Extremism (n): 1: the quality or state of being extreme
2: advocacy of extreme measures or views : RADICALISM
(Merriam Webster Dictionary)

The military is "cracking down" on men and women who hold views or wear tattoos that identify them as "extremists". Sounds great on the surface. What happens when we dig a little deeper?

This has always been my difficulty with hate crime legislation and policing thoughts. Extremism has a definition, but the application of the definition is entirely subjective. It is in the eye of each beholder, and defined by the definer. If you ask 10 people what extremism is, they might offer several different ideas, mostly based on their political bent. You might get told the old maxim, "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it."

To the radical right nut bag, civil rights for someone not like them may be seen as extremism. To the radical left nut bag, capitalism may be seen as extremism. (Place your own examples here during your thought exercise)

While I don't believe it is wrong to glance askance at those with whom we disagree or call extreme, I do believe it is wrong to discipline them for holding beliefs that are radically opposed to mine. Words have never killed, but actions have. How about we watch more for the behaviors that are counter to functional society and leave the thought police unemployed?

At the end of the day, the arbiter of extremism is the person or persons holding positions of authority. These holders of authority tend to change every few years in our governmental model. Let's be careful with our definitions of extremism and to what extent we police thoughts. What's extreme today may change in 2, 3 or 4 years.