Surrendering to the "hysterical anti-Muslim reaction" triggered by radical Islamic jihadist attacks in Europe and America puts "open societies" at risk by stoking fear and resentment, billionaire investor George Soros argues.
In a biting opinion piece in the
Guardian, the hedge fund legend writes it's "an egregious mistake to do what the terrorists want us to do" – accusing GOP presidential primary front-runner Donald Trump and surging contender Sen. Ted Cruz of doing exactly that.
"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," he writes.
"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."
"The hysterical anti-Muslim reaction to terrorism is generating fear and resentment among Muslims living in Europe and America," he adds.
"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."
Soros argues the terrorists' "ultimate goal" is to convince Muslim youth there's no alternative to terrorism, and to awaken "the latent anti-Muslim sentiments in Europe and America, inducing the non-Muslim population to treat all Muslims as potential attackers."
And he contends an open society is "always at risk from the threat posed by our response to fear."
"Jihadi terrorism is only the latest example," he writes. "The fear of nuclear war tested the last generation, and the fear of communism and fascism tested my generation."
But removing the danger posed by jihadists' terrorism will require "a strategy for defeating it," he insists.
"It is important to recognize that ISIS is operating from a position of weakness," he writes. "While it is spreading fear in the world, its hold on its home ground is weakening."
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