--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What they [the 9/11 attackers] abominate…" description: "\"What they [the 9/11 attackers] abominate about 'the west', to put it in a phrase, is not what western liberals don't like and can't defend about their ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/christopher-hitchens-117_inquiry_what-they-the-9-11-attackers-abominate-a_2508594.jpg" --- # What they \[the 9/11 attackers\] abominate about 'the west'… ![“What they [the 9/11 attackers] abominate about 'the west', to put it in a phrase, is not what western liberals don't like and can't defend about their own system, but what they do like about it and must defend: its emancipated women, its scientific inquiry, its separation of religion from the state.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/christopher-hitchens-117_inquiry_what-they-the-9-11-attackers-abominate-a_2508594.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/christopher-hitchens-117_inquiry_what-they-the-9-11-attackers-abominate-a_2508594.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/christopher-hitchens-117_inquiry_what-they-the-9-11-attackers-abominate-a_2508594.jpg) > “What they \[the 9/11 attackers\] abominate about 'the west', to put it in a phrase, is not what western liberals don't like and can't defend about their own system, but what they do like about it and must defend: its emancipated women, its scientific inquiry, its separation of religion from the state.” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that critics of the West often target its freedoms, especially women's rights and scientific inquiry, rather than its flaws. **In simple terms:** Critics focus on Western freedoms, not its problems. Key Takeaway Recognize and defend genuine freedoms. Themes freedom women's rights science secularism cultural criticism Mood thoughtful critical analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political debate - human rights advocacy - educational curricula - media analysis Key Concepts liberalism human rights secularism gender equality Questions to Reflect On - Do you value the freedoms you defend? - How do you address their shortcomings? A Different Perspective Critics may overlook systemic inequities within those freedoms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inquiry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquiry/) [Liberals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberals/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) ## Related quotes > [“the bombers of Manhattan represent fascism with an Islamic face. . . . 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