Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Five TED Talks You Should Watch Before Taking the SAT

Ted talks are amazing presentations by experts in various fields. Theyre also great ways to waste time and not feel like a complete vegetable. But did you know they can also help you on the SAT? These five TED talks are great ways to learn some last-minute skills and hone a healthy pre-test-day mentalitycheck them out! 1. Andy Puddicombe All it takes is 10 mindful minutes Meditation is a powerful tool in combatting stress, anxiety, and other everyday concerns. In this TED talk, Andy Puddicombe, who became a celibate monk, talks about the power of ten mindful moments† of relaxation. Before your SAT, youll be sure to be a ball of stress and other annoying emotions. Learn to deal with them! 2. Maurice Ashley Working backward to solve problems Did you know that solving problems backward can actually be more effective at times? In this TED talk, Maurice Ashley, a chess grandmaster, shows us how he works his magicand how you can take his mentality to make your everyday life easier. This can work wonders on certain SAT problems! 3. Joshua Foer Feats of memory anyone can do This TED talk is amazing. Joshua Foer, a science writer, talks about how you can commit amazing feats of memory. What better place to use this technique than when studying for the SAT? A large portion of the SAT is about memorizationand a large part of school, too, unfortunately. This technique will prove helpful to you whenever you have a lot of information to retain! 4. Kelly McGonigal How to make stress your friend Stress doesn’t have to be your enemy. In fact, thinking this way can be detrimental to your health. Before your SAT, don’t be the kid hyperventilating into a paper bag, curled up on the floor, about to have a seizure. (I mean, I’m sure it’s happened sometime.) This talk is a really cool way to limit your stress—and possibly extend your lifespan. 5. Arthur Benjamin A performance of â€Å"mathemagic† Here’s one for people struggling with completing the math section on time. Arthur Benjamin is an amazing mathematician who can compute numbers and solve problems with dazzling speed. And you can do it, too. This is about as entertaining as math will ever get. Unless you’re one of those people who enjoys math. In which case†¦ Takeaway These TED talks aren’t just useful to watch before you take your SAT. They’re useful for the rest of your education and the rest of your life, really. This isn’t even a complete list of all the TED talks that will be useful to you, so if you really want to learn a lot—just for the sake of it—take a look at the TED website. Browse through the talks there. It’ll be well worth your time. Photo Credit: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Saturday, May 16, 2020

The Between Religion And Science - 810 Words

All that I have ever known and believed in is now being questioned. It is transitioning into some sort of enormous trial – between religion and science. I have been taught to accept the religious, social, and political ideas that the Catholic Church has devised upon the world. For years, humans have believed and used Aristotle’s theory which explained Earth’s position in the universe. By the geocentric theory, Earth was said to be located at the center of the universe. The moon, the sun, and the other planets would orbit around Earth. Christianity supported these theories and used them to educate people around the world. Recently, there have been new discoveries and theories that have been proposed by countless amounts of scientists,†¦show more content†¦In fact, he has invented analytical geometry which combines geometry and algebra. Issac Newton has formed the theory that interprets the law of motion. This law is recognized as the law of universal grav itation. There has also been an increase in the amount of new tools and materials. Zacharias Janssen created a new and improved microscope. It is currently being used to observe microscopic objects that you wouldn’t be able to see with a naked eye. There have been a wide variety of scientific tools that serve different purposes. The following are a collection of tools that share similar characteristics: mercury barometer, thermometer, and another scale for the thermometer. The thermometer is perceived to show temperatures in different weather conditions. These new methods, scientific tools, and theories are beginning to make an impact on the science community. Throughout endless amounts of warfare, adversity, and hardship, humans have encountered unknown diseases and sickness. Some of these illnesses don’t come with cures and are unable to be explained. However, with the new technology and science that this century has recently discovered, illness will no longer be the main issue. Hopefully, humans will be able to experience a greater longevity than before. We are becoming more advanced in medicine and possessing enhanced expertise that will offer better solutions for a human’s health. Before, a man named Galen would only dissect animals to understand theShow MoreRelatedThe Between Religion And Science1651 Words   |  7 PagesApocalyptic Science Fiction, a major theme is the relationship between Religion and Science. Technology being like a religion is able to infer consequences that by being so consumed by it or self-dependent on it, that it can in fact negatively affect spirit or ethics. A work of Science Fiction has the capability to translate concerns that are religious or spiritual. The Machine Stops, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, and Blade Runner all translate concerns that relate to religion and technologyRead MoreThe Relationship Between Religion And Science1339 Words   |  6 Pagesrelationship between religion and science. For example, the question has been raised whether science and religion give the same kind of knowledge, thus competing with one another. The alternate view is that they give different kinds of knowledge, thereby complementing one another. