An Ode to Civilization

"Courtesy is next to morality."
- Confucius

Civilization you see,
doesn't just mean technology,
doesn't mean money,
doesn't mean Hennessy,
certainly doesn't mean democracy

No, civilization may be found
in the music of Vivaldi and Tchaikovsky,
in museums, coffeehouses, and libraries
but also among gruff hippies,
on camel caravans in "primitive" places,
in rough-shod villages overseas,
in enlightened leaders among all races

Civilization is order and courtesy,
scholarship and industry,
valor and sincerity,
tradition and liberty,
!!!humanity and humaternity!!!