Reason or Rage

Rushdie Decries 'Mindset Of The Fanatic' That Sparks Anti-American Protests : The Two-Way : NPR

I wonder why it is that we see fanaticism on the rise in many parts of the world today including in our own country.  Perhaps we don't attack embassies but we have people who would like to.  Maybe we don't throw rocks but then we have guns.  What is the answer to dealing with fanaticism?  Is it the voice of reason which is often drowned out in the uproar?  Can the ballot box be the tempering influence or are we removing the temperance of it through the onslaught of negative political advertising that warns us to take sides, quickly, before it is too late.  Can we quell the fanaticism of some in the Islamic world by using military might to silence them or should we play the long game and try to be helpful?  These are things that we should be talking about rather than who has the biggest stick.