Wow. Interesting reflection. I thought this would be related to Huntington's "The clash of civilizations", but it turned out better.
Western culture is very complex, in my humble opinion. I see no traceable aboriginal roots, so I think this is the cause of the non-connaissance of the otherness. Of course, I'm presenting this very lightly (very unscholarly), but I think this lost connection to our ancestry creates the void I perceive in our culture. I say this because I'm familiar with South American indigenous folks and their cosmovisions. And I can see how it has permed into the cultures of the remaining nations. It's just my humble opinion.