Extremism at its worst

Any extreme is bad - whatever the subject or cause. Religious extremism is probably the worst, for the effect it can have on both people, generally, and even a country. Just reflect on countries driven by religious extremists or clerics whose influence on government is hard to comprehend.

This description of what befell an [Australian] ABC News correspondent in Jerusalem last Saturday makes for sober reading:

"The ABC's Middle East correspondent Anne Barker became caught in violent street protests involving ultra-Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem at the weekend. This is her graphic account of her ordeal.

As a journalist I've covered more than my share of protests. Political protests in Canberra. Unions protesting for better conditions. Angry, loud protests against governments, or against perceived abuses of human rights.

I've been at violent rallies in East Timor. I've had rocks and metal darts thrown my way. I've come up against riot police.

But I have to admit no protest - indeed no story in my career - has distressed me in the way I was distressed at a protest in Jerusalem on Saturday involving several hundred ultra-Orthodox Jews."

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