The Clash of Civilizations Between Traditional Islam and Western Values

There is a clash between traditional Islam and Western values, where Western weaknesses like tolerance, diversity, and self-criticism are exploited. In the West, we cherish values like rational conversation, individual freedom, the rule of law, consent of the governed, peaceful power transfer, strong civil society, and tolerance of differences that don't threaten other goods. These values foster open societies with scientific progress, creative intelligence, increasing wealth, social mobility, personal security, public justice, a healthy environment, institutional transparency, and a generous social safety net. However, not everyone values these goods; some cultures, like Hamas, oppose them. Islamic extremists manipulate Western virtues like freedom of speech, tolerance, and self-doubt for malicious purposes. Acknowledging this clash and preventing the misuse of core Western values are crucial for the future and for establishing peace in regions like the Middle East.