In these times, when no matter how much we might wish to avoid it, we must fulfill our duty to report on conflicts, tensions, crises, and violence, I fondly recall the history and geography classes from my elementary education that taught me to better understand the world and why these conflicts occur.
By Omaira Martínez Cardona – Colombian Journalist
Conflicts are inherent to the evolution of humanity and the global order. There will always be disagreements as long as cultural and ideological diversity exists. Understanding, accepting, and adapting to this reality is a complex process that requires knowing the context around us—from its geographical formation, history, and cultural aspects.
Knowing the background and causes that created today’s problems and circumstances will help us develop the skills to confront these conflicts and survive them. A popular saying goes that we must know history to avoid repeating it. That’s why history and world geography should remain part of academic curricula in many educational models.
Paradoxically, while information can be accessed faster than ever from anywhere in the world, and technology allows us to virtually travel anywhere, there is less knowledge of global culture, territory, and history. New generations are growing up in a globalized digital context where geographical and cultural boundaries are not evident.
Many people don’t know or care about the territorial makeup of the country or city where they live. Some literally spend their entire lives without leaving the same street where they were born—not because they lack the opportunity, but to avoid reality, or out of fear of differences, of others, or of stepping outside their comfort zones. It’s only through history and geography classes that we learn, for example, that the state of Florida has 67 counties—how many do we actually know? Few also realize that the capital isn’t Miami or Disney, and that the center of decision-making is in Tallahassee.
It’s urgent to revive the need to strengthen our knowledge of the territory where we were born, the region where we live, and the surrounding areas. It’s from the natural characteristics of each territory—its climate and resources—that populations, communities, and nations were later formed.
We all come from those early territories that coalesced into civilizations and are now continents with demographic groups clustered by language, physical traits, or economic or ideological interests. Beginning to understand one another through our differences and shared interests is one of the best ways to confront conflicts and reach agreements.
Recognizing the value of fields like geopolitics and diplomacy—and those who practice them—is a way to assume the responsibility we have as citizens of a globalized world in the face of conflicts and international relations that affect us all.
oma66co@gmail.com
