By Sid Schwab / Herald columnist
“Say hello to George Soros.” That’s how a less-than-love note was signed by a reader.
The salutatory suggestion got me thinking. As with most things political, he and I view reality across an unbridgeable fissure. Other than what he hears from Fox and foxoid sources, I wondered, does he even know who George Soros is and what he does when not masterminding all international evil (Jew!!), as portrayed by the screamers of right-wing media?
Does the man know where Soros’ money goes? He might not like his politics. He might wish he gave millions to Republicans instead. Were he not so thoroughly Foxified, he might also challenge the many lies about him. Starting with being a Nazi collaborator.
There’s a fake picture still circulating, showing a person claimed to be Soros, in a Nazi uniform. But he was born in 1930, making him nine years old when WWII began. Like many Jews at the time, his father, having previously changed the family name from Schwartz to Soros, wanting to save his family from the Holocaust (which existed), obtained papers identifying George as Christian. Managed to get him a job, a teenager, accompanying a Nazi bribed to claim to be his godfather, but not, evidently, assisting him in confiscating belongings of fellow Jews. This he did to survive. Would you have refused, facing extermination if your true identity were known? At that age? Here’s an exhaustive exploration, via Snopes, of that lie and related others, spread with enthusiasm on right-wing media and still believed: tinyurl.com/truth4george.
As a hedge fund manager and currency trader, George Soros made a ton of money, most of which he’s given away, placing him far below the latest right-wing hero, Elon Musk, among the world’s richest (No. 345, says Forbes). And whereas it’s true he’s among the biggest donors to Democrats while other billionaires donate even more to Republicans, the bulk of his charity has gone to groups around the world striving for democracy. Looking at the people and organizations who receive his money, his purpose becomes evident, the origins surely in his first-hand witnessing of Naziism and the Holocaust. The name of his main vehicle for giving says it: “The Open Society Foundations.”
It’s not hard to understand, based on the title, how lizard-people-seeing Foxotrumpians translate that into “New world order” and “International cabal.” What it means, though, is democracy; which, as we’ve seen well before President Biden’s win, is anathema to Trump and Trumpism. Likewise Soros’ support for truth in media and for debunking the disinformation which is the daily bread and business model of Fox, Newsmax, OANN, Alex Jones, Steve Bannon, etc., ad deplorablum. Opposite the likes of Toxic Tucker, it’s clear why he’s Foxic enemy No. 1. Via mediamatters.org and other platforms, here and abroad, he forces truth past lies.
It’d be nice if the following words from the foundation’s webpage would change minds, but, of course, they won’t: “Societies can only flourish when they allow for democratic governance, freedom of expression, and respect for individual rights — an approach at the core of the Open Society Foundations’ work. …” Scurrilous, right? Given the expansive Trumpublican preference for authoritarian liars, the threat is evident (www.opensocietyfoundations.org).
Fact-checking lies is easy, as is discovering the causes in which Soros’ foundations have invested around the world, advancing democracy, supporting groups that resist tyranny. That he’s given, among others, to groups in America seeking accountability in law enforcement translates to “anti-police” in Foxotrumpified minds, when, it should be obvious, working to root out the few bad cops supports the many good ones. But, as with all conspiracy theories, the need to hold them close, unwavering, trumps long-since eliminated desire for truth (tinyurl.com/5myths4u).
So, why bring up George Soros at all, knowing no minds will change? Because of Trumpublicans’ increasingly anti-democracy, pro-authoritarian drift, including their inexplicable support of Vladimir Putin and his war crimes in Ukraine. Russian media are praising such lowlights as Tucker Carlson, Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz, Paul Gosar, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, for their attacks on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; the recipients seem proud of it.
No wonder Foxotrumputinists hate Soros. Including the kind who loved Texas Gov. Greg Abbot’s latest dump of 130 asylum-seeking adults and children, refugees from oppression and poverty, some wearing only T-shirts, on the coldest day on record, in D.C., on Christmas eve. Compare that reprehensible behavior to Soros, whose foundations aid similarly vulnerable people as they seek relief from abuse for themselves and their compatriots (The Bulwark: tinyurl.com/2bcruel).
Who harms America more? How did truly evil Abbott, who, simultaneous with his cruel stunt, issued a praise-Jesus Christmas message, beat Beto O’Rourke? And what’s the over/under on House Republicans seating Trump-level liar George Santos? (New York Post tinyurl.com/georgelies4u)
The world needs more people doing what George Soros does, not fewer (YouTube: tinyurl.com/bgood4u).
Email Sid Schwab at columnsid@gmail.com.
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