. A democratic spirit that all citizens are equal before the law and have a voice in governing our communities. While the Middle Ages and all the divine right crap that came from it were a detour, this is perhaps the greatest idea handed down to us from the Ancient Greeks.
2. Free and open exchange of ideas.
3. A sense of exploration of the world. Has any other culture been more adventurous and explored more than European/American culture?
4. A military that is made of the citizenry and fights for the citizenry and NOT the government.
5. A belief in the perfectibility of people. Many of the ideas of original sin, etc. that Christians have believed in are NOT western ideas, but rather imported from the Middle East, etc. following the invasion of Christianity into European culture.