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Ron Furman
One people, one beating heart!

Ignoring the signs! Peril of silence amidst chaos

At today’s pro-Palestinian protests all across the world, the rhetoric has grown even more extreme. No longer is it just the familiar call for “Free Palestine from the river to the sea,” a veiled demand for the expulsion of Jews from their indigenous homeland. Now, we hear chilling chants of “We are Hezbollah, we are Hamas,” alongside cries of “Death to Canada, Death to the United States, Death to Israel.” The atmosphere turns even darker as Canadian, American, and Israeli flags are violently torn, desecrated, and set ablaze, fueling the fervor of the cheering crowd.

As we unobtrusively gage our attention to our surroundings, the voice of extremism seems to echo louder than ever before. Across Western nations, extremists freely protest, pushing agendas that seek to dismantle the very freedoms they exploit. At the same time, those who fight for freedom in places where it is denied are silenced, their struggles overshadowed by louder, more radical voices. We find ourselves in a troubling paradox: in the name of protecting individual rights, we are standing by silently while those same rights are weaponized against us.

The challenge before us is crucial. We must learn to distinguish between the genuine pursuit of freedom and the manipulation of democratic principles by those who seek to destroy them. Extremist ideologies are creeping into our educational institutions, media, and even our government structures, all under the guise of democracy and individual rights. By either supporting these movements or remaining silent, we are complicit in the breakdown of the very infrastructure that upholds our freedoms. Protecting freedom of speech and the right to protest is essential, but we cannot allow those principles to be used as shields for extremist agendas. The time to make this distinction—and to take decisive action.

Today, many people find themselves under the influence of a victimhood culture that dilutes the core values that once defined Western societies. Instead of upholding justice, morality, and the freedoms that have shaped our civilization, we are being distracted by debates that, while cloaked in the language of progress, actually regress us politically, morally, and culturally. This distraction blinds us to the real dangers that threaten our future.

By supporting those who seek to dismantle Western values, we are on the verge of making fatal mistakes. We are effectively rolling out the red carpet for ideologies and movements that aim for our downfall. Once these forces gain influence in our governing bodies, it will be too late to reverse the damage. This chaos is exactly what extremists want. They do not seek justice or shared values; they seek control and dominance. History has shown us time and again that when such forces rise unchecked, they lead to destruction. From fascism to communism, the 20th century alone provided ample evidence of the devastating consequences of letting dangerous ideologies gain ground.

This is why we must stand firm against extremism in all its forms. Whether it is radical leftist movements, Islamist extremism, or any ideology that seeks to undermine Western values, we must resist their efforts. Supporting nations like Israel, which stand as a symbol of the fight for freedom and justice, is more important than ever. Israel represents the very principles on which Western civilization is built—the right to live freely, the right to self-defense, and the rejection of tyranny.

Freedom has never been free. We have fought for it across centuries—against slavery, fascism, communism, and religious empires. Now, more than ever, we must say “no” to those who threaten these hard-won freedoms. The stakes are too high to remain complacent.

If we fail to act, those who seek to inspire positive change, like myself, will be silenced. Those who thought they were being progressive by supporting movements they didn’t fully understand will find themselves paying the price when those ideologies come back to destroy the very freedoms they took for granted. History is full of such lessons, and it will repeat itself if we ignore them. The time to stand up is now.

The dangers of fanaticism have been proven throughout history, yet many continue to underestimate or ignore the growing threat of extremism today. Consider World War II: very few people were true Nazis, but many were happy to see the return of German pride, even at the expense of their neighbors. At first, the Nazi party was seen as a group of ignorant nationalists, but soon they gained control, and before long, they had the German people in their grasp. This led to unimaginable horrors.

Dangerous ideologies rarely rise from the masses but from a fanatical minority that dominates by force while the majority remains passive. It was this passivity that allowed the Nazi regime to destroy millions of lives. The same pattern has repeated itself in Communist Russia, China, and more recently, in places like Rwanda. The “peaceful majority” becomes irrelevant when they fail to stand against the rising tide of extremism.

Today, we see similar dynamics with Islamic extremism. While many experts assure us that Islam is a religion of peace, and indeed, the vast majority of Muslims simply wish to live peacefully, we cannot ignore the growing threat posed by Islamic fanatics. These extremists are not isolated—they are actively engaged in global conflicts, spreading violence and radicalizing others.

