget” especially when one country is perceived to wronged another. One example on how history affected diplomatic efforts that could translate into positive economic growth would be Japan and China’s agreement on energy resources in East China sea. Both countries are huge importers of energy resources. As neighbours, they are situated near East China sea that contains natural gas fields and oil reserves. Territorial disputes however, limited their ability to fully take advantage of the resources so near to home. Cooperation between both countries will allow them to achieve energy security with minimal transportation

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