There's an awful lot of press and forums about the Muslims that seem to say they want to hold on to the ideologies of the past. Some actually worship Islam and Allah.
Most of the press we read is about the misguided radical factions.

My point is to compare the evolution of the different cultures and races on planet earth.

For example I tend to think about the Japanese as a fairly evolved and progressive people. They still embrace the past like their concern for honor & family.
The Chinese are similar but different, they still have a way to go w/the human rights issues but their grasp of herbal remedies and holistic health is impressive..IE.. tai chi, massage & acupuncture(short of the superstitious crap like rhino horn).
The Chinese culture is over 5k years old. Japan & Korea are close behind.
Have they evolved and have they made contributions to mankind ?

Mesopostamia, Egypt, Iran are 3 textbook examples not to follow.
As old as Hell and not contributed a damned thing except violence and hate. So caught up in the old ways they can't see the sunrise.
I exagerate and lump them all together. Sure there are some individuals that have managed to surface.
Compared to America; only been a civilation a short time; the Mid East is a horrible reflection of the evolution of the human beings.

Reminds me of artilcle several months ago, Alan Keyes(lost ball high weeds) was pushing a bill for "tax exempt slave reparations".
Africa said to be birthplace of modern man. Another poor example of evolution with time on their side. Still throw rocks and spears at each other. The genocide practiced is deplorable. Aids runs ramped because of ignorance. They are so primitive that they believe sex w/a virgin will cure their disease. Slavery wasn't right but these pseudo Africans in America better be glad their great great grandparents were brougt to America.
Why would you want to call yourself an African American instead of just an American ?
Is your sense of identity so fragile that you relate to a non evolved backward culture like that of Africa ?

Live long and prosper.. Mr.Spock.

Was this one that bad or too abrasive ?

48 hrs and not one comment..

Perhaps not PC enough..

Almost seems "hands off".. oh well
:confused:

Sorry Jim but IMO your very way of considering people as "evolved" sends us back to 19th century thinking, when "scientists" defined civilizations and races according to their level of "evolution". Fortunately this has proven to be wrong. "Cicilizations" interact, they can hardly be considered as separate entities ; and the present situation of countries does not necessarily reflect their whole culture.

America is not a civilization, it's just a country - a superpower with its own culture, but a part of western civilization, not more. To compare it with China or Mesopotamia is irrelevant.

Thanks for commenting.. I was starting to wonder..

In response..isn't it human nature to compare.. if it wasn't for the differences from one culture to next, things would be quite boring..
I feel we are using the word culture liberally at best.
Some of these 5k plus old "civilazations" appear to be stuck w/nothing that holds promise for their future. Even if they never contribute anything to the rest of the world is it wrong to expect them to evolve in some fashion as human beings ?
IE..Stop eating their own...
stop marrying off 7 year old girls or
trading them for goats..

I absolutely agree that it is intersting to compare various cultures and countries, and the way people live in thses countries. I also agree that it is sometimes useful to criticize things in other countries.
But there are two points I think you should reconsider :
1- you seem to be mixing various concepts : civilization, culture and countries.
The USA, like Egypt, Iran or France, are not civilizations. They are countries, with their own culture, and influenced by the various civilizations that played a part in their histories.
I find the concept of distinct civilizations rather obsolete in our world. People in today's Iran are influenced by many aspects of what we call "western civiliztion", while we also take from eastern and southern civilizations a lot of things (food, music, religious concepts...)
2- You seem to imply that "civilizations" and people should evolve, and that western civilization is more "evolved" than others. That very idea of a linear and always improving evolution was very popular one century ago but it has now clearly shown its limits, in sociology, science as wall as biology. Cultures slowly change, technologies often improve, different ways of life interact, standards of living grow or decrease, but it is hard to tell which country is more advanced than other if you don't set precise criterias.
Of course the USA are the first economical and political power, and have a high science level, but these criterias are not the only one that could be taken into account. Human rights, environmental impact, philosophy or social cohesion are much better in may other countries.