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was an Italian scientist who addressed this issue. A bit later, the English philosopher David Hume (1711-1776) similarly discussed the kinds of knowledge that can be obtained from religion and scienceRead MoreThe Difference Between Science and Religion1630 Words   |  7 PagesScience has had a short life when compared to religion. Yet weve seen civilizations better themselves a thousandfold since han ds unclasped, grabbed scientific instruments and started measuring the world. Is science some form of new religion? Or is science different from religion? Debates of this matter have been common since the dawn of science. Articles on their differences, similarities and clashings have crept up on society and affected everyone in the western civilization. Most recently, religiousRead MoreThe Divide Between Science And Religion996 Words   |  4 Pagesetymological root of the modern English word science (Merriam-Webster, 2016). It is perhaps fitting that many of the greatest minds of our time consider science to be the ultimate source of truth, knowledge, and understanding. Famed chemist, professor, and author Peter Atkins (1995) believes â€Å"science is the best procedure yet discovered for exposing fundamental truths about the world† (Atkins, 1995, p. 97). This paper will challenge that assertion and argue that science is not the only source of truth, thatRead MoreThe Relati onship Between Religion And Science907 Words   |  4 PagesThe relationship between religion and science is indubitably debated. Barbour describes four ways of viewing this relationship (conflict, independence, dialogue--religion explains what science cannot, and integration--religion and science overlap). Gould presents a case in which religion and science are non-overlapping magisteria (NOMA), that the two entities teach different things and therefore do not conflict. The subject of this essay is Worrall, who says that religion and science does conflict,Read MoreRelationship Between Science And Religion950 Words   |  4 PagesWithin philosophy, there has long been a question about the relationship between science and religion. These two systems of human experience have undoubtedly had a lot of influence in the course of mankind’s development. The philosopher Ian Barbour created a taxonomy regarding science and religion that has become widely influential. His taxonomy po stulates that there are four ways in which science and religion are thought to interact. The four categories are: conflict, independence, dialogue, andRead MoreThe Differences Between Science And Religion913 Words   |  4 PagesOften claims are made that science and religion are incompatible; the two cannot coexist as to believe in God contradicts scientific belief. To look at science and think of it in a completely separate field to religion is not true a true reflection of the relationship between the two. Science and religion overlap in several ways. They both affect our everyday decisions and impact on the way we view and understand the world around us. They both address ‘the same world, the same reality.’ just in differentRead MoreThe Relationship Between Religion And Science1056 Words   |  5 Pagesrelationship between religion and science? In his book, Consilience, Edward O. Wilson aims to find a unified theory of knowledge. Consilence also seeks to show how science is superior to and can replace religion. In this paper, I intend to show how Wilson understands this relationship and science as well as how. as well as show John Stuart Mill would agree or disagree with Wilson. Science â€Å"aims to save the spirit, not by surrender but by the liberation of the human mind† (Wilson, 7). Both religion and scienceRead MoreThe Relationship between Science and Religion755 Words   |  4 Pages  The Relationship between Science and Religion   The relationship between science and religion will be analyzed in the following three aspects: conflict, compartmentalization and complementariness.   Conflict   An essential question on our own existence is bound to evoke our curiosity: where did we come from? Charles Darwin, in his theory of evolution, believed that human being was evolved from apes. However, the Genesis in Bible considered that human was created by God. Undoubtedly, it is impossibleRead MoreThe Problem Between Science and Religion1289 Words   |  6 PagesScience and religion have always been in opposing viewpoints, historically. Science has a mentality that is based off of knowledge, observation, and experimentation. However, religion has no factual proof of anything, it is solely based off of faith and feelings. The problem between these two subjects is that one has factual evidence and one does not. Science is able to explain the laws of gravity - if an item is dropped it will fall. Religion is able to explain a single persons experience with a

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Affordable Care Act Is The Chief Repair Of The United...