What is even more concerning is that the peaceful majority within these communities often remains silent, either out of fear or powerlessness. But as history shows us, silence in the face of fanaticism is complicity. The peaceful populations of Nazi Germany or Imperial Japan did nothing to stop the atrocities committed by their regimes. Passivity allowed these horrors to unfold.

In Europe, this same dynamic is playing out again as Muslim populations grow. Some cities are experiencing a form of religious separatism, with entire districts governed by Sharia law, outside of local authority control. This is not integration but a dangerous trend of religious dominance.

Furthermore, these issues are not confined to Europe—they are increasingly evident in North America. In Canada, for instance, Islamic prayers have been introduced in public schools, with some districts even promoting mandatory field trips to mosques and encouraging students to attend politically charged protests. All of this occurs while traditional Christian prayers have been removed, and Canadian history is often sidelined or criticized as discriminatory. These actions create a double standard that favors one group while marginalizing the values and traditions upon which the country was built.

In the US, similar trends are emerging. In Minnesota, the call to Muslim prayer is broadcast five times a day in public spaces, ostensibly for the sake of inclusion. This practice has raised concerns about the prioritization of one religious group over others, especially in a country that has long prided itself on the separation of church and state. At the same time, Christian symbols and traditions are being systematically removed from public life under the guise of neutrality, highlighting a growing imbalance.

Australia faces similar challenges, where common food items and products are increasingly labeled Halal to meet the demands of the Muslim community, even though they represent a relatively small percentage of the population. While these developments may appear minor, they are symptomatic of a broader trend of accommodation that often goes beyond inclusivity and moves toward appeasement. As history has shown, such appeasement can lead to further demands, eroding the core values and principles that once defined these nations.

These examples illustrate a concerning shift in Western societies, where the desire to avoid conflict or appear inclusive leads to the dilution of long-held values. By prioritizing the accommodation of certain religious and cultural practices, we risk undermining the very freedoms and principles that make our societies strong.

The lesson is clear: fanaticism thrives in silence. If the majority remains unwilling or unable to act, extremists will continue to rise. We are at a crossroads. Ignoring the problem or deleting the conversation will only make matters worse. Extremists—whether Islamist, far-left, or far-right—are not interested in peaceful coexistence. They seek domination. We must act before it’s too late.

We must also step back and reflect on the kind of future we want for our children. Why did we choose to live in Western countries? Why did some escape oppressive regimes in search of freedom here? And how do we ensure that future generations inherit the same freedoms? To protect this future, we must address extremism directly. Rather than fixating on defending Islamophobia as a political agenda, we must focus on preventing extremists from tainting the image of Islam and the many who seek genuine peace.

We must urge Muslim institutions and mosques to actively promote peace and coexistence. Religious beliefs should not be used as weapons to oppose the values of Western society. By fostering mutual respect and understanding, we can protect both our freedoms and the integrity of Islam.

The true indication that we are heading in the wrong direction and supporting inappropriate leaders is evident in the behavior of those who feel marginalized. Instead of seeking legitimacy and support for their growth and ability to contribute positively to society, they are choosing to impose hatred and discrimination against their opponents and those in positions of power. This approach lacks fairness and common sense, leading only to hate and victimization. These individuals, driven by radical ideology, risk steering us towards a future akin to Venezuela’s, without understanding the consequences. It is essential to harbor love in our hearts, even towards those we oppose. Hatred only begets more hatred, intensifying the flames until everyone is engulfed in the fire.

We are witnessing the rise of radical ideologies in countries like England, France, Belgium, and Spain. While we criticize nations like Poland for holding onto their sovereignty, accusing them of promoting discrimination, we fail to recognize the deeper threat at play. As radicalization spreads and we allow the flames of extremism to grow, we risk being consumed by the fire.

If we fail to take action now, the freedoms and values we cherish may be lost. The time to stand up and protect them is now, before it’s too late.

I’m not someone to fear nor do I want to instill fear mongering—I’m simply highlighting the issue, putting it under a magnifying glass. My goal is to urge our leaders to take notice and stop the damage before it transforms into something we’ll deeply regret for years to come, tearing down what we’ve worked so hard to build as a beacon of freedom, not hatred.

About the Author
Over a span of 25 years Ron has devoted his professional career to addressing issues of social justice and Israel advocacy through education and his passion for film. Ron has a rich experience inspiring and educating people of all ages on Israel-related matters through his work for both on-campus and non-profit organizations (speaking at 100s campuses, Synagogues, Community Centers around the world)
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