Extremisn

Day 124. Extremism.

In almost all forms, extremism is dangerous. Too much of anything tends to drown out any other voices, and as a result free thinking is trampled. Most examples of extremism are in the religious front, but that perversion often turns to politics as well. The worldwide ignorance on Islamic extremism is dangerous, and sad. Most people confuse the religion of  Islam and the militant Islamism.  A little reading would go a long way in explaining why those of us who do know the different stay upset when everyone starts being grouped together.

Out of more than 6 billion Muslims worldwide, reportedly 10% practice forms considered "extreme." Even without a calculator, you know that's a huge number. The Sauds and their Wahhabi perversion, with their billions of oil dollars going to pacify those who would do harm, make up the largest group. "Practice what we preach, just not here" is their answer to those who maim and kill under the strict Sharia law interpretation they practice. Same with Qatar, their blood money flows rich.

But wait. Where have I heard Qatar recently? Ah, that's right. The five Gitmo prisoners released in "exchange" for the traitorous Bowe Bergdahl  went there. No problem, eh? Know that Qatar has no formal plan to ensure their containment: previous detainees released there previously have been photographed playing with their children and shopping in Doha malls. What a plan!

Despite what should be daily news regarding Islamism, most of the mainstream media in the US avoids it as much as possible. There was mention when large numbers of girls are kidnapped by Boko Haram in Nigeria last summer, probably because of the First Lady's  "#BringBackOurGirls" posterboard campaign turned to into a Twitter campaign. Oh yeah, that'll hurt. The girls? Still unrecovered, although reports of several escapees being tortured, raped and mutilated. Boko Haram should have been in the news again this week, having reportedly massacred over 2000 Nigerians in one town. I certainly understand the large amount of attention in France this week, having suffered their own losses from several Al Qaeda Arabian Peninsula groups, but gee, 2000 people and very little reporting? Almost like they don't want to talk about it...

Keeping up with all these things going on in the world seems to be outside the interests of most Americans. What most don't realize is that it takes just a few extremists to convert a few religious Muslims into Islamists, then they convert a few more, and so on. Next thing you know, we're like Paris, France, where over 90 areas of the city are "no-go" zones for the police. Since the Islamists are ready and willing to enforce Sharia law there, the French seem willing to let them police themselves. Probably not after this week, and judging from the size of the crowds marking in support of the French government and others who are meeting there today to talk about how to curb the violence.

I can't say it's too late, because that would mean giving up hope. But it's dangerously late. Over 12,000 murders worldwide in 2012, over 18,000 in 2013, I can't imagine 2014 was less. Being willing to see the problem is a big step, and if the world leaders gathered in Paris today are willing to take the next step and actually do something about it, we might can save this silly little planet we call home. It can't go unnoticed that the US delegation was the Attorney General, who has already announced his retirement and is waiting to be replaced. The lack of seriousness being given by our current leaders by sending him speaks volumes. America hasn't seen the end of the violence here, and until the leaders admit there a serious problem we can only sit and pray.


606 to go...