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Dangerous fanaticism typically involves several factors. Experiencing extreme emotion is once of them. Having a high degree of excessive, non-questioning zeal is another. Being obsessed with something to the extent that it takes over your life completely is another. Having an inspirational source which feeds and grooms the fanaticism is yet another.
Probably religion and politics are the two most common obsessions for fanatics but there are others. What about extreme nationalism, the bitter conflict between ideologies like socialism or capitalism, hate-filled racial or ethnic divisions, etc? Of course, quite often these things overlap and often we find religion combining with nationalism which is probably the most dangerous cocktail of all. Up until recently, Northern Ireland was a good example of this.
Let’s take three very different types of fanatics and try to compare them. We could start with the Christian Fundamentalists, the ones in the U.S. who, recently, were strongly encouraging Bush to nuke Iran so that they could enjoy the Rapture: that is going to heaven without dying. It takes a very deranged mind to happily want to bring about the nuking of another country and the vapourising of many of its people so that you can gain some heavenly advantage for yourself. Hallelujah! Of course these ‘Christian’ Fundamentalists have a good dose of American nationalism clouding their minds as well.
Another well known example occurs in Israel where a small group of militant, militaristic people who are filled with obsessive religious and nationalistic fervour are pursuing the building of a Jewish State. They pay no heed to the past when they were treated badly and enthusiastically engage in the brutal crushing of the original inhabitants (the Palestinians) and continuously break multitudes of International Laws and Conventions using collective punishment, genocide, etc. Their fanaticism, which has been going on for many decades, is one that totally consumes them, blinds them to any sense of morality or decency. To them, Palestinians are sub-humans and should have no rights. They truly know not what they do!
Another example could be taken from the battle that rages in Iraq between the Shia and the Sunnis, one that involves both the Muslim religion and bitter divisions between different ethnic groups. The result of this fanaticism results in suicide bombings on a massive scale that not only try to kill the soldiers of the invaders and occupiers: America, Australia and Britain, but also members of rival clans, including women and children. Market places are often the target of these fanatics and the streets literally run with blood.
Comparing the three examples is easy. The three groups are all tarred with the same brush! They are all incapable of seeing their own stupidity and immorality, their obsessive behaviour, their mental derangement, and the danger that they pose to everyone.
Of course these three examples are only some of many. All over the world, groups of fanatics of various colours and creeds are engaged in a life and death struggle based upon religious, political, ideological, racial and ethnic extremism. Mankind, it seems, can fight about virtually anything!
The bottom line is that fanatics are sick people regardless of which country they come from. Their minds are consumed by insanity. They can see nothing but their own fantasies and they will do virtually anything to achieve them. Anything!
Fanatics of any kind should be locked up, for their own good, for the good of the world!
And so should those who support them.
