What exactly is an appropriate response?

[jaguar]

My opinion on Western culture is this: For all of its excesses, 21st century Western culture as a whole is pretty good. We have unprecedented technology in various sectors. Although I cannot speak for the rest of Western society, the majority of Americans have a decent standard of living. (Although 15% of Americans living in poverty is 15% too much.) Communication and access to information are at their greatest point in history, and continue to expand. And overall, again IMO, the 2001 Western world is an enlightened one.

Hm, i'd say most of that isn't so much cultural as just tech. They don't have to be interrelated. One can lead to another and they are obviously joined at the hip but..

It seems every issue from aids in africa to 911 that i have a long discussion comes down to globalisation.

At the same time, regardless of what a certain country's laws dictate, I believe that all people have a strong element of free will

Now THAT is interesting. Igorence is bliss comes in. You could argue that if people no nothing better then they will be happy, which is very orwellian. WIsh i had itme to continue this now but homework is calling.