The Affordable Care Act was the chief repair of the United States health care system that afford coverage for over 94 percent of Americans (ACA, 2014). These countless modifications benefit many Americans who have pre-existing conditions which normally had not been obtainable up to know. This project described the Health Insurance Marketplace coverage that function identified by metal tier that include consumer-costs and services. Each family decision will be individual regards they health status and economical needs. Even vulnerable people (immigrants) is also part of that who contribute United States economy and expected to be in good health. Programs such as manage care and Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) vacant for this†¦show more content†¦The metal tiers deliver basic understanding for consumers of health coverage categories such as Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum that will greater or lesser cover health care costs, but not include quality of care. In other wo rds, the higher the metal level, the highest payment from health plan will be received for users care overall. On the other hand, the lower the metal level the more users have to pay for provided care. Out of four categories Platinum and Gold (higher premium) compensate higher costs of health care than Bronze and Silver (lower premium). Bronze and Silver categories have lowest monthly insurance bill for users, however highest deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. In opposite site Platinum and Gold categories offered highest monthly payment and lowest deductible and out-of-pocket costs. Based on the consumer income after enrolling in a Silver plan user could qualified for cost-sharing reductions benefits of that is fairly low premium, lower deductible, and pay lower from out-of-pocket costs when care needed. Before a consumer chooses a plan, a good idea would be to evaluate self-health condition and how much money users want to spend in total care costs. For example, if users projected a lot of physician visits per year, hospital stays or need regular prescriptions in this case user need to think about Platinum or Gold plan because the plan covers a higher monthly premium, but covered higher costs of

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Clash Of Civilizations Essay Example For Students

Clash Of Civilizations Essay The Clash of Civilizations suggests that world politics is entering a new phase. It is his hypothesis that the fundamental source of conflict in the New Worldwill not be primarily ideological or primarily economic. Huntington believesthat the great divisions amongst humankind and the dominating source of conflictwill be in the cultural form. Nation states will still remain the most powerfulactors in world affairs, but the principal conflicts of global politics willoccur between nations and groups of different civilizations. Huntington states:The clash of civilizations will dominate global politics. The fault linesbetween civilizations will be the battle lines of the future. Huntingtonsuggests that the old groupings of the Cold War are no longer relevant (First,Second and Third Worlds). He proposes a new grouping of countries, not in termsof their political or economic systems or in terms of their level of economicdevelopment but rather in terms of their culture and civilization. Huntingtondefines civilizations as a cultural entity. Villages, regions,ethnic groups , nationalities, and religious groups, all with distinct culturesat different levels of cultural diversity. A civilization is thus the highestcultural grouping of people and the broadest level of cultural identity peoplehave short of that which distinguishes humans from other species. It isidentified both by common objective elements, such as language, history,religion, customs, institutions, and by the subjective self-identification ofpeople. However of all the objective elements which define civilizations,the most important he states is religion. The major civilizations in humanhistory have been closely identified with the worlds greatest religions, andpeople who share ethnicity and language but differ in religion may slaughtereach other, as happened in Lebanon, the former Yugoslavia, and the Subcontinent. The Clash of Rights categorizes the major contemporary civilizations as follows:Sinic, a distinct Chinese civilization; Japanese, a distinct civilization whichwas the offspring of Chinese civilization; Hindu, the core of Indiancivilization; Islamic, many distinct cultures existing within including Arab,Turkic, Persian, and Malay; Orthodox, centered in Russia and separate fromWestern Christendom; Western, associated with Christianity, Renaissance,Reformation and Enlightenment; Latin America, a separate civilization closelyaffiliated with the West but divided as to where it belongs in the West; andpossibly African; as the North and East coast are associated with Islam but theremainder have developed a sense of distinct identity. See figure 1.1 includedwithin. Huntington also states civilizations identity will be increasinglyimportant in the future, and the world will be shaped in large measure by theinteractions among seven or eight major civilizations. In the New World the mostprevale nt, important, and dangerous conflicts will not be between socialclasses, rich and poor, or other economically defined groups, but betweenpeoples belonging to different cultural entities. Tribal wars and ethnicconflicts will occur within civilizations. An example of this behaviour can beseen in various recent occurrences. In the Yugoslav conflicts, Russia provideddiplomatic support to the