Dear Friends,
It seems to me that the term extreme is tossed around constantly in our political conversation today. Since it is impossible to communicate, unless those who are party to the conversation understand what each word that is used means, I thought I would make an attempt to explain the usage and definition of the word. Witness two people trying to understand each other when each speaks a different language. There is no mutual understanding possible. Since politics has become such an important factor in the lives of people today, with every aspect of our lives put to the test of political favor, it is imperative we understand each other, especially in the arena of politics, else we run the risk of making a drastic mistake in our vote, due to a failure to communicate.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines “extreme” as, 1. Outermost or farthest; most remote. 2. Final; last. 3. Very great; intense. 4. To the utmost degree; radical. 5. Drastic; severe… when used as an adjective. So apparently extreme, is not in the middle, not common, not regularly found, not ordinary and not standard. We will take this definition of what extreme is and what it is not.
Since we all see the World, to some extent, from Francis Bacon’s cave… When politicians define this or that as extreme, what they are really saying is that the position, actions or intention described, is uncommon, rare or strange… to them. This seems obvious given our working understanding of the term extreme. But what is most utile to our understanding, is that when a politician defines a thing as extreme, he or she is actually referring to his or her own positions, actions and intentions… as compared to the subject. In other words, if a person calls another person, place or thing, extreme, they are basically saying that it, is extreme compared to their perception of what is ordinary, regularly found in society and common standards.
What has been called extreme? The Obama administration has called people who hold the American Constitution in high regard… extreme. In fact, his administration is so concerned, they have warned that these people might engage in domestic terrorism. To him adhering to the US Constitution is extreme. Therefore he finds the US Constitution, anomalous, strange, and not generally respected.
His administration has also called any cutting of the US budget to balance it… extreme. So he believes that any real attempt to actually balance a government budget, strange, drastic, severe and not a common position to take. Obama’s supporters opine that the Family resource Center is an extreme organization. Therefore they find the nuclear family an anachronism, not common and rare. He has claimed the Israeli government is extreme. So apparently he is of the opinion that for Israel to protect it’s citizens, is a rare event, one that is uncommon and not standard practice.
What and who Obama doesn’t give the definition of extreme to, is telling of his real intentions, policies and actions. Obama doesn’t call Hugo Chavez extreme. As we know Hugo is an avowed communist and seeks to move Venezuela to a Marxist government. Therefore Obama believes that to move a country from a democratic republic to a communist tyranny is common, not rare, standard and middle of the road. Obama has not called the Muslim brotherhood extreme. So he must think that their positions and actions, like sharia law, denying Christians suffrage and the right to hold political office, stoning women to death, Dhimmi status of non Muslims, that Israel doesn’t have the right to exist and all the other positions the Muslim Brotherhood hold, are common, not out of the mainstream, and ordinary, to him.
What it all boils down to, is that when a politician or organization uses the term extreme, it is more about the positions, actions and intentions of the speaker… than the subject. If a politician, for example, calls something that is common, ordinary, standard and what is generally thought… extreme, he or she is actually saying, their own positions, actions and intentions… are extreme. Just as if they refuse to call something extreme, that is actually uncommon, rare, and out of the ordinary… shows that they consider that thing common, ordinary and standard. For us to communicate intelligently, we must understand the language and meanings of the words chosen and used, especially a descriptor like the term… extreme.
Sincerely,
John Pepin
