Far from Extreme

I’ve found it useful in general terms to differentiate between ‘far’, ‘radical’ or ‘fundamentalist’ and ‘extreme’ by defining ‘extreme’ as policy which seeks to impose its doctrines by illegitimate force, imperative speech, or the violent actions of activists, on an unwilling populace. The extreme Left advocates revolution, anarchists would be extreme virtually by their own definition, and the extreme Right advocates physical enforcement of its ultra-nationalist authoritarianism.  The ‘far’ Left and Right would advocate their policies through normal democratic means using force of reason without recourse to force of will.  Fundamentalists will adhere to the extremes of their religion without interfering in the lives of others.

By this definition any religion which seeks to enforce its theocratic will on those not of its persuasion is ipso facto extremist.  Islam is unique in this regard. 

Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

With a democratically-elected government as representative of a nation’s majority values it has the mandate and obligation to judge that which imposes a danger to the nation’s security.  This is not a moral judgment in itself – that has already been made by the electorate in the make-up of its government’s policies.  The Western model of democratic governance follows, not leads, national morality and is demonstrably successful.  Compare this with Islamic countries where the attempt to create, or the success of, governments leading public morality with 7th century values tend to result in either chaos or tyranny.

It is the result of Islam’s conquest of Europe that has its nations belatedly inquiring after their values and attempting to defend them.  That governments are forced to compromise their nations’ values to avoid chaos is a measure of just how great a threat Islam poses.  Not to mention the skill of Islam’s adepts at manipulating the West’s ethical discourse to Islam’s own advantage.

This was written in response to a criticism of the UK government's 'Counter Extremism Strategy' by the adept Kenan Malik.  You can see his original article here: https://kenanmalik.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/extremism-and-the-law/