Katie Stangby- Extremist

Katherine Stangby
October 16, 2011
ENGL 1020


Ignorance, Violence and Manipulation

Some people in this world go to ridiculous and incredible lengths to persuade or get others to conform to their beliefs. The word extremist is defined by Dictionary.com as a person who favours or resorts to immoderate, uncompromising or fanatical methods or behavior. Other words and things that correlate with extremists are thing like cults, ultra and radical. Extremists are usually present or associated with politics and religion. Extremists are people who believe in something so strongly that they refuse to understand others beliefs, they manipulate and brainwash others into “believing” them, and will always resort to violence if necessary while persuading others and expressing their point.
Extremists are blind to others beliefs and opinions. They are ignorant to others views and know very little or almost nothing about the opposing beliefs. They do not care to understand because in their mind they are the only ones who are right and anyone else who disagrees with them or refuses to conform, is wrong. “They are also likely to be very reluctant to accept any form of compromise” (Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado). They are ignorant of others opinions and with extremists it is always their way or the high way! Extremists have a giant lack of understanding when it comes to beliefs and reasoning other than theirs. Them having little knowledge of opposing views cause problems because
they do not care to know anything about the opposing argument of others and if they did know anything there could be a chance at a compromise. They only care to get their point across and persuade others to follow or believe them.
All extremists use the tactic manipulation to convince others they are “right.” Adolf Hitler is a prime example of an extremist who successfully manipulated over eight million people into following him and excepting his beliefs. “Hitler referred to emotion as a kind of doorway . . . into the more suggestible regions of the human, heart and mind; once this door is opened it is possible to ‘get inside’ of peoples heads and direct their responses and actions” (Rick Smith). Manipulation is key when extremists are attempting to persuade. They target youth and brainwash the young and naive. Extremists brainwash their children as well by raising them or teaching and forcing them to believe and follow their family members views. They also hold a tight grip on their children and shelter them from others beliefs and reasoning. Extremists use emotion and force when manipulating. They force family, like their children, to believe them and they make their beliefs appear appealing or attractive to them and others. They can make it seem as if following or believing them it will benefit that person in some way; or if they do not follow or believe they make it seem as if it could be quite detrimental to them.
Extremists will always resort to violence while attempting to persuade or when ever they deem necessary. They have been known to hurt those who disagree or go against their beliefs. In the movie Mississippi Burning a southern racist cop pulled over a car full of two white young men and a black young man. The cop shot
and killed all three of the boys. Like the racist extremist that cop was, he did not care that those boys were white; he thought it was necessary to kill them all, even the white ones, just because their opposing views and their choice to be friends with a black person during that time period. Extremists are very intense and will go as far as to hurt or kill if they believe it is right or needs to be done. They also use violence or threaten violence to force people into conforming. It is scary and alarming how dangerous these people can be. Every extremist or extremist group uses violence to get what he or she wants.
Being an extremist is all about persuasion and expressing beliefs. They have such strong beliefs that they will do absolutely anything to get their point across. Extremists are manipulators, violent and ignorant to any other belief or opinion than their own. These kinds of groups and people go to incredible measures to express their opinions and accomplish what they feel needs to be done. Although these people and groups are very passionate and devote a lot of their lives to their beliefs, they still use awful and outrageous tactics and actions to prove a point.








Works Cited
“Extremists.” University of Colorado Boulder. Web.
http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/problem/extremist.htm.

Mississippi Burning. Dir. Alan Parker. Orion Pictures, 1988. DVD.


Smith, Rick. “Propaganda for the Masses.” Educate-Yourself.org: The Freedom of Knowledge; The Power of Thought. 4 Oct. 2001. Web.
http://educate-yourself.org/on/2001/cnpropagandaforthemasses4oct01.shtml.