Being 'an extremist' is not necessarily equal to 'extremism', although, in certain circumstances, that might be so.
For example, if the values, customs, religious practices, traditions and political culture of a given society, can be deemed to be a form of 'societal extremism.'
It is because of this, why many governments and people in the Western hemisphere, have the serious concerns that they have about Islam.
Fearing that, although it is the case that there are versions of Islam which are not rooted in 'extremism', the 'religious' clothes in which extremists like ISIL clothed their war on 'the unbelievers' and Muslim opponents.
Does have greater appeal in Islamic countries and among orthodox Muslims, than in the West and amongst other religions.
But, getting back to the broader context of 'extremists' and 'extremism.'
It clearly is not the case that a person who 'walks the extremist path', makes them or us 'extremists' per se.
Although the semantical evolution of words and adjectives such as 'radical' and 'extremist' and 'extremism', have, over the past decade and a half.
Taken on new and even different meanings, which evoke in us different psychological and emotional reactions and responses.
Most of us humans, at some points and stages in our lives, could probably be called 'extremist.'
'Extremist' and 'extremism' can be defined as the intensity with which we adhere to something or an idea, to the exclusion of all others, and/or the status quo.
To be contiued!
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