Soros: Don’t Let Demagogues Make You Fear ISIS
Soros: By “demagogues” I mean specifically Trump and Cruz
One of the things that I find amusing about the Democrats’ war on the Koch brothers is the fact that it seems to be based more in projection than in fact. George Soros is notoriously behind and/or involved in a slew of progressive initiatives, websites, and assorted pot stirrings.
It’s usually a good idea to know what the opposition is thinking, so it’s worth taking a look at the article he penned for The Guardian entitled “The terrorists and demagogues want us to be scared. We mustn’t give in.”
In it, Soros claims that terrorists have discovered that western, “open” societies have a key weakness that can be exploited: a fear of death. Note how he singles out France’s response to the Paris attacks as being particularly “irrational” (as we’ll see, he’s quite happy with America’s president’s non-response to terrorism.):
Open societies are always endangered. This is especially true of America and Europe today, as a result of the terrorist attacks in Paris and elsewhere, and the way that America and Europe, particularly France, have reacted to them.
Jihadi terrorist groups such as Islamic State and al-Qaida have discovered the achilles [sic] heel of our western societies: the fear of death. Through horrific attacks and macabre videos, the publicists of Isis magnify this fear, leading otherwise sensible people in hitherto open societies to abandon their reason.
Scientists have discovered that emotion is an essential component of human reasoning. That discovery explains why jihadi terrorism poses such a potent threat to our societies: the fear of death leads us and our leaders to think – and then behave – irrationally. (emphasis mine)
Soros also claims—erroneously—that the “jihadi phenomenon” has been with us for only a single generation:
The open society is thus always at risk from the threat posed by our response to fear. A generation that has inherited an open society from its parents will not understand what is required to maintain it until it has been tested and learns to keep fear from corrupting reason. Jihadi terrorism is only the latest example. The fear of nuclear war tested the last generation, and the fear of communism and fascism tested my generation.
. . . . The hysterical anti-Muslim reaction to terrorism is generating fear and resentment among Muslims living in Europe and America. The older generation reacts with fear, the younger one with resentment; the result is a breeding ground for potential terrorists. This is a mutually reinforcing, reflexive process.
. . . . To remove the danger posed by jihadi terrorism, abstract arguments are not enough; we need a strategy for defeating it. The challenge is underscored by the fact that the jihadi phenomenon has been with us for more than a generation.
Soros’ solution—unsurprisingly—is the same one we’ve heard from Obama for well over a year . . . and are likely to hear much more about in the coming year, much as we were inundated with ObamaCare speeches when he decided his messaging was off about that, too.
Soros continues:
Abandoning the values and principles underlying open societies and giving in to an anti-Muslim impulse dictated by fear certainly is not the answer, though it may be difficult to resist the temptation. I experienced this personally when I watched the last Republican presidential debate; I could stop myself only by remembering that it must be irrational to follow the wishes of your enemies.
Consider the Syrian conflict, which is the root cause of the migration problem that is posing an existential threat to the European Union as we know it. If it was resolved, the world would be in better shape. It is important to recognise that Isis is operating from a position of weakness. While it is spreading fear in the world, its hold on its home ground is weakening. The United Nations security council has unanimously adopted a resolution against it, and the leaders of Isis are aware that their days in Iraq and Syria are numbered.
If you’re curious about Soros and his concept of “open society” (and don’t mind having a few nightmares), you can watch him explain in detail how it is in direct conflict with American morals and values, specifically with capitalism and the free market.
Soros fails to note in his Guardian article why Syria is in such chaos. Instead, he blames Donald Trump and Ted Cruz for demagoguing ISIS and Obama’s other Middle East failures.
Of course, the outlook for Syria remains highly uncertain, and the conflict there cannot be understood or tackled in isolation. But one idea shines through crystal clear: it is an egregious mistake to do what the terrorists want us to do. That is why, as 2016 gets underway, we must reaffirm our commitment to the principles of open society and resist the siren song of the likes of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, however hard that may be.
All of this, of course, is exactly what Obama has been saying (and why his poll numbers are plummeting on this issue).
Somehow I doubt that Soros is reading White House talking points, however.
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Comments
“To remove the danger posed by jihadi terrorism, abstract arguments are not enough; we need a strategy for defeating it.”
Find the people behind the terrorist leaders and remove them.
With the left, always pay more attention to the process than the content (Think Alinsky). Ask yourself process questions.
Why he is saying what he is saying?
Why is he saying it here?
What is his end-game based on what he actually does not what he says?
Who are his friends?
