To sum up the dialogue between David and Jay, in history or
culture/civilisation there are two sides to the story; the view from
within formed by those who lived it and were there, and the view formed
by those removed or outside, be that by time or a different culture.

"Ciritcism of a culture from beyond that culture.." is inevitable,
whether or not it is "distasteful". It is not right or wrong. It is part
of our evolution. It is what brings about change in our values as a
society. It is one reason why great civilizations and empires grow and
inevitably die.

Think of where we'd be today if the WW2 Allies hadn't criticised the
cultures of Nazi Germany  and Japan's "Greater Sphere of Co-prosperity"?
What was the "Cold War" from the '40's to the 90's all about, if not
Western Culture's criticism of the Communist Culture, and vice versa?
Very different beliefs about what was right.

George Bailey
Australian War Memorial

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