America the Beautiful

In America the Beautiful, Dinesh D'Souza discusses some interesting ideas. I took American History last semester and remember learning about the idea of exceptionalism. I think it was in relation to the us and the indians back in the day. We thought that our ways were more civilized and therefore better, so we wanted them to become like us and change their ways.
Its interesting because sometimes i find my self thinking in this way about other people and the way they live their lives. i am happy and think that the way i am living is better. I assume that if they change from the way they are living to my ways, then they will be happier, but i fail to understand or grasp the fact that even thought the way they are living is different, it doesn't mean that their way is any worse than mine. It is just simply different. Tolerance is the key here.
I also think it interesting how 9-11 changed a lot of people's thinking. I met and talked to many muslims when i lived in denmark. THey are really good people and are peaceful. In discussing religion with them i came to discover that their religion is based on peace. There are of course some branches that a radical in nature, and decide to take a different approach to things, but there is a distinction, i believe.
I think that everyone just needs to be more respectful and tolerant of each other, but unfortunately that is not the way things usually work out. Instead people judge and start to assume things. The problem is sometimes they are wrong in their assumption, but sometimes that is just how is has to be. You can't always just play defense.