This is http://www.essayz.com/a9804031.htm Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay Click HERE on this line to find essays via Your-Key-Words. {Most frequent wordstarts of each essay will be put here.} ========================================================== %EXTREMISTS CONFLICT CONTENTIOUS 980403 In the beginning there were just a few extremists on each side who believed that only their point of view merited respect in the eyes of God and of God's good people. The extremists on one side got better organized in support of their views than the extremists on the other side --- and so engendered fear on the other side --- that the organized extremists would prevail in gaining majority support for their extreme views. In response the extremists on the other side mounted a well financed campaign to balance out the organized extremists --- to prevent them from getting majority support for their extreme views. They did this in a quiet way which did not announce itself to the opposing extremists; so as to prevail in a surprise move. The surprise move did not prevail, falling short of a clear majority. As a result --- opposing extremists moved to mount an even more force-full campaign to succeed in a counter move --- by dragging people who had so far been ill-disposed to get involved --- into the contentious conflict. Extremists on each side worked hard --- to convince those with views closest to their own --- that hell would break out of its bounds if the opposing extremists got their way. Opposing extremists succeeded in reducing the number of people who were willing to take a moderate view. By working together against each other --- opposing extremists got over two thirds of the people involved in contentious conflicts --- which moderates did not care to become involved in. The extremists' views prevailed and moderation lost. (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================