"For example, shortly after 9-11 I recall an interview with those we call the "radical" Islamics" (I believe it was a very short piece in Harper's) and the person stated what Americans just didn't understand was that to Muslims, their religion was everything - that it was their life, while Americans and their religion was more or less practiced one day of the week. "

Having worked and traveled quite a bit in the Middle East (particularly Saudi Arabia), I can agree that many Americans fail to fully understand the degree to which religion is "everything" in that culture.  But many have at least an inkling of that; they just fail to understand or agree with full extent of what that means.

I understand it, but strenuously disagree with it.  In fact, I might argue that this approach needs to be resisted and spoken out against no matter how it makes people feel.  And the freedom to do exactly that MUST be protected, even by force if necessary.  

All that said, I very much agree with your points about Americans seemingly not being able to take a longer-term or intergenerational view.  Not sure exactly why that has developed as it certainly was NOT the case with my grandparents.  So I might assume some influence from modern entertainment (TV and the like) is part of this.  That would mean this kind of view ought to infiltrate other cultures, too, and in my travels, I'd say that's somewhat true.  It ought to be OK to talk about specific, individual aspects of cultures being either objectively superior or inferior without inflaming too much passion or risking being canceled for "racism."  In fact, I'd argue that it's our duty to discuss these things, passionately, if necessary.  And we may not always agree, but that ought to be OK.