Who are his enemies?
What else is going on that I should pay attention to?
The left always attempts to distract you (usually with words but not always)so you do not look at what they are really doing. If you always assume a leftist is lying you will be right far more often than wrong.
I agree, and for me, Soro’s mention of Cruz with Trump was an attempt to give Cruz credentials he does not have.
Why should anyone think anything that old nazi says is meant for the good of anyone besides himself and his masters?
Giving Cruz credentials he doesn’t have? Like whipping Trumps butt on national security during the last debate and on foreign policy.
Cruz has much more knowledge and experience in foreign affairs and national security than Trump has and made that quite obvious during the last debate.
Soros isn’t a fool. But he thinks we are.
The obvious comeback is to say “make them fear death more than we do.”
Which is the gist of what Bush said and later did when he stood on the remains of the the towers.
And I thought the progressive mantra was “we have nothing to fear but fear itself.”
I am not afraid of dying, Georgie. I am an American. You are projecting your fear onto us.
And who do you think is protecting the world with their lives so that you can promote your inane “open society”.
Now, I bet you have borders/boundaries on your finances, Georgie.
Follow the money bags under his eyes.
… the fear of death leads us and our leaders to think – and then behave – irrationally.
Ol’George doesn’t have to fear death, he’s so rich he thinks he can just pay people to die for him.
So Georgie, if you have no fear of death, please, please go visit isis directly and be sure to take along all your vices.
Vile and evil man trying to play god. The true God will not be mocked, Georgie. Your days are numbered, and you’d best be on your knees begging for forgiveness for all the pain and chaos you have caused in your miserable existence.
Soros see himself as an all-seeing godlike messiah – but he is simply evil incarnate.
What a silly load of crap! It contradicts itself over and over.
But a great example of Collectivist “thinking” for your scrapbook.
I can’t stomach watching this. Does he say anything about how the welfare state sucks the morality out of a society?
FDR put it well: “The lessons of history, confirmed by the evidence immediately before me, show conclusively that continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To dole our relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit. It is inimical to the dictates of a sound policy. It is in violation of the traditions of America. Work must be found for able-bodied but destitute workers.” SOTU address, 1935.
Gee, I didn’t think FDR put anything well. Are we talking about the same FDR? The one with Communist backers and friends? The one who developed many of the welfare programs that still dog us today? He LOVED government dependency, sir. All Democrats do
Well, sorta…
Remember that FDR staunchly opposed collective bargaining for Federal employees.
But the tell-tale in the quote was the last line; “Work must be found for able-bodied but destitute workers.”
The Collectivist in FDR figured that was the job of BIG GOVERNMENT. Even a lot of Collectivists want “workers” working…under government control. Unemployment was not a “good thing” under Uncle Joe Stalin.
“Work must be found for able-bodied but destitute workers.”
This is a carefully constructed sentence. By making a passive statement, which by its nature is missing information, the reader may then supply the information the reader wants to see. Thus, I may think that businesses will supply the jobs but FDR was thinking that the government will supply the jobs. If FDR had stated (actively) “The federal government must find work for able-bodied but destitute workers,” it would be clear that FDR was BIG GOVERNMENT as Rags pointed out. FDR wanted to be vague.
Soros is in no position to tell the American public anything. That freedom hating snot has been funding chaos all over. He should have been jailed for his past crimes and not allowed to destroy our country.
This article simply reminds me that, to the kind of person who subordinates the individual to the State, I and my family are simply statistics.
Soros may be old and rich, but he still thinks like a serf, and that he is now the puppet master for czars.
Soros is plain evil. I have had a healthy fear of radical Islam since the World Trade Center bombing back in 1993. I don’t need Cruz or Trump to influence me. Why don’t we drop Soros into Syria and let him talk to his “chums” ISIS.
A demagogue is making be afraid. Tyrant Obama Bin Liar has embraced ISIS and other Muslims. He has shipped tons of weapons and other supplies to ISIS and only pretended to attack them from the air. Furthermore, he betrayed our country with his Help Iran Build Nuclear Tipped ICBMs and Dominate the Middle East agreement. Now he wants to violate our 2nd amendment and disarm our citizens so they can be slaughtered by his Muslim buddies and his BLM supporters. Anyone with a brain should be worried.
“Anyone with a brain should be worried…”
Samuel L. Jackson isn’t worried.
Don’t react with fear? I don’t have to wonder what he thinks about the knee-jerk, anti-gun reaction of Progressives. I’m sure as all for that irrational reaction.