Nothing scarier than a zealot

“Guy,” my boss told me as we watched the World Trade Center Towers implode on 9/11, “there’s nothing scarier then a zealot.”

A zealot, in simple terms, is an excessively zealous person, a fanatic.

Today, it’s probably more common to think of a zealot as someone willing to die for a cause – someone who straps explosives to his torso, walks into a restaurant and then, following a quick prayer, takes out 20 to 30 non sectarians.

Many years on since 9/11, most people commonly refer to them as “extremists,” someone who isn’t concerned with the needs or viewpoint of others; someone that believes in their own cultural or sub-cultural supremacy or religion to a point that it makes compromise impossible. Yet, regardless of the descriptor it seems to me there is more political uncertainty and challenges to societal norms today than ever before.

It’s ironic that, since the end of the Cold War, radicals no longer have polarizing superpowers to align themselves with, which provided some measure of oversight. Instead, we have many smaller autonomous splinter groups with independent views on a Utopian society -- each carrying religion and cultural zeal to extreme. This, of course, is counter to what we as Americans believe in and fight for.

As Americans we strive for “Cultural Acceptance.” We're a melting pot of religions, languages, talents and, yes, flaws -- we see it only fitting to welcome each as an important member of the American dream, diversity a strength rather than a weakness.

In our “world” people of various religions, races, and socioeconomic status live, work and play together as equals. While we may not see eye-to-eye on everything, we respect the opinion of others and tend to engage in, at times, heated social discourse to affect reform; this, rather than violent exchange.

This is not to say our society is perfect, not by any stretch of the imagination, but our hearts are in the right place. It’s also why, while much of the international community may criticize our efforts in the press, behind the scenes they continue to look towards us for economic and social guidance. It's also why we've taken such ideals to Afghanistan, hoping a little of the diversity rubs off on their fledgling democracy.

So as our young men and women continue to make the sacrifices they do around the globe, keep in mind they’re doing so as ambassadors spreading cultural acceptance, religious freedom and equality. Sometimes this gets lost in the worldwide media frenzy all too eager to highlight our imperfections.