Serbs, and Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran and Libyaprovided funds and arms to the Bosnians, not for reasons of ideology or powerpolitics or economic interest but because of cultural kinship. In sum, the keyissues on the international agenda involve differences among civilizations. Power is shifting from the long predominant West to non-Western civilizations. Global politics has become multipolar and multicivilizational and as the Westattempts to assert its values and to protect its interests, non-Westernsocieties confront a choice. Huntington states: Some attempt to emulatethe West and join with the West; while other Confucian and Islamic societiesattempt to expand their own economic and military power to resist and to balanceagainst the West. The central axis of post-Cold War world politics is thus theinteraction of Western power and culture with the power and culture ofnon-Western civilizations. At the end of the Cold War severalmaps were introduced as to how nation-states of the world wouldexist. The first is of One World. This paradigm was based on the assumption thatthe end of the Cold War meant the end of significant conflict in global politicsand the emergence of one harmonious world. The one harmonious world paradigm isclearly far from reality to be a useful guide to the post-Cold War world. Thesecond is of Two Worlds. The us and them, but more commonly the rich(modern developed), and the poor (traditional, underdeveloped or developing)countries. However the world is too complex to be envisioned as simply dividedeconomically between North and South or culturally between east and West;perhaps the West and the Rest. The third paradigm is 184 States, More or Less. It derives from the Realist concept of international relations and suggests thatstates are the only important actors in world affairs and the relation amongstates is one of anarchy, and hence to insure their survival and security,states invariably attempt to maximize their power. This paradigm is moreaccurate, however it assumes that all states perceive their interests in thesame way and act in the same way. States define their interests in terms ofpower but also in terms of values, culture, and institutions presently influencehow states define their interests. And finally the last paradigm is Sheer Chaos. It stresses: the breakdown of governmental authority, the breakup of states, theintensification of tribal, ethnic, and religious conflict, the emergence ofinternational criminal mafias, refugees multiplying into the tens of millions,the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, thespread of terrorism, the prevalence of massacres and ethnic cleansing. The worldmay be chaos but it is not totally without order. An image of universal anduniform anarchy provides few clues for understanding the world. Next, the booklooks at V.S. Naipauls theory of a universal civilization which canbe defined as the general cultural coming together of humanity and theincreasing acceptance of common values, beliefs, orientations, practices, andinstitutions by peoples around the world. Naipauls theory lies behind threegeneral principles: first, most peoples in most societies have a similarmoral sense; second, civilized societies have cities and literacy incommon which distinguish them from primitive societies and barbarians; andthird, people generally share beliefs in individualism, market economies, andpolitical democracy, also know as the Davos Culture effect. However,Huntington and Ronald Dore put forth a case of their own suggesting that thereare two things, which are not constant throughout the world, but are imperativein global communication and cooperation. These aspects are language and religionas both are central elements of any culture or civilization. The worldslanguage is known to be English but Huntington argues this assertion and states:The overall pattern of language use in the world did not change dramatically. Significant declines occurred in the proportion of people speaking English,French, German, Russian, and Japanese, that a smaller decline occurred in theproportion of people speaking Mandarin, and that increases occurred in theproportion of people speaking Hindi, Malay-Indonesian, Arabic, Bengali, Spanish,Portuguese, and other languages. He believes that as the power of the Westgradually declines relative to that of other civilizations, the use of Englishand other Western languages in other societies and for communications betweensocieties will slowly erode. Language is realigned and reconstructed to accordwith the identities and contours of civilizations. A universal religion is alsovery unlikely to emerge. A religious resurgence has occurred and it has involvedthe intensification of religious consciousness and the rise of fundamentalistmovements. The data of table 3.3 on page 65 demonstrates increases in theproportions of the worlds population adhering to the two major religions, Is lamand Christianity. In the long run, however, Islam wins out as Christianityspreads primarily by conversion whereas Islam spreads by conversion andreproduction. In the modern world religion is a central, perhaps the central,force that motivates and mobilizes people. The most fundamental divisions ofhumanity are in terms of ethnicity, religion, and civilizations, which remainand spawn new conflicts. The book proceeds to discuss why civilizations willclash and in which manner. Huntington discusses six reasons for these conflictsand explains each accordingly. First, the book explains, differences amongcivilizations are not only real; they are basic. History, language, culture,tradition, and most important religion differentiate civilizations from