TO OUR GOOD AND LOYAL SUBJECTS:
After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in Our Empire today, We have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure.
We have ordered Our Government to communicate to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that Our Empire accepts the provisions of their Joint Declaration.
To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of Our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by Our Imperial Ancestors and which lies close to Our heart.
Indeed, We declared war on America and Britain out of Our sincere desire to ensure Japan's self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from Our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandizement.
But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone - the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State, and the devoted service of Our one hundred million people - the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.
Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should We continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.
Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers.
We cannot but express the deepest sense of regret to Our Allied nations of East Asia, who have consistently cooperated with the Empire towards the emancipation of East Asia.
The thought of those officers and men as well as others who have fallen in the fields of battle, those who died at their posts of duty, or those who met with untimely death and all their bereaved families, pains Our heart night and day.
The welfare of the wounded and the war-sufferers, and of those who have lost their homes and livelihood, are the objects of Our profound solicitude.
The hardships and sufferings to which Our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, Our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is unsufferable.
Having been able to safeguard and maintain the structure of the Imperial State, We are always with you, Our good and loyal subjects, relying upon your sincerity and integrity.
Beware most strictly of any outbursts of emotion which may engender needless complications, or any fraternal contention and strike which may create confusion, lead you astray and cause you to lose the confidence of the world.
Let the entire nation continue as one family from generation to generation, ever firm in its faith in the imperishability of its sacred land, and mindful of its heavy burden of responsibility, and of the long road before it.
Unite your total strength, to be devoted to construction for the future. Cultivate the ways of rectitude, foster nobility of spirit, and work with resolution - so that you may enhance the innate glory of the Imperial State and keep pace with the progress of the world.
- Gyokuon-hōsō (玉音放送)
Showing posts with label military history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label military history. Show all posts
Monday, 15 August 2005
Tuesday, 9 August 2005
A light in the sky
It's been 60 years since anyone alive today saw the flash of an atomic weapon detonated in anger and lived to tell the tale. The second of only two atomic bombs used on live targets detonated over Nagasaki at the precise time of this post.
But really, does anyone care?
EJ is exactly 14 weeks old. She's come a long way since that day in May when she was forcibly removed from her temporary lodging and brought out into this world of harsh lights and sounds. She's been able to recognize and respond to her primary caregivers for a while now and has recently been taken out for short jaunts into town, giving her a chance to charm strangers who smiled at her or commented on her cuteness by giving them a smile of her own. She's grown a fair bit and is able to hold her head up more or less unassisted. She can communicate through the use of different sorts of short cries and her repertoire of sounds has grown by leaps and bound. She has also recently started to use her face to show her displeasure, a step up from when she first started smiling at people.
Then again, like anyone gives a shit.
And today's the day Singapore celebrates 40 years of independence. That's all that matters doesn't it? Wave the flag, thump the chest,see the fireworks. Oooh, ahhh, it's all good.
But really, does anyone care?
EJ is exactly 14 weeks old. She's come a long way since that day in May when she was forcibly removed from her temporary lodging and brought out into this world of harsh lights and sounds. She's been able to recognize and respond to her primary caregivers for a while now and has recently been taken out for short jaunts into town, giving her a chance to charm strangers who smiled at her or commented on her cuteness by giving them a smile of her own. She's grown a fair bit and is able to hold her head up more or less unassisted. She can communicate through the use of different sorts of short cries and her repertoire of sounds has grown by leaps and bound. She has also recently started to use her face to show her displeasure, a step up from when she first started smiling at people.
Then again, like anyone gives a shit.
And today's the day Singapore celebrates 40 years of independence. That's all that matters doesn't it? Wave the flag, thump the chest,see the fireworks. Oooh, ahhh, it's all good.
Saturday, 6 August 2005
And time stood still
Thursday, 12 May 2005
The more things change
I don't know about how it will be like when EJ grows up but for as long as I can remember Singapore's skyline has always been changing. The price of progress, but what cost that progress?
Lzydata posted an interesting talk to be held at SAFTI Library, would have loved to attend but whaddya know, work calls.
Daryl posted a followup on one Wing commander Tan Kay Hai that piqued my interest and a little digging prompted by some helpful nudges from his post got me here, there, everywhere and back.
Well geez Louise, we got us a genuine combat vet here, not some poor sod with a shotgun from Dalforce facing the battle hardened vets of the 5th or 18th Infantry Divisions or one of the Malay Regiment lads who died on Pasir Panjang Ridge when all around them the white men were falling over themselves falling back and looting. Here we got somewhere we can be not pai seh to put on a pedestal cos he didn't suffer a fate as ignominious as his brothers in arms in Dalforce or Pasir Panjang Ridge. To be sure, I take nothing away from Force 136, Elizabeth Choy and company, their experiences are more than worthy of just a passing mention but this man was different.
He had been around the block, seen the elephant, smelt the cordite. He wasn't running around in the darkness doing hit and runs, he was part of the Allied war machine. I mean come on, when was the last time you read about a chinese guy in the RAF in WWII? Wing Commander to boot, not some wet-behind-the-ears FO. AND they awarded him a DFC some more. This kind of thing they dun anyhow give one, it's not like you can get one if you queue overnight for it.
