In Remembrance of the Fallen and of the Heroes - Lessons Left Unheeded

This Blog fell silent yesterday in honor of Armistice Day, Remembrance Day and Veterans Day.

At the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month, 99-years-ago, humankind entered into an agreement to end World War I on the Western Front. The Armistice signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiegne, France, was a major milestone toward global peace and security. 

Thus, every year since then, nations have marked November 11 as Veterans Day, Remembrance Day and Armistice Day to remember and to honor the brave souls who fought for freedoms as well as to recognize those who continue to serve in the protection liberties worldwide.

But what lessons have humanity learned from the events of World War I, a tragedy that took too many lives and divided copious amounts of homes, villages, towns, cities and countries? Apparently, not enough, for less than 25 years after the events of World War I, World War II dealt humanity an even more destructive blow. 

Since World War II, humanity has tried to avert another global catastrophe, yet, while not on a global scale, conflict has still managed to ravage parts of Europe, of Asia, of Africa and of the Americas. Why?

Lessons to encourage the respect of peoples to freely government themselves in non-authoritarian forms have not been heeded. Respect of the rights of all peoples to a homeland, to an education, to a safe environment, to food and to happiness have not been achieved. Complications to democracy continue in Spain, Poland, and Hungary as well as in other places across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Therefore, that those who gave their lives in the name of freedom may not have died in vain, now is the hour to heed all lessons from history so as not to repeat the transgressions of the past.