Story Source: UNESCO ~ Go to Original Article
History is first and foremost a story, or rather, a collection of stories: the stories of the past which inform our present and help us to build our future. History also tells us stories of connectivity. This especially rings true in Southeast Asia, a region which people have moved to, from and around for centuries. They have traded goods, knowledge and values. These exchanges have engendered a wealth of diversity interwoven with numerous common threads.
Diversity brings about different perspectives. Events in recent years have pointed to some contradicting interpretations of the past that have led to tensions between various countries in the region. Some of these tensions can be seen as grounded in the way past events are taught in schools and in the lingering influence that these lessons have on the mindsets of the people.……………………………