What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word extremist? Beliefs? Hate? Religion? Politics? Revolution? The dictionary defines extremists as a supporter of extreme doctrines or practice; one who holds extreme opinions.
There are many types of extremist groups whose motives may be political, religious, and racist or simply just hate. Here are some examples of extremist groups; Al Qaida, Aryan Nations, Ku Klux Klan, White Revolution Forum 14 and the White Australian Resistance.
But there is now a new form of extremists, eExtremists. Extremist groups who are using the internet to spread their messages across to everyone in the world and to recruit members to their group. An example of an eExtremist group is the Australia First Party.
The Australia First Party (AFP) first created their website in April 2003. The Party was founded by Graeme Campbell whose motives, beliefs and intentions of creating this group is clearly stated in a quote on the website, “Australia must remain predominantly white”. This statement says to me that this is a hate party.
This group is using the word Australia to justify their motives as patriotism. I see it as an excuse to hate.
Many of the AFP’s movements and rally’s are against the Islamic religion and refugees. They persuade people to join by emphasising on patriotism, a sense of urgency to claim Australia back, as if the country is no longer Australian but it has been taken over by a term I believe close to what they would use ‘non whites’. The group is creating fear in the people they would consider Australians so this will make them want to defend their country, provoking hate.
The AFP is using the internet as an evil tool to recruit members by providing them with easy access to information about the group, their motives, and information about rallying points and how to join.
A famous quote by Robert F. Kennedy; “What is objectionable, what is dangerous about extremists is not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant. The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents”.
This is a very interesting quote. It makes you think about the word opponent. I believe the word opponent should be replaced by the word victim, as most of these extremist groups target their opponents (victims) with protests (violence).