eachother. These differences are far more fundamental than differences amongpolitical ideologies and political regimes. They do not necessarily meanconflict, however over the centuries; differences among civilizations havegenerated the most p rolonged and most violent conflicts. Second, the world isbecoming a smaller place. The interactions between the peoples of differentcivilizations are increasing; these increasing interactions intensifycivilization consciousness and awareness of differences between civilizationsand commonalties within civilizations. An example of this is seen with NorthAfrican immigrants in France who generate hostility as opposed to Catholic Poleswho are seen as good immigrants. Third, the processes of economicmodernization and social change throughout the world are separating people fromlongstanding local identities. They also weaken the nation state as a source ofidentity. In much of the world religion has moved to fill this gap, often in theform of movements that are labeled fundamentalist. The revival ofreligion, La Revanche de Dieu, as Gilles Kepel labeled it, providesa basis for identity and commitment that transcends national boundaries andunites civilizations. Fourth, the growth of civilizat ion-consciousness isenhanced by the dual role of the West. On the one hand, the West is at a peak ofpower. At the same time, however, and perhaps as a result, a return to the rootsphenomenon is occurring among non-Western civilizations. Huntington presumes aWest at the peak of its power confronting non-Wests that increasingly have thedesire, the will and the resources to shape the world in non-Western ways. Cardiovascular Condition EssayHe believes the Wests power is declining and will continue to do so as the mostsignificant increases in power are occurring and will occur in Asiancivilizations, particularly in China. However this decline, he describes, is notso simple. It will occur within three major characteristics. First it is a slowprocess; second this decline is highly irregular with pauses, reversals, andsome renewals; and thirdly the Wests power to influence the World is based onnumerous factors such as economic, military, institutional, demographic,political, technological, and social powers; all which are declining. In sum,Huntington concludes the Wests power is a decline in three core elements. Territory and population are first. Westerners constitute a steadily decreasingminority of the worlds population. Furthermore, the balance between the Westand other populations is also changing. Non-Western peoples are becominghealthier, more urban, more literate, and better educated. Next is economicproduct, which is been declining since the Second World War for Westerners. Thisrelative decline is; of course, in large part a function of the rapid rise ofEast Asia. And lastly, military capability which as Huntington demonstrates ontable 4.6, page 88; that the Wests military manpower, spending, forces, andcapabilities are at a significant decline whereas it is in a large rise innon-Western nations. Huntington states: We are witnessing the end of theprogressive era dominated by Western ideologies and are moving into an era inwhich multiple and diverse civilizations will interact, compete, coexist, andaccommodate each other. This is the revival of religion occurring in so manyparts of t he world and most notably in the cultural resurgence in Asian andIslamic countries generated in large part by their economic and demographicdynamism. The Clash of Civilizations asserts that the West is in a uniquesituation. Countries that for the reason of culture and power do not wish, orcannot, join the West instantly compete with the West by developing their owneconomic, military, and political power. They do this by promoting theirinternal development and by cooperating with other non-Western countries. Themost prominent for of this cooperation is the Confucian-Islamic connection thathas emerged to challenge Western interests, values and power. Asianassertiveness is rooted in economic growth; Muslim assertiveness stems inconsiderable measure from social mobilization and population growth. Theeconomic development in China and other Asian societies provides theirgovernments with both the incentives and the resources to become more demandingin their dealing with other countries. Po pulation growth in Muslim countriesprovides recruits for fundamentalism, terrorism, insurgency, and migration. Economic growth strengthens Asian governments; demographic growth threatensMuslim governments and non-Muslim societies. In general, states belonging to onecivilization that become involved in war with people from a differentcivilization naturally try to rally support from other member of their owncivilization. S. Greenway has termed the kin-country syndrome, isreplacing political ideology and traditional balance of power considerations asthe principal basis for cooperation and coalitions. This was witnessed duringthe Gulf war, as Safar Al-Hawali describes The West against Islam. Aworld of clashing civilizations, states Huntington, is however, inevitably aworld of double standards: people apply one standard to their kin-countries anda different standard to others. With respects to the fighting in the formerYugoslavia, Western publics manifested sympathy and support for the BosnianMuslims and the horrors they suffered at the hands of the Serbs. Relativelylittle concern was expressed, h owever, over Croatian attacks on Muslims andparticipation in the dismemberment of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Islamic governmentgroups, on the other hand, castigated the West for not coming to the defense ofthe