And you may wonder, OK, that's all fine, sounds great -- moral direction in history -- but what about this so-called clash of civilizations? Well, first of all, I would emphasize that it fits into the non-zero-sum framework, OK. If you look at the relationship between the so-called Muslim world and Western world -- two terms I don't like, but can't really avoid; in such a short span of time, they're efficient if nothing else -- it is non-zero-sum. And by that I mean, if people in the Muslim world get more hateful, more resentful, less happy with their place in the world, it'll be bad for the West. If they get more happy, it'll be good for the West.
Si va puteti intreba, ok, totul e in regula, suna foarte bine -- directia morala in istorie -- dar ce ne facem cu asa numita inclestare a civilizatiilor? In primul rand as spune ca se potriveste in cadrul sumei ne-nule. Daca va uitati la relatia dintre asa numitele Lume Musulmana si Lume Occidentala -- doi termeni care nu imi plac, dar pe care nu prea pot sa ii evit -- intr-o perioada atat de scurta de timp, sunt cel putin eficiente. Este o suma ne-nula. Si prin asta spun ca, daca lumea Musulmana devine mai plina de ura, mai rea, mai putin fericita cu locul ei pe lume, pentru lumea Occidentala va fi mai rau. Daca ei vor fi mai fericiti, pentru Occident va fi bine.