"A fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim." (Lesson from the Road Runner).

In one of my previous rantings, (Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner: Why does Coyote only fall when he looks down?) I posted a photo showing the rules of the Road Runner show set up by the producers of the show.

The third rule stated a quote from a George Santayana, that "A fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim".

This got me thinking on other fanatics in our midst, real life fanatics.
Namely, Islamic terrorists fanatics.

Islamic terrorists say they are Muslims.
They say they believe in Islam.
They believe the word "Islam" means "Peace".

So, they want to propagate Islam because they think that if everyone embrace or live under Islam, the world will be peaceful.

But then, not everyone share their ideals or way of thinking.
They are rejected.

So, they resort to authoritarianism or coercion or war in order to conquer everyone and make sure everyone live under Islam or "Peace".

That is, when they failed with propagation and coercion, they resort to war including suicide bombing, which is antithetical, the very opposite of peace, in order to achieve peace.

They forgot that their original aim was peace, but now it is about winning the war so that people do as what they say, as per their definition of peace, which has now become "everyone should do as they say".

As Santayana said, they become fanatics, "someone who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim". Redoubling and tripling his efforts, from just propagation to coercion to war.

It amazes me that the Road runner & Coyote can teach me the stupidity of Islamic fanatics and terrorists.
But when a cartoon character is right, it is right.

Go figure!