The great ideas of the West - rationalism, self-criticism, the disinterested search for truth, the separation of church and state, the rule of law, equality before the law, freedom of conscience, thought, and expression, human rights, and liberal democracy- quite an achievement, surely, for any civilization- - remain the best, and perhaps the only, means for all people, no matter of what race or creed, to reach their full potential and live in freedom.

Discussions of Western civilization are too often confined to works of high art that reflect a relatively narrow element of public taste and experience.

The idea that the West was economically successful because of slavery, it's just nonsense.

The West has given us the liberal miracle of individual rights, individual responsibility, merit, and human satisfaction.

Surprisingly one of the forces for secularisation was Christianity itself. As soon as it accepted the idea of a contrary opinion, the moment that European opinion decided for toleration, it decided for eventual free marketing opinion.

In the West we are free to think what we want, to read what we want, to practice our religion, to live as we choose. Liberty is codified in human rights, a magnificent Western creation but also, I believe, a universal good.

I maintain that Western popular culture at its best is worthy of respect and should be cherished as much as the operas of Wagner.