Orchard Shopping Centre, Paragon, Wisma Atria, these shopping centres had mid-life facelifts, sheet man, if these damn things could be given facelifts, why the hell was the National Library at Stamford demolished? Has anyone seen the monstrosity that is coming up between Bras Basah Complex and Bugis Junction? I don't care if it's internet ready, packed to the gills with fancy crap and can leap tall buildings in a single bound, it's ugly, period.
The new National Library
The old National Library
This country of ours is 40 years old this year, that's about as old as EJ when you compare it with others, yet our economy is matured and counted among the First World. We've come so far in terms of material wealth yet we're still learning how to crawl when it comes to having a national identity.
The destruction of heritage buildings doesn't help us one bit, all around us the skyline keeps change every year. How does one stay rooted in a country that changes every year? Can you remember what the neighbourhood you grew up in looked like when you were a kid? 5, 10, 15, 20 years back? Things change so rapidly that there is no such thing as a familiar sight in Singapore anymore. I don't get that sense of revisiting a familiar old friend when I go back to my old neighbourhood, my primary school still exists but the building it occupies doesn't look anything like the old one, ditto for my secondary school. I'm lucky, some schools don't exist anywhere but in memories now.
Space is limited, that I can accept but there must be a way where the old can integrate with the new. Fewer friggin golf courses would be nice start, the ratio of land used vs number of users is atrocious, but then again, money talks pretty loudly here. Hawker centres become food courts, SERS. Heck, even Parliament House is brand new. The Supreme Courtnext change. How to anchor oneself when everything around you disappears after awhile?
There must be physical remainders like red-brick buildings and statues of Wing Commander Tan (somewhere on the grounds of SAFTI MI perhaps?) to remind us of where we come from, roots do not simply appear overnight, they have to have something to latch onto. The increasing globalization of the world we live in makes for very mobile citizens of the world. All cities tend to look alike if you live in them long enough. What incentive is there for Singaporeans to call Singapore home if we can't even recognise it?
Oh and in case you're reading this. Happy Birthday once again, words can't describe the place you have in my heart.
Lzydata posted an interesting talk to be held at SAFTI Library, would have loved to attend but whaddya know, work calls.
Daryl posted a followup on one Wing commander Tan Kay Hai that piqued my interest and a little digging prompted by some helpful nudges from his post got me here, there, everywhere and back.
Well geez Louise, we got us a genuine combat vet here, not some poor sod with a shotgun from Dalforce facing the battle hardened vets of the 5th or 18th Infantry Divisions or one of the Malay Regiment lads who died on Pasir Panjang Ridge when all around them the white men were falling over themselves falling back and looting. Here we got somewhere we can be not pai seh to put on a pedestal cos he didn't suffer a fate as ignominious as his brothers in arms in Dalforce or Pasir Panjang Ridge. To be sure, I take nothing away from Force 136, Elizabeth Choy and company, their experiences are more than worthy of just a passing mention but this man was different.
He had been around the block, seen the elephant, smelt the cordite. He wasn't running around in the darkness doing hit and runs, he was part of the Allied war machine. I mean come on, when was the last time you read about a chinese guy in the RAF in WWII? Wing Commander to boot, not some wet-behind-the-ears FO. AND they awarded him a DFC some more. This kind of thing they dun anyhow give one, it's not like you can get one if you queue overnight for it.
Orchard Shopping Centre, Paragon, Wisma Atria, these shopping centres had mid-life facelifts, sheet man, if these damn things could be given facelifts, why the hell was the National Library at Stamford demolished? Has anyone seen the monstrosity that is coming up between Bras Basah Complex and Bugis Junction? I don't care if it's internet ready, packed to the gills with fancy crap and can leap tall buildings in a single bound, it's ugly, period.
The new National Library
The old National Library
This country of ours is 40 years old this year, that's about as old as EJ when you compare it with others, yet our economy is matured and counted among the First World. We've come so far in terms of material wealth yet we're still learning how to crawl when it comes to having a national identity.
The destruction of heritage buildings doesn't help us one bit, all around us the skyline keeps change every year. How does one stay rooted in a country that changes every year? Can you remember what the neighbourhood you grew up in looked like when you were a kid? 5, 10, 15, 20 years back? Things change so rapidly that there is no such thing as a familiar sight in Singapore anymore. I don't get that sense of revisiting a familiar old friend when I go back to my old neighbourhood, my primary school still exists but the building it occupies doesn't look anything like the old one, ditto for my secondary school. I'm lucky, some schools don't exist anywhere but in memories now.
Space is limited, that I can accept but there must be a way where the old can integrate with the new. Fewer friggin golf courses would be nice start, the ratio of land used vs number of users is atrocious, but then again, money talks pretty loudly here. Hawker centres become food courts, SERS. Heck, even Parliament House is brand new. The Supreme Courtnext change. How to anchor oneself when everything around you disappears after awhile?
There must be physical remainders like red-brick buildings and statues of Wing Commander Tan (somewhere on the grounds of SAFTI MI perhaps?) to remind us of where we come from, roots do not simply appear overnight, they have to have something to latch onto. The increasing globalization of the world we live in makes for very mobile citizens of the world. All cities tend to look alike if you live in them long enough. What incentive is there for Singaporeans to call Singapore home if we can't even recognise it?
Oh and in case you're reading this. Happy Birthday once again, words can't describe the place you have in my heart.
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