We have history books for a reason at school. We learn about the great icons that graced the earth and what we can learn from them and apply it in the real world. Sort of, like case study. It worked to a certain extent… When Obama says he idolized Gandhi and Martin Luther King, that’s proof of history helping a young leader shape up his and his country’s destiny. That’s inspirational.

Okay, every generation lived in the presence of an icon of their age that are in history books for the next generation.

Who do we have now?

Yes, there are few. Very few.

And the worst part, we have wrong icons for the youth. Yes, that’s the problem. The problem is not as much as the lack of good icons, but it is the plenty of wrong icons that youth is plugged into.

Doesn’t bode well, does it?

Gandhi went to jail… For a noble cause.

Mandela went to jail… For another noble cause.

Pop star goes to jail… Cause?

Social networking sites are the places breaking news is delivered these days and today’s youth glean most of their current affairs knowledge from that.

Yes, the current affairs of their beloved movie and pop stars.

Half the people don’t know the reason why Memorial Day is observed and most of them don’t have a clue why July 4th is celebrated or how many of them signed the Declaration of Independence.

Every holiday in remembrance of a respected leader or an occasion that changed history is today a party day for the present generation.

Let’s hit the club and live it up – no work today – some guy was born or something was signed today… Offices are closed and pubs are open!

People who forget their history will become history.

That’s a lucid thought to take into the week and worth pondering over.

Your thoughts please.