[Cronos]

Factors like intelligence, manners, and initiative are cultural, not genetic. Western culture values these things, so they are encouraged.

Ok, intelligence. Eastern cultures have dominated 'intellectual' stuff for millenia up until the industrial era and are doing so again. Manners, well, the Japanese have always been highly mannered. Arabs display impeccable manners and hospitality to their guests. Initiative, hmm.. how can you say Egyptians, Persians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, Indians, Chinese, etc. have or had no initiative?

[ffusco]

Intelligence is not the same as intellectual. Also I disagree that the east dominated that sphere at any time. I will concede that they were more holistic in their spirituality, but that's about it. None of the innovations that mark the industrial and post-industrial age were Eastern in origin, and if it wasn't for Intell and Microsoft, they would still be manufacturing cheap AM radios, which was another Western invention.

The western tradition of science was based on reductionism, that is finding the smallest parts to something.Now we split the Atom and travel to distant planets. Where some see the trees, some see a forest and some see lumber.

Furthermore, Manners are specific to location. The original argument by another post was that non-whites were genetically incapable of behaving in a civilized way.

This is the age old myth of "Orientalism" which implies that non-whites are emotionally, culturally and genetically inferior. This persists today even among Europeans, even in certain nations.

Regarding Initiaitive. We value individuality in the west so we reward those accordingly. Any discussion of ancient peoples is meaningless.

Regarding manners, also these are learned by socialization. What we consider good mannners is just that- our concept of good manners. Arabs while known for their hospitality are considered by some to lack good manners because: They lack our definition of personal space, so they stand too close to you in any situation.