[–] ponchoman275 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Well then I have to disagree about you indirectly calling us non-western. I am Czech and I can without a doubt say we are part of the west both historically and now politically. The Visegrád countries are firmly western due to our history, especially Czechia. The Baltics are a bit more disputable due to their long standing control by Russia but the Estonians are heavily trying to be western and are looking towards Finland, the other countries I'm sure are doing the same thing. Now they are politically and economically part of the west as they are part of the EU. But on a bright side I do think we have good future ahead of us and are one of the only parts of the west not to go completely crazy.
[–] TherealScrable ago
I wouldn't consider it western, especially because of "western values" as well as the western ignorance and arrogance of Eastern European issues. I believe that the west is not the thing we should strive for.
[–] ponchoman275 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
I'm mainly going to argue about Czechia but some of this stuff applies to the rest. Czechia has been a core member of the Holy Roman Empire, at times even being the power center. We were then part of the Austrian and later Austro-Hungarian empire. Our interwar republic was heavily influenced by the French republic. We are distinctly central European but since Austria and Germany are considered western then we are too, never forget Prague is located more to the west than Vienna. We are central European but that is part of the western world same as northern Europe is also part of the west. Unfortunately we aligned with the USSR from 1948 to 1989 and we are still behind due to that but if you look at the overall history that was an anomaly and we have spent the past 1000 years looking westward. All the core aspects of western civilization are present here. Democracy, freedom of speech, secularism, human rights, pluralism, Judeo-Christian traditions, rule of law stemming from Roman law, freedom of conscience, belief in science and progress and all the other things typical for the modern west. In some things we may be behind, but in some things we out west the west or so to speak. Since I live here I can without a doubt say I know what I'm talking about.
If you don't mind me asking where are you from?Edit: I can see you are Polish. Sorry man but Poland is still very western, perhaps less than Czechia I will admit that but you are still firmly part of the modern western world, even if you are the more religious and conservative part of it.Western values are the best values in the history of humanity, nothing comes even close. With the exception of multiculturalism though...