How does having the knowledge of history prevent genocide?

[WidowMaker_666]

I was just reading how "raising awareness" and gaining a knowledge of "prior genocides/holocausts" can prevent them..

After reflecting on these statements, I realized that having this knowledge never actually prevented genocide. (Need I mention Cambodia, Bosnia, Darfur, and many others).

I guess knowledge and words don't mean anything to someone that is so whacked out that they want to kill off a whole population in their country. Perhaps if we wrote them a really long letter detailing WWII, the janjiweed (Thats the group committing genocide in Sudan, if you didn't know) might change their minds. (thats sarcasm)
and how do you propose "we educated people" (the_fire_dog) prevent genocide? read a book? have a big rock concert to raise money (for what actual purpose, I don't know)?
I'm just saying we did nothing for Cambodia or the ongoing killings in Darfur, and got involved with the Nazi holocaust, and Bosnian genocide really late. So much for 'raised awareness'.

It seems like these "educated" people would do better spending half of their millions hiring a mercenary group to protect the defenseless. Or they could continue to hand out wrist bands. That works too.