Why don't we learn from the past?

As I looked at the map of major conflicts and genocides from the last hundred years or so, I was struck by the large number of conflicts mentioned around the world. As I looked at the list I was also consciously aware of the fact that the list was in no way exhaustive. What does not seem to make any sense to me is how we as an international society fail to stop these situations from occuring and why we do not seem to learn our lesson. I get quite upset when I think about Rwanda for example and see how much of a failure international, including the United States, aid was. Then I think about the lack of international involvement in Darfur and I can not seem to understand why, after our lack of response and the large number of lives lost in Rwanda, we would not get more involved.

I think one of the major issues, from a political science perspective, is that governments do not want to get involved in situations in which they do not benefit. I do not understand why everything has to be so self-centered. We live in a very nationalist society. If there was more compassion, and less emphasis on economic gain, perhaps we would be more compassionate towards people outside of our own countries. The world would be a better place, in my opinion, if we did not have the policy of love thy neighbor so long as he or she lives in on your side of your border. This is my hope for the world.