By Eric Wade
Modern humans
all too well know the price of extremist, whether political or religious. Extremist
have shaped the way we live our life, and how we view the world, but there are
two types of extremists, ones that use it in a negative way, and one in a
positive way. The contrast can be great, and the affects even greater.
Using extremism
to change the world, Muslim extremist attacked the United States and changed
our views of ourselves, and the world around us. By method of choice being the
bombing of unsuspecting innocent civilians, Terrorists groups like Al Qaeda use
extreme methods to evoke fear in the hearts of millions. Their agenda based
on religious beliefs – taken from scripters of the Quran -- states that
westerners are infidels and must die, for not following the word of the Islamic
Bible. As stated in a letter to the American people, Osama Bin Laden stated,
that we needed to come to Islam to prevent further attacks. Bin Laden justified
his war with a verse from the Quran, stating, “Permission (to fight) is given
to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely
Allah is well able to assist them”. Feeling wronged and oppressed by the United
States, Ben Laden lead an extremist movement against America. It was these beliefs
that lead to the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001.
The attacks
on the Trade Center were an extremist act that cost the innocent lives of 2,981.
As a result, the terrorist gained attention for their cause. Be it a violent
action, with horrible results, the group still made the world aware of their
message, but with grave consequence to their own people. Because of the
attacks, the war on terror stormed the Middle East costing the lives of thousands
on both sides of the conflict-- many being the lives of innocent civilians. Reports
of the death toll from the war on terror differ from one source to another;
some estimate a loss of civilian, terror group and military life as high as 200,000.
Peaceful extremism are the other side to the coin. Getting change through peace and
love takes more thought. Any group can blow up a bunch of people and make the
news, but changing the world with peace takes persistence, constitution, and humility.
Actions of peace change the world and the view of the world, but with less loss
of life compared to violence.
While sitting
in a Birmingham jail, Dr. Martin Luther King used peace move the civil rights movement
forward. After reading a letter from eight prominent white clergymen, Dr. King
responded with a well thought-out, peaceful response, defending his right to be
Birmingham and wherever injustice is. In addition, Dr. King explained the difference
between the two types of extremism, and provided some great examples of how the
peaceful extremism works.
The eight
clergymen implied that Dr. King was an extremist in their letter, but after careful
thought Dr. King found that he could embrace the role, for wasn’t Jesus an extremist
in love, and wasn’t Amos an extremist of justice. Are not disciple Paul, Martin
Luther, John Bunyan, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson all extremist. To Dr.
King, being compared to these people he took as an honor, for these mean were
of great importance to the lives of billions, and of great importance to the most
basic of human rights.
“Jesus
Christ was an extremist for love, truth, and goodness, and thereby rose above
his environment.” Explaining the value and need of peaceful extreme, Dr. King
said, “So, after all, maybe the south, the nation, and the world are in dire
need of creative extremists”.
With bitterness,
hatred and frustration, the desire to be treated fare and the need for freedom caused
some black movements to call for violence. Dr. King advocated against violence,
but felt that if nonviolent movement didn’t succeeded, that many of his
nonviolent followers would turn to the black nationalist ideologies and to violence,
resulting in deaths of both black and white
Over 200,000
have died from the result of a violent extremist group’s desire for change. It
is clear that violent methods of change are a horrible waste of life. Some died
in the nonviolent protest of the civil rights movement, if a peaceful and
loving leader didn’t spearhead it, it could have been much worse. Peace and
love changed the south, and the nation. Peace and understanding of fellow
humans will spare countless wasted lives. There doesn’t need to be violent extremist
to change the world. Dr. King proved peace works.
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