Do we ever learn?

If watching Eichmann, the Baader-Meinhof Complex and History Channel's documentary on Tiananmen taught me anything, it is about tolerance and understanding. While we look back in history, and assure ourselves that we are bigger people today than yesterday, events continue to happen around the world that slaps us in the face to tell us that there is still a long road ahead for humankind in tolerance, mutual understanding and learning from history's many lessons.

There are many things we take for granted in our lives - access to information, freedom of movement, material comforts and security. In some parts of this world, these remain inaccessible and unimaginable. Many people in these places will never get to experience this in their lifetimes, and their children, and their children.

Time and time again, we have witnessed the power of misunderstanding and arrogance. At the end of the day, we are our own downfall as we climb over one another to get further in life, to convince ourselves that we are superior to the neighbour. However, we forget that the earth is round, and no matter where we go, we are still circling around the same axel.

We must not overlook the lessons that history has taught us, and continue to educate the younger generations such that they never forget as well. We had the luxury of learning all these without having to go through the pain, the bloodshed and the hard times. It is not our right to be lucky. If there's something we could all do, is to promote peace, encourage understanding, facilitate education and allow for dialogue. We are already killing ourselves with our abuse of mother nature. Let's not expedite it through ignorance and selfishness.