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Whether it be because of identity politics or the dependence on funding from foreign sources I agree with Peter that stifling of debate on the vices of cultural studies of other civilisations is inappropriate. However one can be equally suspicious about the objectives of the Ramsay Centre in attempting to introduce a course that could be viewed as a counter to the other courses, perhaps an opponent form of propaganda extolling the virtues of Western Civilisation. While we should feel entitled to criticise courses funded by foreign interests, sowing political and cultural divisions by polarising the debate with the relative merits of western civilisation is not the answer. The answer is an unbiased history of civilisation, a warts and all appraisal of the achievements and atrocities of each civilisation, and a celebration of the philosophies and political practices that we value, regardless of where they came. We cannot now take credit for the achievements of the historical Judeo-Christian perspective as if it were still current, as if that somehow makes us better than other civilisations, because we have evolved from those times and we may not preach the same ideals any more. Let's celebrate ideas, not cultures or civilisations, that made our world a better place to live in, and guard against ideas that diminish us, regardless of who devised them