What is a really bad theme for the IR?

In case, you guys don't know which IR I'm talking about, I am talking about our very own Integrated Resorts. Yup, the casion which is in everybody's conversation now. I am utterly repelled by one of the proposed theme by US based Las vegas Sands for our IR. I saw this in a free magazine given out in school. (Intern SG). they suggested using the theme of colonial-era singapore River in the marina area! Erk! I really don't think that that is a really good idea. We are not very keen to watch re-enactments of Raffle's landing all over again, and again. we have had enough of this in textbooks, NDPs already. And how sensitive can they be. Do we really want a colonized Singapore as a theme ride? What a misuse of history! In addition to being really cheesy, I think it is doing a terrible injustice to history.

What are they having in mind when they propose this plan? Most of us aren't exactly euphoric in reliving Raffles and Farquhar experience. I have no problem with them using history as a theme, but the selection of the period says alot of the mindset of the desinger. Moreover, are we locals perfectly happy with this arrangement? there has to be other values we have to consider beyond the entertainment. Beyond wanting to dazzle, we really need to think about what the choice involves. It involves our identity, what are we putting forward in our building of the IR?

But I think injecting our nation building history into the IR might be trying too hard in wanting to establish a justification of a truly singaporean resort experience. It might be redundant and perhaps even an overkill, somethings should always remain sacred if we are to respect them. Allowing them to slip into perceived lower popular culture, does something to these things. And a good question is how far do we want to let our history become a commodity we sell. Will it take away something deep and make it all surface and cheap?