Before I read this part of the thread, I had already read the NYT article and was STUNNED that these things are somehow considered racist and wrong. That means that many of US, to hear others tell it, are racists! I actually wrote a response denouncing the NYT for this (and I tend to have an overall positive view of the NYT, even if I don't always like their politics).No, I'm not. I don't like stupidity no matter what color it's dressed in. I don't like hatred no matter what box it checks on race.All civilizations have beauty and wisdom, and they have all contributed in some way to the betterment of the world, I suppose. But Western Civilization, despite its darker chapters and moral failings, STILL stands head and shoulders above the rest. Yes, we are thankful that Islam preserved Aristotle's philosophy during the Dark Ages. Yes, the Far East gave us Confucius and Buddha, both of which had wisdom to offer.But the WEST, after a slow start, gave us the greatest advances in government, scholarship, philosophy, religion, science, etc. It's perfectly justifiable--even if others may debate it--to say that the West is the greatest civilization.