[alex]

"However, as the world moves inexorably toward increasing modernity, we are, all people, forced into closer and closer proximity,..."

I am sorry I do not see the connection.

[Savage Beast]

What I mean is that the modern world has the effect of making the earth smaller and smaller and forcing all of its people into closer and closer proximity. Therefore, whereas once the West and the Islamic World could ignore one another and go their seperate ways, in today's world this is impossible. And it is not only these two worlds that are forced to coexist; there are others, e.g. China and the West. Such 'different worlds' must accomodate one another, destroy one another, or one must destroy the other. Accomodation is by far the best choice.