And yet, as the depressingly inevitable war of revenge disguised as a war on evil and a war for democracy unfurled, it was equally evident that merely to decide at this point that religion, rather than being a harmless anachronism dwindling into the past, was the root of all evil, would be to repeat the worst excesses of racism and xenophobia under the guise of protecting western civilisation.
The Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats is working towards consistent compliance with the acquis communitaire and all the documents that uphold the values of European civilisation and protect the freedom and personal integrity of each individual.
These Crusader castles were the ancient equivalent of Donald Rumsfeld's notorious "lily-pads", walled military bases to protect the forces of Western "civilisation" against the armies of barbarians (terrorists) outside.
No, it must be worse than that: Mr Bush must actually believe in what he is doing.Mr Bush says that he is acting to protect "the most fundamental institution of civilisation" from what he sees as "activist judges" who in Massachusetts early this month confirmed an earlier ruling that banning gay marriage is contrary to their state constitution.
Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling frescoes turned 500 on today with the Vatican warning it may eventually limit visitors to protect one of the wonders of Western civilisation.
He defied Zeus's injunctions against aiding humans, daring to steal fire on our behalf, teach us the arts of civilisation and show us how to protect ourselves from the gods' greed.
In communities in which there had been sufficient progress towards civilisation, it is of great importance to protect and promote liberty of action for all.
If the first duty of government is to protect the safety of the public as a whole, the first requirement of civilisation is preventing the inhuman treatment of the individual.
"Civilisation has to a certain extent depended on whistleblowers, and therefore you have to protect them," Berners-Lee said.
Civilisation is built on that trust and everyone must fight to defend it, and to protect our vulnerable aspects – our inner feelings, our families.
