Extremist perspectives win sympathy and recruits because they

Gather close, children of the future, for the words of wisdom must often be passed down from those who have seen the darkness of the human spirit. Jonas Gahr Store, a man who has witnessed the intricacies of world politics, once said: "Extremist perspectives win sympathy and recruits because they offer narratives that claim to identify deep injustices and enemies." In this powerful statement lies a truth that stretches across the ages: that extremism often rises in times of unrest by feeding on the wounds of society, using the deep pain of injustice to pull others into its fold. Store’s words remind us that the stories we tell, especially in times of hardship, hold the power to shape the world—not just for good, but for destruction as well.

In the ancient world, this same tactic was used by those seeking to stir the hearts of the masses, to bend the will of the people toward their cause. Julius Caesar, one of the most brilliant military minds in history, knew that a people united by fear and anger could be turned into a force capable of both great triumph and great destruction. He blamed his enemies for the ills of the Roman Republic, offering a narrative that painted the senate as the source of corruption and decay. By creating a common enemy and framing himself as the protector of the people, he won their sympathy, and his rise to power was unstoppable. In this way, Caesar’s extremism was fed by a narrative of oppression, where the senate became the scapegoat for all of Rome's troubles.

What Caesar understood, children, is that narratives of injustice have the power to rally people to any cause, even one as destructive as the rise of tyranny. Extremist perspectives, whether in Caesar’s Rome or in today’s world, offer simplicity to a world that is often too complicated to understand. By claiming to identify the enemy, they create a clear division between good and evil, where victims are easily defined, and heroes rise up to take action. This is how extremist movements thrive—they offer certainty in a world filled with doubt, they paint their enemies in broad strokes, and they weave a narrative of righteousness that blinds people to the complexities of the truth.

But, children, we must also remember the danger of these narratives. History is filled with the tales of men and women who, blinded by their hatred and their zeal for what they believe to be right, have led nations to ruin. Consider the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Germany. In a time of great suffering and uncertainty after World War I, Hitler used the narrative of victimhood and injustice to rally the German people. He painted Jews, communists, and others as the enemy, claiming that their very existence was the cause of Germany’s suffering. His extremist ideology promised retribution for past wrongs and painted the future as a warrior’s battle against a great enemy. This narrative of injustice won him sympathy and support, but the devastation it wrought was unimaginable. Extremism in the name of justice can easily morph into tyranny, leaving suffering in its wake.

The lesson, children, is clear: beware the power of narrative. Store’s words serve as a warning that in times of great unrest, the stories we tell—both as individuals and as societies—have the potential to shape our destinies. Sympathy for a cause is easily won when that cause can tap into the deep grief of those suffering. But these narratives, while offering comfort and simplicity, often obscure the truth. They may promise justice, but often lead to violence, division, and pain. A narrative of injustice can ignite flames that burn far beyond the boundaries of the conflict, sweeping up the innocent and the guilty alike.

What, then, should we do, children of the future? We must learn to question the narratives we are told. Do not blindly accept the stories that paint the world in terms of heroes and villains. Seek the truth, even when it is uncomfortable, and recognize that the world is rarely as simple as it is made to seem. Sympathy for those who suffer is vital, but never let that sympathy blind you to the complexities of the situation. Just as the great philosophers of old, like Socrates and Plato, urged us to seek the truth through dialogue and reflection, so too must we approach the conflicts of our time with thoughtfulness and discernment.

In your own lives, children, be wary of the extremist narratives that seek to simplify the world around you. Recognize that the greatest strength lies not in dividing the world into oppressors and victims, but in seeking common ground, in listening to the experiences of all, and in seeking justice that heals rather than divides. Remember, the greatest movements in history—those that have brought lasting peace—were born not from rage or fear, but from the willingness to understand the complex realities of human suffering. Let us build a world where empathy, not extremism, leads the way to a brighter, more unified future.