By Loren Adams, 1 August 2010
To solve problems, one must first seek to find the root
cause and then deal with it openly, firmly, and with resolve. The primary
reason conflict lingers for years is because established leaders refuse —
or are incapacitated due to ideology or lobbyist-induced incentive — to
recognize sources of contention. Politicians know where their bread is buttered
– corporate interests – and thus obey their masters.
However, the primary reason the source remains unrecognized
is due to extremist views held by those in charge — stemming from
mind-sets of religion, race, politics, or economic philosophy. For example, when
a diplomat approaches the negotiating table with a mind-set of ethnic, economic,
social or religious superiority, it is unlikely anything of principled
substance will be accomplished. Add to the mix a so-called “honest broker,”
such as an ideological world leader, who intentionally favors one side over the
other — what results? Gridlock or worse: parties abandoning the peace
process.
Extremism’s number one symptom is distorted vision bordering
on total blindness. Vision is obstructed by distortion of truth — a
blockage set in place by rigid religion or philosophy premised on a core myth
orbited by satellite fables.
Blinded by the right; blinded by the left; blinded by
mass-hypnotic religion; blinded by prejudice; blinded by arrogance and greed;
blinded by sanctimoniousness; blinded by politics — they’re all much the
same and result in similar damage upon both carrier and colleague.
How can 914 people, in unison, willingly gulp down a lethal
dose of Kool-Aid? How can they surrender to the will of a fanatic leader
claiming to be the spokesman for God? Ask the survivors of Jonestown 1978. They
were blinded — not so much by a particular leader — but by a false
faith, a false sense of security based on that mythical dogma, and a strong
belief system that eventually led to their untimely deaths. Extremism is not
victimless.
(Some contend the Jonestown 914 were forced into mass
suicide by Rev. Jim Jones. But how can 914 fail to resist but one or a few?)
The question leads to other mass movements. How can hundreds
of Muslim extremists surrender their lives on suicide missions to defeat what
they mistaken as infidels? The three-thousand lives lost September 11 are a
testament to extremism, not only indicting Muslim varieties of fanaticism, but radical
Christians, Jews, and other religious/idealogical sects manufactured by man.
James
Watt, Interior Secretary under Reagan, was a religious fanatic (extremist)
whose views were [and are] passed down to succeeding Republican regimes. Asked
why he was so determined to destroy environmental protections, Watt famously explained to Congress in 1981 “There
is little point in protecting the environment, since the Second Coming could be
just around the corner.”
Of the same religious sect as James Watt and Sarah Palin
(Assemblies of God, Springfield, MO), John
Ashcroft, George W. Bush’s Attorney General along with his consultant, Karl
Rove, brought to the fore the extremist positions of Watt — though in a
different venue and decade.
Fast forward to 2010.... How can over 120 million Americans
surrender to extremism? How can they yield to the will of a fanatic leader
claiming to be the voice of God, the embodiment of courage, and the divinely
appointed – as Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck so skillfully claim? How can
they believe a leader appointed (not elected) President of the United States
for eight years (George W. Bush) – was positioned into power selectively by
divine intervention? Ask survivors two decades from now how they escaped this
strange period of American history – as ocean waves lap over Manhattan,
the Gulf of Mexico dies, and climate kills billions.
When a US President claims God told him to declare wars,
beware. Recall what Bush told the Palestinian Prime
Minister Abbas, "God told me to strike at al Qaida and I struck them,
and then he instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did, and now I am
determined to solve the problem in the Middle East. If you help me I will act,
and if not, the elections will come and I will have to focus on them."
Throughout history, millions have marched to their deaths
because of misguided beliefs — blind trust in either a political leader
or religious. The head may be an atheist, a communist or fascist, a pope or
evangelist, a king or prime minister, from far left or right.
People are gullible when they cease to question – when
they fail to think critically. That is why cult leaders and tyrants, alike,
attempt to cut off the flow of information. Their primary objective after
seizing power – CENSORSHIP. The “messenger” is more a threat to the
Hitlers of this world than political foes. Tyrants want unquestionable loyalty
in order to gain incontestable control; absolute power corrupts absolutely. Secret
sessions and closed-door hearings, clandestine meetings and information denied by
reason of “executive privilege,” “state’s secrets” or under the guise of
“national security.” The Freedom
of Information Act was null and void under the weight of the most recent
autocratic ruler, G.W. Bush. Secrecy
is the roadmarker to tyranny.
If not for Dick Cheney’s 100-day secret energy meeting with invited
participants ENRON, BP, EXXON, HALLIBURTON, and all principal oil conglomerates
in early 2001 (pre-911), the Great Gulf Spill of 2010 would probably have never
materialized. To add injury to insult, the Republicans on the Supreme Court
blocked public access to minutes of the clandestine meeting that negatively
affected the entire world.
False faith has its price. Intangible beliefs bring tangible
costs. American Christian Zionist extremists soon to be possibly swept back
into power this coming November strongly believe Israel is destined by God to
retake all the real estate between the Mediterranean and Jordan. Therefore,
whoever presently inhabits disputed lands must be evicted. Ethnic cleansing
ensues and is sanctioned by the mean-spirited American rightwing – as the
toxic movement will have recaptured power.
Extremist ideologues are blind to their fallacy and
absurdities. They would rather advocate a lie than confess heresy. Being proven
wrong is the most devastating punishment for an extremist, especially one possessed
of pride and predictable accompanying ignorant pompousness.
Jesus said: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing,
they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but
never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly
hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see
with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn,
and I would heal them.' ” (Isaiah 6:9,10) (Matthew 13:13-15)
Christ was referring to the deeply indoctrinated Pharisees,
right-wing zealots which dominated Roman-occupied Israel two millennia ago.
Self-righteousness is not a Pharisee exclusive; it belongs to all who fall for
fanaticism – coagulating into a cult-like movement which, in turn, succumbs
to fanaticism’s chief byproduct: blindness.
The resurgence of Tea Party extremism which America is experiencing
at this hour will unquestionably lead to accelerated decline. The certain
nostalgic yearning conservatives cleave to for the Bush years will further
drive the nation radically off course.
The only effective antidote for the current brand of rightwing
extremism is courage of conviction. Either Democratic leaders grow some spine
or the nation tumbles into another political nightmare coupled with economic disaster.
Attempting to appease fanatics is insanity.