Conforming, Extremely

EVERY SOCIETY BY NATURE establishes social norms and values, for the sake of social cohesion. Those whose behavior strays outside these limits experiences the consequences of their nonconformity, often negative. The rule is: conform or be outcast. In American culture, which espouses the virtues of individual freedom, there are certain social constraints within which people are expected to remain. Over the past few years, there has been much talk in the media, particularly social media, about the increase in "extremism" in American society. This is reflected in the number of websites devoted to non mainstream ideologies, and the apparent drastic increase in the number of what are considered "extremist" organizations, devoted to ideologies outside the accepted social norms. Some analysts have traced the rise in extremism in America to the political rise of Donald Trump, and his incendiary political style, and style of speaking. A true demagogue, Trump likes to exhort and encourage his listeners to states of anger and resentment, as in the famous speech of January 6, 2021, (go to the Capitol and fight!) which precipitated a violent insurrection. The names of some of the more prominent extremist groups are well known: The Proud Boys, The Oath Keepers, The Two Percenters (or is it three percent?)...Numerous white nationalist and Christian nationalist groups have sprung into existence in recent times. Various forms of what can be called "exremism" manifest from both ends of the political spectrum. On the left, in recent years, has come the "Black Lives Matter" movement, the gay and LGBTQ rights movement, both of which had existed for decades, and have accomplished much progress. The anti-Viet Nam War protest movement was a phenomenon of the far left, which eventually grew to include mainstream sectors of society. There is a growing protest movement, world wide, against the failure of governments and corporations to address climate change, a left wing movement. Conservatives, especially in the United States, have shown no inclination to advocate strongly for changes necessary to preserve the environment and fight climate change. On the extreme end of the conservative spectrum come the Christian antionalist movement, which seeks to formally turn the United States into a Christian nation, with biblical law and values forming the foundation of the legal and social system. The white supremecist movement, which includes anti-semitism as well as anti black and anti brown ideologies, is an example of conservative values becoming extreme. To review, far left wing extremism includes advocating for equality, social, and all other kinds, for gay and LGBTQ people, and for black and brown people. Protests against environmental damage is a far left wing phenomenon. None of these causes seeks to exclude straight white people, but only to elevate all others to their level of societal acceptance. Barry Goldwater famously said that "Extremism in the cause of liberty is no vice". With regard to left wing extremism, this indeed seems to be true. No decent human being can possibly argue that it is wrong to advocate for fair and equal treatment of everyone, regardless of skin color or sexual orientation. But what about extremisn on the far right? White supremacy is not in any way, shape, or form trying to advocate for social equality. Quite the opposite, it seeks to place "white" people in a position of superiority. Nor does Cristian nationalism seek religious equality, but rather, preferential status for a single religion. On balance, all things considered,an argument could be made that left wing extremism benefits society, while right wing extremism harms society, and therefore, all of us.