Forum: Samsui woman mural a reminder of our difficult path to the present

I read with interest the letters voicing different views on the mural depicting a samsui woman smoking (An open mind leaves society richer, June 6; and Mural is offensive as it belittles samsui women, June 23).

My mother, though not a samsui woman, has strong ties with them. She ran a coffee stall serving basic beverage and bread. She smoked like them, usually after a long spell of standing and serving labourers along the Singapore River, around Circular Road. It was her form of relaxation. It did not make her a bad mother as she worked hard to put food on the table and put her five children through school.

Remember, many coolies also took opium then to ease their pain. I cannot say that they were a bad example. There was no social support like now. 

In capturing the past, should we erase all the “bad” qualities? Doing so does not help our young to grow up, be discerning and make their own choices wisely.

Recently, there was also criticism of a new statue of Sir Stamford Raffles being put up (‘Colonialism is not neutral’: Third public statue of Sir Stamford Raffles ignites online debate, May 31). This missed the point that he did come here, and is a part of our history.

There is no need to change street names to local ones, as other former colonies have done. It just means that we are trying to whitewash our past, which is a shame, because we would lose the path which brought us to the present. 

I hope that in our enthusiasm to promote good values, we will remember our difficult past as a lesson for our next generations. 

Tiang Hoon Eng