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To be civilized, according to the dictionary, means being in an "advanced stage of social, cultural, and moral development." The qualities of a civilized person would include being polite, well-mannered, cultured, refined, sophisticated, educated, developed, etc.

Although some of these qualities are still associated with civilization, the connotation of the word has changed somewhat and has, in some cases, been twisted into its opposite. Being civilized has come to be more associated with material progress and wealth than with the qualities of a civil individual or society.

The term, "the spread of civilization" would seem to mean the progress throughout the world of those high qualities mentioned above. Instead, it has meant the domination by "civilized" nations of those less technologically advanced. From imperial Rome to imperial Britain to imperial America, civilization has been exported through the sword, the gun, and the bomb.

It has always been justified by the idea that the victims are being brought the "benefits" of civilization. Their lives are being improved, not counting the ones who have died in the process, and not counting their loss of freedom and self-government.

How much damage has been done by Christian missionaries out to civilize and Christianize native populations? What a paradox that peaceful and civil natives were killed and bullied into accepting "civilization" and Christianity for their own good. The number of examples of "civilized" nations imposing their brand of civilization onto indigenous peoples would make a book, but not one that would be pleasant to read.

America's own history of civilizing through colonization and democratization has left many trails of tears. Someone wiser than I said that all of our efforts to democratize or "save" other nations has, surprisingly, been very lucrative for us and very damaging to those we were helping.

The latest country we have saved from bondage is Iraq. We removed a cruel dictator (who was there with our blessing and support) and brought democracy to a freedom-starved people. This has cost over a million Iraqi lives and more American lives than we are being told. Over four million Iraqis are refugees, either inside or outside their own country. One of the oldest civilizations in the world has been devastated.

So is America a civilized nation? Was Britain a civilized nation as it colonized much of the world? Was Rome? If a people live primitive lives, hunting, fishing, and gathering. If they live in simple huts and have no modern conveniences, no indoor plumbing, no electricity or motors. Are they, by definition, uncivilized? What if they are peaceful people? What if they treat one another civilly and treat those outside of their community civilly.

I think a good argument can be made that the civilized world has wandered far from the real meaning of the word "civilized." As long as there are wars, civilization is absent. As long as human beings are being tortured, there is no civilization. Sophisticated weapons do not make us sophisticated. Refined methods of torture and killing do not make us refined.

We speak of developed nations and developing nations. We are a developed nation, but what have we developed? Civility, if it is to exist in any meaningful way, must come from each individual. A nation cannot behave in an uncivilized manner without the support of its citizens, or their enabling through inaction. Until we hold our leaders accountable for their extraordinarily uncivilized behavior, this nation will continue to be an uncivilized nation in civilized clothing.

Learn more about this author, Bob Trowbridge.
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