Bosnians as over two dozen Islamic countries were reported to be fighting inBosnia. Huntington acknowledges that conflicts and violence will also occurbetween states and groups within the same civilizations. Such conflicts,however, are likely to be less intense and less likely to expand than conflictsbetween civilizations. Common membership in a civilization reduces theprobability of violence in situations where it might otherwise occur. As theconflicts in the Persian Gulf, and Bosnia continued, the positions of nationsand the cleavages between them increasingly were long civilizational lines. Thenext World War, if there is one, will be a war between civilizations, Huntingtonconcludes. Spurred by modernization, global politics is being reconfigured alongcultural lines. Peoples and co untries with similar cultures are coming together. Peoples and countries with different cultures are coming apart. Alignmentsdefined by ideology and superpower relations are giving way to alignmentsdefined by culture and civilization. Political boundaries increasingly areredrawn to coincide with cultural ones: ethnic, religious, and civilizational. Cultural communities are replacing Cold War blocs, and the fault lines betweencivilizations are becoming the central lines of conflict in global politics. This, Huntington asserts, is the cultural reconfiguration of global politics. Further, he believes these cultural differences do not facilitate cooperationand cohesion but on the contrary, they promote cleavages and conflicts for anumber of reasons. First, everyone has multiple identities, which may competewith or reinforce each other. Second, the alienation of cultural identitycreates the need for more meaningful identities as the power of non-Westernsocieties stimulate the revitalization of indigenous identities and culture. Third, identity at any level-personal, tribal, racial, or civilization can onlybe defined in relation to an other as opposed to the likeus. Fourth, the sources of conflict between states and groups fromdifferent civilizations are, in large measure, those, which have alwaysgenerated conflict between groups. Fifth and finally is the prevalence ofconflict. It is human to hate. Just as most nations are aligned with aparticular civilization or grouping there are others which have difficultiesaligning and finding commonalties amongst civilizations. These nationsHuntington categorizes as torn countries. The reason for thissyndrome is that these nations usually have one or more places viewed by theirmembers as the principal source or sources of their civilization. These sourcesare often located within the Core State or states of the civilization, that is,its most powerful and culturally central state or states. Islam, Latin Americaand Africa all lack core states. This lack of a core state en dangers thepotential for these cultures to take a leadership role in global politics. Globally the most important torn country is Russia. The question of whetherRussia is a part of the West or the leader of a distinct Slavic-Orthodoxcivilization has been a recurring one in Russian history. In order to redefineits civilization identity, a torn country must meet three requirements. First,its political and economic elite has to be generally supportive of andenthusiastic about this move. Second, its public has to be willing to acquiescein the redefinition. Third, the dominant groups in the recipient civilizationhave to be willing to embrace the convert. A similar example of these criteriahas been Mexico. Another syndrome discussed by Huntington is of a lonecountry. These countries lack cultural commonality with other societies. Ethiopia, Haiti, and more importantly Japan, are lone countries. Finally, thelast syndrome mentioned is cleft countries. This occurs when largegroups belong to different civilizations causing the populace to become deeplydivided. Examples of current cleft countries are Sudan, Nigeria, Tanzania, andKenya. Some possible cleft countries, Huntington presumes, are India, Sri Lanka,Malaysia, Singapore, China, Philippines, Indonesia, and maybe even Canada. Basically, having achieved political independence, non-Western societies wish tofree themselves from Western economic, military, and cultural domination. EastAsian societies are well on their way to equaling the West economically. Ageneral anti-Western coalition, however, seems unlikely in the immediate future. Islamic and Sinic civilizations differ fundamentally in terms of religion,culture, social structure, traditions, politics, and basic assumptions at theroot of their way of life. Inherently each probably has less in common with theother than it has in common with Western civilization. Yet in politics a commonenemy creates a common interest. Islamic, and Sinic societies which see the Westas their antagonist thus have reason to cooperate with each other against theWest. Huntington states: Trust and friendship will be rare. Theoverriding lesson of the history of civilizations, however, is that many thingsare probable but nothing is inevitable. Civilizations can and have reformed andrenewed themselves. The central issue for the West is whether, quite apart fromany external challenges, it is capable of stopping and reversing the internalprocesses of decay. Can the West renew itself or will sustained internal rotsimply accelerate its end and/or subordination to other economically anddemogra phically more dynamic civilizations? I feel that in the short term it isclearly in the interest of the West to promote greater cooperation and unitywithin its own civilization, particularly between its European and NorthAmerican components; to incorporate into the West. Politics