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

Because of its exceptional capacity for self-criticism, the West took the initiative in abolishing slavery; the calls for abolition did not resonate even in black Africa, where rival African tribes took black prisoners to be sold as slaves in the West.

While many Islamic countries pay lip service to the idea of freedom of religion, they don't put up with conversion from Islam to another religion.

I always have tendency to form very strong local attachments, so I was very keen to find out about the school I was going to, its history, and the countryside. I was acquiring a kind of English character if you like, Englishness about things and my attitudes.

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

Being from a minority culture, I realised the importance of looking at non-Western cultures in a positive way.

We cannot hope to win the ideological battle against Islam without criticism of Islam, it is essential that we continue to criticize Islam.