My biggest problem with your point of view is that you're claiming superiority for our society, when the quality of a culture can't easily be measured.
It's equivalent of saying 'mine is the best, because it's mine'. I can't agree with it.
I am open to discussion including lengthy discussion.
HN is not a suitable place for that. Why don't we talk here:
http://groups.google.com/group/rational-politics-list/
You can also read some of my philosophy if you like (if you think I am programmed by someone, please let me know who I've copied here! :) http://fallibleideas.com/
It's just that sometimes views are so strongly held that discussion is very drawn out - I was being a bit flippant.
Thanks for the invite to the group. I will take you up on your offer, I'll also have a read through your site - it looks very interesting.
EDIT: I should point out, if I had to choose a school of philosophy, it would be existentialism - we might be a bit like oil and water.
*reminder*
It is not xenophobic to be pro-civilization, to think that allowing people the option to join civilization is good for them, or to wish aliens would come along and share advanced knowledge with us (thus radically transforming our world).
Change is not bad or scary on principle. Change is a necessary aspect of improvement. Improvement exists. I'm not going to force my idea of improvement on anyone, but I damn well am going to offer it to them and give them the choice.
Maybe you are ignorant of how some Western organizations strive to keep uncivilized people backwards against those people's will by putting up barriers between them and integration with the modern world. They treat them a little like a zoo. That's disgusting.
(You might have dodged Godwin's law if you hadn't included the parenthetical about it... :)