We grew up with the idea of continuous progress, with the expectation that things are always moving forward and improving, even though there might be ups and downs, accelerations and setbacks. That's why what is currently disconcerting and anxiety-inducing is having to conclude that the world is generally and continuously regressing in practically every area. Even major technological advances are viewed with fear, if not as complicit in the rest of the material and moral setbacks.

I write this article from experience, but also from a concern that goes far beyond Afghanistan. Too often we talk about extremism as if it were a distant problem, specific to other countries, cultures, or religions. But extremism doesn't have a single face or a single flag. Wherever the balance is lost, it appears.