Your Defenition of "the west"

[Trajan12]

You mean like this...

Wow, what an offensive, close minded and rasist comment.. if I ever seen one.

Shall I repost your statements about homosexuals?

You're killing me!

 

[Dann]

For me the term "the West" is first and foremost a cultural grouping. That they now share strategic interests is but the result of historical development.

Here is how I view the world and its cultural blocs:
Blue = the West. Primarily Protestant. Currently dominates the world due to historical reasons. Emphasis on democracy, individuality and human rights.
Purple = the Latin world. Primarily Catholic. Ex-colonies of the West, original native culture mostly wiped out, governmental systems strive to ape the West but oftentimes become a twisted parody of democracy. Much more relaxed pace of life, and generally people are happier and more content despite having less materially.
Cyan = the Slavs and the Caucasus. Primarily Greek orthodox. Almost Western, but having to live hemmed between the West and the shadow of Russia.
Red = Russia. She belongs to no bloc. Russia is Russia, an entitity onto her own. She is too big to need to belong anywhere.
Green = the Islamic world. Much more internal cultural variation than apparent but their religion exerts too high an influence it brings them together on most issues. Turkey I highlighted with a paler green for she is unique. Secular and more Westward looking (but still being rejected by the EU nonetheless).
Yellow = East Asian cultures. Some would say the Confucian ethos bloc. Despite recent historical grudges and differences the area has much more cultural cohesion than apparent. Emphasis on efficiency, results and overall social harmony, sometimes even to the extent of sacrificing the individual.
Brown = the Indian subcontinent. Again despite religious and political differences the peoples actually do have a cultural cohesiveness.
Orange = SE Asia. An area that has been heavily influenced by both China and India and developed a unique cultural identity. Technically Malaysia and Indonesia should be in this grouping too but Islam is a much more powerful force in those countries.

The rest I am unfamiliar with and so cannot comment upon.

 

[GenMarshall]

What I consider "West" is Japan, North America, Most of Europe, The Western Roman Empire, and Latin Rite Catholicism.

 

[Bast]

The West is superior to non-Western nations, both economically, politically, and socially.

It is. Preach.

 

[Gladi]

The caribian

-Caribbean

Bright day
Dear God, since when is Haiti part of West?

 

[Tee Kay]

If I'm speaking politically if I say "the west" I mean the USA, European superpowers and their allies. If I'm speaking culturally I would be referring to Judeo-Christian culture.

 

[punkbass2000]

"The west" - That which does all evil in the world.

 

[Mirc]

Israel
United States
Canada
United Kingdom
France
Spain
Portugal
Ireland
Norway
Sweden
Germany
Belgium
Luxembourg
Holland
Austria
Switzerland
Italy
Greece
Turkey
Andorra

So, Turkey is much more Western than Finland?

Technically, I'd just say Japan, Israel, US, Australia, Canada, and Western Europe. But I agree with the little beautiful maps to a large.

So Germany, Italy and Austria are not Western? Then what are they, Asians?

Cyan = the Slavs and the Caucasus. Primarily Greek orthodox. Almost Western, but having to live hemmed between the West and the shadow of Russia.

Well, we are not Slavs, and we're not in the Caucasus, yet we are colored in cyan on that map.

 

[CartesianFart]

I have to somewhat take Dann's definition on how the "West" is defined.

Sharing strategic interest(values of culture,economics,etc.) from the results of the ever changing historical development.

 

[REDY]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_world

The clear definition doesnt exist.

 

[amadeus]

"The west" - That which does all evil in the world.

Oh, brother.

 

[REDY]

"The West" are areas on west from Greenwich.

 

[punkbass2000]

Oh, brother.

Get in line! I was waiting for Bozo to come along and implode

 

[amadeus]

Get in line! I was waiting for Bozo to come along and implode

I don't blame him, because what you said is ridiculous. What evils is the West responsible for, punk?

 

[punkbass2000]

None, of course.

 

[Sidhe]

I don't blame him, because what you said is ridiculous. What evils is the West responsible for, punk?

Do you have about six months to waste looking into European history? If not then I suggest you take it as red that the West has been responsible for many abhorrent actions.

If nothing else our funked up Idea of imperialism has caused widespread grief and is still causing grief, the repurcusions of Europes actions are long felt.

 

[amadeus]

Do you have about six months to waste looking into European history? If not then I suggest you take it as red that the West has been responsible for many abhorrent actions.

If nothing else our funked up Idea of imperialism has caused widespread grief and is still causing grief, the repurcusions of Europes actions are long felt.

I don't really care about what happened 500 years ago.

 

[Sidhe]

I don't really care about what happened 500 years ago.

Or in 1939 either apparently.

 

[Fugitive Sisyphus]

The West: Any country that gets a substantial legal tradition and culture from Western Europe.

 

[amadeus]

Or in 1939 either apparently.

Oh, how I was waiting for this.

Fine, if the events of 1939 are representative for today's Europe, then shame on Germany and Italy for being such brutal fascists; Merkel should stop her anti-Semetic rantings and give everyone equal rights in Germany, and Prodi should stop trying to invade Ethiopia and Albania.

Wait a second...