letters without content.

"An ethnic neighborhood that features the Chinese cultural elements, most parts of Chinatown has been conserved and declared as national heritage sites by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. In the recent years it serves as a tourist attraction for the tourists." 

I always find the contrast between the shophouses and the buildings interesting as it shows the government's effort in trying to conserve our nation's heritage while moving on to create a globalized and modernized city. It's really great to know that your roots are preserved despite the fact that everything changes so rapidly everyday.

Roads change every now and then. Buildings are built, demolished and rebuilt again. Transportation gets better and more convenient (not forgetting about them getting more expensive.) While cultures do not change, it can fade as time passes. 

Think about it. What is Chinatown to you? A heritage site that people visit during Chinese New Year? Or a place that our forefathers who, despite the hardship and sufferings, tried to create a sense of belonging, a community of themselves?

To me, these places are letters written by our forefathers to the later generations. They want us to remember and to be like them, strives for the best without losing their identity. 

I'm not complaining about the URA, but just that by preserving these buildings means nothing. To the many younger generations, they are just old buildings. It's like an empty shell after all, so what's the purpose of keeping them?

When we gain something, we will lost something. As Singapore gets more globalized, we will lost our sense of identity not as a citizen, but as a race. Though these buildings will continue to stand in their places, the meaning behind them will be long gone by then. 

but that's just my thoughts though.(:

Tan Hui Mei

092551J

DA'o3