Dealing
With The Extremists
By Mike Ghouse
14 March, 2007
Countercurrents.org
How
do you deal with the extremists? You have to have to have dynamite confidence.
The first lesson I learned in my childhood was dealing with the Monkeys,
the second one was on Tim Russet’s “Meet the press”
program called “Interfaith in America” which is available
at www.FoundationforPluralism.com.
In the program, a Catholic
Nun says that the reason people are wooed towards neo-cons is because
they give confidence. When there is fear, people do not really care
about logic or reason; they fall for hope from any given source.
There is a famous story I've
heard, where a boatload of people got caught in a rough patch in the
middle of the ocean. Giant waves rock the boat and the passengers fear
for their lives. One man makes an attempt to get up, when his friend
pulls him down and asks what he was doing, he says, he is going to pray.
The friend laughs at him, because he was never a sincere or religious
person. The man stands up any way and loudly asks people to pray with
him, he invokes (Jesus, Allah, Ganesha or.... fill in your own affiliation)
God and starts asking God to help them steer through the storm. People
were in awe and joined in the prayers with him. He promises safety to
every one. About an hour later, the storm calms down and they safely
reach the coast. As the man got out, passengers anxiously thanked him
and fell at his feet (tradition) and admired him for his holiness.
The friend pulls him over
and points that the promises made were false, how would you have made
them? What if the boat had capsized? The man stares at his friend blankly
and says, “There would not have been any one to question me then".
There is no one to know,
how many boats have sunk? Only those that survive can tell the story.
The neo cons, Islamofascists, Hindutva are precisely that. Create the
element of fear and act with confidence.
This element of confidence
has not germinated in most of the moderates, they cannot fathom that
hope is crucial to survival. They will laugh at themselves if they said
anything silly like that man in the boat or our President.
The neo-cons use this formula
every day. Our President talks confidently about the dangers of terrorism.
The neo-cons manufactured the data with ease and our gullible Congresspersons
and the Senators buy the idea without even questioning it. When our
President said, “they hate us for our freedom” every one
bought it because 9/11 was a proof that blinded our ability to think
clearly. They did not ask, not a single journalist ever asked for "proof"
or counter “ Sir, is it our freedom or the administration’s
policy that they hate?” Then our Senators and Congresspersons
lost the guts to say no to invading Iraq, our President had the podium
and the frightened public was ready to pray in the boat. No one dared
question for the fear of being labeled un-patriotic. Thank God for November
6th, 2006. Americans are free again. It is our duty to speak up when
we are wrong; we could have saved 3000 of our sons and daughters and
650,000 Iraqis and destruction in Lebanon. Our patriotism hinges on
our duty to prevent our nation from going on the wrong road. Speaking
up the truth, however harsh it is, is Patriotism.
“Newt Gingrich now
admits that he was carrying on with another woman at the same time he
was leading impeachment proceedings against Bill Clinton -- proceedings
based on the president's actions during an investigation born out of
his carrying on with another woman.” - AOL News. This is the confidence
that all the neo-cons portray, they knew there were no WMDs and many
other things. Still they had the gall to tell it like a fact. Of course,
the moderates shy away from telling bold face lies, because, they know
the truth triumphs at the end.
Now, to get back to the monkeys;
the very first lesson I learned in life about dealing with extremists
was dealing with the Monkeys. The town where I grew up was blessed with
a lot of Monkeys; they were everywhere. As kids, whenever we stopped
at the fruit or snack shop and picked up some little morsel to eat,
without fail, a monkey would come down and snatch the food right out
of our hands and run. When chased, they would stop and stare at you
and growl. That is the defining moment in that relationship; getting
scared or scaring off. Over the years, I have watched it over and over
again – There will be a deadly pause for a few seconds, if you
stand firmly, without flinching the eyelids, the Monkey will walk away.
However, the one who flinches first loses. Monkeys have strong antennae
to recognize the fear in you, the thought of taking a step backwards
or flinching gives the signal to the monkey that he rules.
Humans are no different,
I have experimented with this work several times, and one was standing
face to face with a 6'.3”, 250 pound guy who threatened to thrash
me. I was only 5'.8", and at that time 150 pounds. He backed off.
I am sure one of these days some one will punch me hard.
As a moderate, when we talk
about the peaceful co-existence, or stretching a hand to the extreme
conservatives, I get jumped on by the other extreme. I have a choice
of saying to myself, “Why do I need to be in this,” and
simply not deal with it or I have to ask myself, if I believed in what
I say, what is my commitment to it?
I am a big fan of Tom Hopkins,
the motivational trainer, who says, look at the numbers, if you have
a goal of helping one in ten people, and if the first one says no to
you, thank him to let you climb the first step, 9 more to go. If you
lose at the first step, and fail yourselves, only you have to blame
yourselves.
When you set out to do good
things, and are held back by the ultra-conservatives, think about this
– only 2 or 3 or 4 are opposed, let’s check to see if we
are wrong, if we are not, thank them for caution and march forward with
confidence to do what you have committed to do. As long as your leadership
is not for a personal gain, you will succeed.
And my lifetime favorite
quote that has inspired me to speak about doing things wholeheartedly
is as follows. “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy...
Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary
truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:
the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have
occurred.… Whatever you can do or dream that you can do, begin
it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now."
– Goethe.
Dealing with extremists,
I have found that confidence is the key. Like the man in the boat or
the one facing the monkey. Whoever is committed stays the course.
Comments are invited at:
http://mikeghouse.sulekha.com/blog/post/
2007/03/dealing-with-the-extremists.htm
Mike Ghouse is a speaker,
thinker and a writer. He is president of the Foundation for Pluralism
and is a frequent guest on talk radio, discussing interfaith, political
and civic issues. He has appeared on the local affiliates of CBS, NBC,
ABC, CNN, PBS and FOX and has been written up in the news papers. He
founded the World Muslim Congress with a simple theme “good for
Muslims and good for the world." The organization is driven by
Qur'aan, Al-Hujurat, and Surah 49:13: "O mankind! We have created
you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may
know one another. The noblest of you, in sight of Allah, is the best
in conduct. Allah Knows and is Aware." Mike believes that if people
can learn to accept and respect the God given uniqueness of each one
of the 7 billion of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge. His
articles can be found at http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/ , www.MikeGhouse.net
and he can be reached at [email protected]