Although it is interesting, the fact that the Middle Easterners need to ask, and are asking, them selves several questions in the hopes of figuring out why their civilization declined and what they can do to remedy their situation, it is not often pointed out that Westerners should be asking them selves the same questions. Instead of living in a world of condescending triumph over the success of western civilization in the past several centuries, perhaps the western world could understand that it is not without its own flaws. If taken the historical context that the Middle East was at one time much more advanced, better organized, and more innovative than the West, it is not that hard to imagine that the West could one day suffer its own decline. The Far East, for instance, is showing strong signs of innovation and development where as many may argue that the West is showing a decline in these two fields. Conceivably if a trend is to develop the West may have to respond to a Far Eastern impact and no one can say how the West will respond. The September Eleventh attack was, without a doubt, a slap in the face from the East to the West, but instead of Western eyes focusing on the Middle East with animosity and disgust, maybe they should see the attack for what it was; a frantic cry from a desperate people. Furthermore, the West might just want to learn a lesson from the plight of the Middle Easterners and take steps to assure the survival of western innovation and development because the future of the western success is, by no means, certain. Being that history is the only way to try and determine the future, it is important to notice that the one time dominate Middle Eastern society did suffer a decline and was replaced by the West. This in mind, the West should understand that if it can happen to the East then it can happen to the West and one day the West might just find itself in a situation in which the only question it can ask itself is what went wrong.