Just about every country in the world, large and small and that includes Bermuda, has growing concerns about the unprecedented acts of terrorism carried out by extremist elements that not only shock the world but lead to questions over whether groups that exist to destroy over ideological issues can ever be stopped.

The free world has been wrestling with what to do to change a trend that has the shadow of violence reaching places previously thought relatively safe from those who choose to kill and harm in the name of a religion which many followers find unacceptable and misleading.

The situation has become so severe that US President Barack Obama, in launching a summit to deal with extremism, declared “we are not at war with Islam, but with those who pervert the religion”.

The statement has US politicians on both sides clashing over what should be the policy in handling a war with religious undertones which in itself creates complications that are not easily sorted out in a climate of cold-blooded murders, some carried out by sympathisers of the Isis terrorist group mainly operating in Iraq and Syria.

This growing threat that has prompted a summit over extremism could be the fact that Isis has been using modern communication technology to seek anyone who may be open to their brand of justice, irrespective as to where they may be on the planet.

Even teenagers in the US have been targeted by the group for recruitment through the internet, and several have been caught by the FBI trying to leave the country to become a part of Isis.

What is even more disturbing is that America’s homeland security department has its hands full in trying to spot, before it is too late, the lone wolf who decides to inflict havoc on innocent lives as a part of extremist objectives.

It is no secret that there are misguided people who are simply waiting in the shadows for the opportunity to strike in the name of Isis. There can be no justification for killing people because they do not share in a particular religious ideology, and most Muslims around the world find such acts totally unacceptable and contrary to their faith.

Many Muslim leaders have openly condemned horrific acts in the name of Islam, which has led to many painting all Muslims with the brush of violence.

That is incorrect and grossly unfair, and is not supported by people who cherish freedom and peace, and who also respect everyone to worship freely as a human right.

In recent years the world has become so interconnected that no place on Earth could be considered totally exempt from the expanding arm of terrorism. It is not a pleasant thought by any means but reality is not always pretty.

Security has long been a concern for airliners and cruise ships, along with popular tourist destinations.

World authorities are fully aware that terrorists will stop at nothing to inflict mayhem where ever they can to promote fear among those who prefer to live outside of their doctrine.

As a number of nations, including America, attempt to solidify a military thrust to break the back of Isis, such a war is likely to be quite complicated in a part of the world where groups opposed to Isis are engaged in battles between themselves over different religious concepts.

Terrorism is not a subject most people want to even think about, but global peace is threatened as long as any group is willing to eliminate in a brutal manner anyone for disagreeing with their quest to conquer by any means.

Unless freedom-loving people stand together to defend decent values to make the world a better place, the long shadow of violence will continue to spread to a degree where no place on earth will be off limits.

No one on this Earth is safe as long as that threat exists.

The future for our children and their children will depend on the outcome of a new type of war that could affect cultures in every corner of the earth.

Terrorism has no place in any decent society.