That speech is like jerking off in front of oneīs mirror image. We should give a good example and then let others decide how they see us. Thereīs absolutely no value or content to such an allegation. Europe has its own problems and judging by the current debt crisis it is not really making a bella figura by now.
How much of what you just said is sustainable if the society lacks access to the modern things we are used to now and take for granted?
Civilization (or civilisation) is a sometimes controversial term that has been used in several related ways. Primarily, the term has been used to refer to the material and instrumental side of human cultures that are complex in terms of technology, science, and division of labor. Such civilizations are generally hierarchical and urbanized. In a classical context, people were called "civilized" to set them apart from Barbarians, while in a modern-day context, "civilized peoples" have been contrasted with primitive peoples.
There is a tendency to use the term in a less strict way, to mean approximately the same thing as "culture" and therefore, the term can more broadly refer to any important and clearly defined human society
He is right.
The devil will be in the details though, i.e. who defines the value of said civilizations.
"Our values are best values!"?
Civilised countries eat the chocolate and backward countries supply the commodity.
This is political masturbation, nothing more and nothing less. If you are successful you donīt need to talk about this and to shove it done the throat of other people...thatīs called understatement...besides the only civilization being really successful at the moment are the Chinese...Kudos to that great culture btw...while we (the west) are falling behind economically, demographically, geo-politically and culturally. Thereīs no need and certainly no reason for such an attitude.