extremism

Friends have heard me expound on extremism in the recent past, sticking to my position that there are extremists across all belief systems; they are not limited to those who follow the Muslim faith. If you are dead set on the belief that your path is the right one it doesn't take much of a leap to determine that everyone else should follow your path as well.

Here in the states we have seen the actions of such extremists as those who follow the teachings of Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church as they protest at the funerals of solders who, they say, have died because "God hates fags" -- their best known, and reviled, slogan. Additionally, there are those who are so anti-abortion they find it necessary to blow up clinics and murder doctors who perform abortions.

The late Rev. Jerry Falwell, after 9/11, boldly proclaimed "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'" He also said: "I therefore believe that they created an environment which possibly has caused God to lift the veil of protection which has allowed no one to attack America on our soil since 1812." Falwell later apologized for his remarks, but from my perspective, his extreme views were accurately represented.

While I've not met pagan extremists as yet, I suspect they exist too. Perhaps they take the position that the Gardnerian path is the only true Wiccan path -- one possible example.

At any rate, whomever speaks (allegedly) as the mouth of God/Allah/insert the name of your favorite deity here - averring they know, understand and represent the truth - has the potential to become an extremist. It doesn't take much of a leap to believe "my way is the right way" and, thus, that all other ways are wrong or, worse yet, against the ways of that extremist. To the extremist emboldened with that certitude violence may be seen as the only solution.

Extremism is dangerous, and must be countered by raising children who think, question, learn and understand. While we may well be good role-models, it is important not to fall into the potential trap of guiding our youth by teaching them only one religious belief is right, only one political viewpoint is right, or only one government is right. If we take that path, we will be lead by those who are little different than the extremists and terrorists we hear about on a daily basis -- in Iraq, Iran or here in the United States.