Are we obligated to "enlighten" other cultures?

No, we shouldn't force our values on other cultures, but if people in those cultures have expressed a desire to make a change, then we should support them.

Of course we shouldn't force our culture and our way of life on others. Even in the worse cases where women have very few rights we should not take the attitude of a superior culture (because we're not!) and try to change theirs. In cases where women's rights are severly limited i think that the best thing to do, if someone is really passionate about helping, is to ally with women within that country and culture and help them in their struggle in anyway possible. That is not to say to teach or show them how to gain their own rights but to give what ever resources and labor you can as a women of privilige to help them. Never to move them along as you see necessary. Their liberation must be self guided and self motivated!

It can't harm to leave the door open and let people see a way of doing things not based in ignorance or superstition. Perhaps it is up to them to make the change, but I'm firmly convinced that when people see something better they will want it.

I am not necessarily speaking of the USA, there are things the USA itself could profitably change by looking elsewhere.

I think western culture has migrated around the world because of radio, television and movies. You can't deny the influence. People in other countries learn English, wear western dress and learn political and religious thought from their exposure to media and people who work in their countries, from businessmen and women to missionaries. We don't have to force it on them. They are dosed with it every day. The world-wide Internet made it all more accessible and sped up the process further.

C. :)

As far as the government goes, It seems like it's our duty to change the ones that have resources we (as the US) want. Other than that it doesn't seem like we have that much responsibility to anyone.

Government BS aside, it seems like that if there is a group of people getting the crap kicked out of them we could at least have a word with the government that is doing it. I don't know about invasions and all that, but we can at least try to help those in need.

forcing morals on others in the name of enlightenment has been the source of bloody wars through history.

However, where you see human rights being abused, I think that it is our duty to do something about it.

What if other nations allowed the holocaust to continue with challenge?

'Enlighten' may not be the right word. 'Support', or 'influence' are better words. I base this opinion on the fact that those so called 'third world' countries are growing/changing faster than what the media show us here. So our views of them are not really accurate. Are we obligated ? No. Can we help? Maybe, if they enlist our support.

If you mean by enlightening non-western cultures by teaching them how to read and write and giving them some books, then I think we are entitled to. Education is the way to go.

If it's their "culture" to kill people with different ideas/tribal affiliation/religions than them, or hold down screaming little girls and cut their external genitalia off with a piece of broken glass, then yeah...I think some enlightenment is needed.

There is a lot of mistreatment of women throughout the world. American women have more choices, but they're not necessarily happier. Consider the millions of women in American prisons for instance. You can give women an idea of what "enlightenment" is, but unless they have an outlet to express their freedoms, it is only an unrealistic conclusion. A recipe for unhappiness. If American women are the gauge by which these women would measure "happiness", I don't think they'd want it.