Daily Lessons from Life 29 April 2013 - Alleged vandal charged with defacing Cenotaph war memorial

"Alleged vandal charged with defacing Cenotaph war memorial - CNA 29 April 2013

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man alleged to have vandalised the Cenotaph war memorial at the Esplanade Park has been charged.

Mohamad Khalid Mohamad Yusop, a security officer, was charged with one count of vandalism on Monday. The 32-year-old will be held in remand at the Central Police Division to assist in investigations.
Mohamad Khalid was arrested by the police on 27 April. He allegedly defaced the monument on 23 April shortly after 11pm.

The case was first reported to the authorities by a member of the public on 24 April, who saw the monument sprayed with graffiti.

Under the Vandalism Act, the accused faces a fine of up to S$2,000 or a maximum imprisonment term of up to three years. He can also be caned between three and eight strokes.
The case will be mentioned again on 6 May."

This is a clear cut case of vandalism if he is shown to be the one who painted it. Or that he admitted it as he was, some were saying, expressing his artistic talent and thoughts!

Lessons for me are:

1. some people attached great meaning to war memorials. Memorials for the fallen. So when such monuments get defaced or 'violated', the emotional response is strong. Very strong;

2. some people think that graffiti is an expression of art and I agree. As long as it is expressly permitted or even invited by the monuments owner(s) to do so. Spraying anything on such monuments for the fallen without such permission or invitation is definitely vandalism. Period. Stop kidding yourself. Or worse, make yourself believe a flawed argument! It will make you stupid. Artists are creative and smart and intelligent and whatever BUT not stupid. Agree? LOL!!;

3. some also said perhaps the younger generation of people in Singapore - citizens and residents - do not know much about such war monuments. After all, the last WWII is so long ago. What does it got to with me? Maybe. Probably. Still, it will be an opportunity to educate them if they REALLY don't know.

Graffiti as art. Yes. But not on war memorials. Yes?