Goods news. They have decided to leave Singapore’s oldest bus stop intact for the sake of the country’s national servicemen. Erected in the 1970s along Old Choa Chu Kang Road, it was where young men bade goodbye to their families and friends before leaving for compulsory service in the army; where romance came to a standstill; where boys crossed over to become men; and freedom was left behind to make way for a regimented life. That bus stop is worthy of being preserved because of the memories and nostalgia. It is considered as a national heritage.
But what about another structure that meant a great deal to many others? The National Library building was home not only to books and media archives but also childhood, growing up and adulthood memories for many since 1970. It was where fantasies came alive during storytelling sessions; where inquiring minds thrived; where friendships were forged; where students slogged; where families spent time together; where love was ignited and dreams were conceived. Are these not just as precious?
Reality bites. I am inclined to conclude that it is not really about conserving memories and heritage but economics and convenience. The land on which the bus stop stands is no where comparable to the real estate that was freed by demolishing the library. The former is in the suburbs and the latter is prime property in the heart of the Historic District, next to a museum.
Historic District. Therein lies the irony. A historically significant building had been reduced to rubble to make way for a traffic tunnel in an area where history matters. You can still savor history in colorful postcards or boxed-up exhibits displayed in the National Museum, but you can no longer live it out by experiencing the spaces or touching the actual bricks and mortar that made up the real thing.
Ouch.
