The Story of Scars

Scars, like stars, have a way of telling important stories. Every wound that has been inflicted on a member of the human race tells a story—a story of survival, a story of the things that have made us stronger. Every new day marks a milestone for the endurance of humankind. However, what if there were scars whose meaning was no deeper than the wounds that caused them? Would each new day still be filled with so much hope if scars were not symbols but merely reminders of the darkest parts of a human heart that would inevitably resurface time and again?
The Second World War ended in 1945. The last generation of people who fought or experienced that period is slowly fading away. As they leave our world, they are taking their scars with them. They are taking away the memories that remind us of an era of darkness and suffering. Yet, even as they depart, we celebrate their sacrifices and recount tales of their courage. We also study the circumstances and forces that led to the war, ensuring that each new generation remembers it. Although decades or even centuries may pass, we strive to remember certain events that have shaped our world, for better or for worse.

Today, we stand at the brink of a new kind of existence, where our priority is no longer just about surviving but about becoming the best version of our species. The majority of the world no longer worries about basic necessities such as food, water, or clothing. Instead, we turn to the sky in search of adventure. We explore new worlds in the minuscule universe of atoms and molecules. We attempt to create and extend life itself. Yet, much like the very nature of humankind, our development remains fragmented. Yes, we have begun to explore space and examine the limits of life, but does this truly matter when only a few of us have the opportunity to do so?

The story of scars is such that when they fade, the wounds that caused them are quickly forgotten. Many of humanity’s scars are fading, yet some parts of the world are still bleeding from unhealed wounds. As such, Generation Z faces the unique dilemma of taking responsibility for a world that, on the one hand, is thriving and moving towards a bright future while, on the other, is edging towards war, poverty, conflict, and bloodshed. The scars that our predecessors bore as a result of conflict and war are not just indications of past wounds; they are symbols of the kind of world that we must never create again. Yet, just as those scars are disappearing, a different version of the past is, unfortunately, becoming a reality once more.

This burden of correcting inequitable development is a heavy one to bear. It is a task that several generations before us have not yet fully been able to achieve. Yet, each individual who is a part of this world has an equal right to every resource and opportunity. As such, we must make deliberate efforts to ensure that even if we are not able to create massive change during our own lifetime, we at least make the task more achievable for the generations to come.

For now, a large part of Gen Z has not yet reached adulthood. Those who are adults are still quite new to the journey. Regardless of these factors, we still hold the power to raise our voices and use our collective strength to advocate for decisions and changes that will impact our future. Unlike most generations in the past, today’s younger people have the literacy and the opportunity to form opinions about the greater world and act on them. Let us ensure that we make use of these chances to the fullest.

Scars from the past carry stories with them. However, these stories quickly fade and lose meaning if the lessons they bear are no longer remembered. Our generation is characterised by novelty and unprecedented development. Neither of these qualities is truly valuable if members of our world are still trapped in a story that we no longer have the time to hear.

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