NOTES
-explain: how author justifies his claims
-evaluate: our view on the author’s claims
Central theme: Is modernity a western concept/idea/thing?
2nd argument
-democracy (linked to modernity) has western origins, but it doesn’t mean it belongs to the west
-because it is NATURAL (emphasis) to accept these cultural values as long as its beneficial

As the world modernizes and technology come into play, people now have the access of internet to interconnect. Free flow of information, rapid progress in transportation and communication has made the world a "Global Village". Not only the internet, but the global diffusion of radio, television, handphones, have exposed an enormous population to different cultural values. Many localized cultural values are now being spread all over the world, and such cultural values are definitely not all belonging to the West. For example, meditation has been a scared practice for centuries in Indian culture. It helps one connect to their inner being, and this has become a common practice all over the world to keep bodies in shape. Chinese symbol tattoos, which obviously do not belong to the West, have also spread all over. These cultural values were able to be adapted by people all over because it is natural to accept them since it is beneficial.
In article 2, the author states that democracy has western origins, but that does not mean it belongs to the west. Instead, it is a natural process for people to accept these cultural values as long as it is beneficial towards them. As the world modernizes, democracy can be increasingly observed. Democracy is "government by discussion", and modern concepts of democracy is no doubt very deeply influenced by Western analyses over the last few centuries. However, there is a long unknown history of democracy across the world; extrapolating backward from these Western analyses to construct a dichotomy between the Western and non-Western would be very misleading.
The earliest recorded form of democratic process was recorded in ancient Sumerian references, and assembly based democracy had actually taken place in lands that now correspond to Iran, Iraq and Syria at about 1500BCE. Greece and Rome also had similar democratic practices, when they were still being categorized as being Middle Eastern. From there, the concept spread eastward, reaching western civilizations. Democracy appeared in Europe only in the fifth century, England in year 1265, United States in 1788. This strongly proves the point that democracy do not belong to the west. Furthermore, to see Iranian dissidents who want democracy as "Western values" would be to add insult to injury. In fact, democracy's concept of human rights and public governance should not be attributed to the West, but a unified mindset and decision from people all over to naturally accept democracy as a beneficial process.