FANATIC AWARENESS

by David Nuttle

Most of the world's problems have been due to fanatics who had cognitive rigidity by their absolute certainty in what they believe. Many also believed what they promoted was sacred and/or somehow fully fused to their person. To avoid falling into their "traps" we all need to see any one fanatic for who they are and the horrific harm they can cause. Examples of a few extreme fanatics include:

a) Adolf Hitler who acted to promote a global Aryan race by killing Jews and others while engaged in national expansion.

b) Stalin & Mao who both wanted personal and geopolitical powers while promoting their own beliefs in Marxism-Leninism and murdering their opposition.

c) Pol Pot, of Cambodia, who acted to make all Cambodians (Khmers) equal by killing all but poor farmers with no formal education.

d) Jim Jones who sought a Christian fanatical revolution, started Jones Town in Guyana, and eventually persuaded 900 of his followers to commit suicide.

e) Osama bin Laden who started and promoted Islamic jihad to kill all non-Muslims on the earth. He acted to support the Islamic Wahhabi goal of converting or killing all non-Wahhabi, worldwide. Such actions are believed to be required to assist their 12th Imam, al-Mahdi, to return to earth, from Islamic Paradise, to rule over all nations and peoples under the Flag of Islam as governed by horrific Sharia Laws.

Historically, fanatics have started and directed crises situations; e. g. the Crusaders holy wars against Islam and the Spanish Inquisition against enemies of the Catholic Church to mention only two of many.

Actions to effectively counter any fanatics harmful acts are believed to be as listed below:

1) Reframe their story and make it absurd.

2) Expose their contradictions and evaluate beliefs using critical thinking.

3) Avoid impulsive reactions while promoting their uncertainties.

4) Promote better alternatives to what a fanatic seeks.

5) Curtail the fanatics success with litigation, sanctions, financial harm, covert action, and military force as a last report.

Be aware of all potential dangers and identify threats that it is wise to prepare a defense against, no matter what form the threat might come in.