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Civilized?

One of our former Chief Ministers stayed at a village home as part of his 'Grama Vastavya' programme. The local leaders had urgently constructed a toilet room at the house before his stay. Now, after he stayed there for a night and left, the residents have removed the toilet and converted it into a pooja room. They say they don't need a toilet inside their house and they are used to using open area. Anyway, they are right in a way. It is part of their lifestyle and having a toilet inside their house is against their beliefs. 
Why should we consider what is followed by us (majority) to be true and universally applicable? Why is it considered that we are civilized and those who do not follow our culture is uncivilized and pagans? They may be more civilized than us for all we know. And what is civilization? Is it wearing trendy clothes, high heels, sophisticated talk, leaving the food in the plate even when we are hungry, drinking alcohol just because it is protocol....? I think those living in villages and the poor in the cities are more civilized than us. 

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