People who cherish freedom around the world are contemplating what appears to be crumbling values of basic human rights in many areas of public life, as conflicts explode in various parts of the planet, with little or no solutions in sight.

In a sense, it is an undeclared world war between new dangerous forms of ideology, and people who believe true freedom respects the right to worship without fear, and to live with dignity and respect, which every citizen on earth should be entitled to.

It is an extremely complex situation, as powerful extremist groups trumpet what they consider as values, which run counter to values normally accepted by most of the free world as vital to human existence in an atmosphere without fear of prosecution.

World history has seen dictators who sought to rule by brutal force with most falling on their own swords.

To a large degree it boils down to crumbling values in a world where honesty and respect for law, continue to diminish in the blood thirsty rush for power by any means, as criminals make use of modern technology to penetrate world economic systems, threatening many banks and large business operations with intrusion into private accounts, leaving customers at times vulnerable for theft by people hundreds of miles away.

Banks and business officials are constantly trying to keep a step ahead of hackers, who spend their lives seeking new ways to defeat systems designed to protect and secure private and business accounts around the world. It is a clear sign that the world is undergoing major changes in culture, especially how it pertains to treating the next person as we would like ourselves to be treated.

No longer can any country large or small, feel exempt from some of the terrible acts of brutality by some groups who seem determined to eliminate those who disagree with their version of life on earth. The recent beheading of the British aid worker who was abducted by the ISIS terrorist group, is clear evidence that no part of the free world is off their target list.

The situation creates a massive challenge for the United States, Britain, France, Canada and Australia, along with several other nations, who see the threat as global, if action is not taken to halt the carnage as they seek to capture new lands in their quest for power.

No one really knows how far ISIS is willing to go in staking their claim to become an Islamist state.

What most leaders of the free world do know is that no group on this earth should be allowed to execute innocent people who are not in agreement with their ideology.

While it might not be listed as The Third World War there is little doubt that a war is well underway to confront a deadly threat to world stability.

It is something most people are not keen to think about on a daily basis, but as long as innocent men, women and children are dying on a daily basis, and values such as the right to life crumble there is concern for the future.

Here in Bermuda we have much to be grateful for, despite challenges in many areas of community life.

However we should take advantage of the positives, in order to seek solutions and continue to build an island home where every citizen feels a part of that growth. It is only when people feel left out that negative impulses take root. It will also keep our value system from crumbling.

Our economy is not in the best of shape which is no secret, but even as efforts to right the ship are under way, officials should be mindful that if there are passengers in one cabin who feel short changed, the ship itself could be in trouble.

In other words every one is important in the quest to build a healthy, safe society. The opportunity for success should not be missed.