| We have to put things in perspective. During the Balkan wars about 5% of Europe's population lived in a country that was at war. Yet that time period was relatively peaceful compared to the first half of the 20th century where Europe went through two total conflicts. Yet for me the war in Yugoslavia was of personal significance and I felt it and its longer term effects closely. But it wouldn't be fair for me to just dismiss that the second half of the 20th century was a time of peace and prosperity in Europe, because a part of it was burning in flames and committing atrocities to who were their brothers 5 minutes before. The precariousness of peace is what makes it so valuable. Yes. There are conflicts all around the world. Wars. Oppression. Injustice. Racism. I don't think that recognizing that we're living unprecedentedly peaceful and just times is going to make those conflicts and injustices worse. Quite the contrary. I feel that never recognizing the successes and progress that humanity has made in many of those fronts is what will eventually doom us to regress. |