Do you think the majority of extremists are created by larger powers?

[Brackis]

Just curious, are fringe groups and people bred that way due to circumstance, society, and governing powers? Or is it that they are indeed crazy people who want different results for their own lives and the lives of everyone else?

I'm too busy to discuss, but the thought popped into my head.

 

[cwjerome]

Where's the poll?

I'd say it mostly has to do with the social system in those lands that have nutty extremists.

 

[Czar]

its natural for people to stick it to the man so to say

 

[judasmachine]

Well the American Indian had many problems but they were generally peaceful in many of their pursuits. They were not what we'd call terrorists today, untill they realized the scope of the invasion and threat to them. I also don't think radical islamists were much of a threat until we started meddling in their politics, whether support of Israel as their excuse, or our CIA implants into their governments over oil. I tend to think "terrorism" is an effect, not a cause. I also think that there are some among us who believe what they are told and take it so seriously that they let it become their obsession. We need to be careful what we preach, and what we practice.

 

[0roo0roo]

societal acceptance of fundamentalism and their tactics in different degrees is the problem. over population is also the problem. many of those countries they multiplied like rabbits once oil was exploited and gave them wealth they never had before. oil sustained their corrupt backwards culture when they were few. now there are simply too many and the fundamental problems rise to the surface, not enough money to spread around, and mass unemployment+ignorance+the effect of stewing in racial and religious bigotry of hate accepted and pushed by government/religious leaders/media for a full life time. the hateful messages constantly broadcast in the middle east reminds us that the ugliness of nazi germany has not dissapeared. but under the banner of religion is it tolerated. in places like saudi arabia the youth are oppressed by harsh rules limiting anything youth enjoy. the pent up rage is funneled into the culturally acceptable avenues of release in anti americanism/antisemitism/fundamentalism and support of terror.

 

[Brackis]

Interesting that this went soley for Islamic terrorists when I said extremists, hmmmm.

 

[kogase]

Probably a combination of both. The masterminds behind this are probably unstable people who have been pushed over the edge by circumstance, society, and governing powers. Not all the people who follow them are necessarily like that though, they may simply be people with a narrow perception of the world around them who are easily duped.