Carly Fiorina, the CEO of Hewlett-Packard, 26 September 2001.

"...I'll end by telling a story. There was once a civilization that was the greatest
in the world.

It was able to create a continental super-state that stretched from ocean to
ocean, and from northern climes to tropics and deserts. Within its dominion
lived hundreds of millions of people, of different creeds and ethnic origins.

One of its languages became the universal language of much of the world, the
bridge between the peoples of a hundred lands. Its armies were made up of
people of many nationalities, and its military protection allowed a degree of
peace and prosperity that had never been known. The reach of this civilization's
commerce extended from Latin America to China, and everywhere in between.
And this civilization was driven more than anything, by invention.

Its architects designed buildings that defied gravity. Its mathematicians created the
algebra and algorithms that would enable the building of computers, and the
creation of encryption. Its doctors examined the human body, and found new
cures for disease. Its astronomers looked into the heavens, named the stars, and
paved the way for space travel and exploration.

Its writers created thousands of stories. Stories of courage, romance and magic.
Its poets wrote of love, when others before them were too steeped in fear to think
of such things.

When other nations were afraid of ideas, this civilization thrived on them, and
kept them alive. When censors threatened to wipe out knowledge from past
civilizations, this civilization kept the knowledge alive, and passed it on to
others.

While modern Western civilization shares many of these traits, the civilization
I'm talking about was the Islamic world from the year 800 to 1600, which
included the Ottoman Empire and the courts of Baghdad, Damascus and Cairo,
and enlightened rulers like Suleiman the Magnificent.

Although we are often unaware of our indebtedness to this other civilization,
its gifts are very much a part of our heritage. The technology industry would not
exist without the contributions of Arab mathematicians. Sufi poet-philosophers like
Rumi challenged our notions of self and truth. Leaders like Suleiman
contributed to our notions of tolerance and civic leadership.

And perhaps we can learn a lesson from his example: It was leadership based
on meritocracy, not inheritance. It was leadership that harnessed the full
capabilities of a very diverse population-that included Christianity, Islamic,
and Jewish traditions.

This kind of enlightened leadership - leadership that nurtured culture,
sustainability, diversity and courage - led to 800 years of invention and
prosperity..."

Carly Fiorina, the CEO of Hewlett-Packard, 26 September 2001.