Is there Something called American civilization

Gandhi’s Play on Words

Posted on April 24, 2012

The most famous, and most clichéd, Gandhi quote is without a doubt “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” I wish there was an official count of how many organizations use that to “inspire” people.

In a close second, though, is this rather impish remark:

Reporter: Mr. Gandhi, what do you think of Western Civilization?

Mr. Gandhi: I think it would be a good idea!

The exchange always appears in searches of Gandhi quotes, but I haven’t encountered one that actually supplies the time and place where this back-and-forth is supposed to have occurred. In any case, the reporter is obviously seeking a good quote, and Gandhi basically dupes him. His reply is quite in character with the tongue-in-cheek sense of humor he is credited with having.

Even sexuality has taken on a new meaning in society. Now, 

thanks to contraception, we can enjoy sex purely for pleasure 

instead Of confusing it with reproduction. We no longer need 

to fear pregnancy as a divine punishment following the 

famous quote that 'you will bear children in pain'. Sex is now 

a pleasure like any Other and is not just for reproduction. 

People of today get pleasure from all their activities, and 

want this to increase. Everything is becoming grounds for 

pleasure now in our society where any guilt due to enjoyment 

has luckily almost completely disappeared. 

This allows people to blossom much more, and to be less 

violent and militarized, which means to be more civilized. 

In fact, the first true civilization in the history of humanity 

is in the process Of being born. 

It always amuses me when I hear people talk with admira- 

tion about ancient civilizations such as Greece, Rome, or 

Egypt. Those weren't civilizations, they were just a bunch Of 

barbarians who thought of nothing but slicing each other up, 

Of making war and sacrifices, using virgins if possible. 

Civilization means civil, that is to say non-military and 

non- violent. 

A true civilization, that is to say a non-military society, has 

never existed, neither in the past, nor even today. 

The United States of America is not a civilization because it 

has one of the most powerful armies in the world and is 

responsible for the death of hundreds of Iraqi children per 

day because Of the embargo they impose through their pup- 

pet the United Nations Organisation, not to mention the 

greatest crime ever perpetrated against humanity for which 

they have still not yet stood trial, that is to say the atomic