Noam Chomsky
How come people who denigrate Noam Chomsky never quote him saying:
"So, in the United States, for example, which is one of the most free and democratic societies there is, by now about three-quarters of the population regard presidential elections as basically a farce-just some game played by rich contributors and the public relations industry, which crafts candidates to say things that they don't mean and don't understand."
(Language, Politics, and Propaganda: Noam Chomsky interviewed by David Jay Brown)
Or this:
Bill Bennett: "Go through the Chomsky work, line by line, argument by argument, and you will see this is a man who has made a career out of hating America and out of trashing the record of this country. Of course, there is a mixed record in this country, why do you choose to live in this terrorist nation, Mr. Chomsky?"
Chomsky: "I don't. I choose to live in what I think is the greatest country in the world, which is committing horrendous terrorist acts and should stop."
(On 9-11: Noam Chomsky debates with Bill Bennett)
Or this:
"People like us are so privileged by comparison with most of the world that to talk about anything that happens to us is almost obscene. There are problems, but nothing like what's faced in most of the world, and in this country, over a long period, many rights have been won - not granted, won. Even some of the things that are best established here like freedom of speech - and in that respect, the United States is maybe the best place in the world."
(On the Repression of Democratic Movements, US Elections, and Future Prospects: Noam Chomsky interviewed by Nancy Nangeroni & Gordene O. MacKenzie)
Hmmm...
I wonder if Noam Chomsky is just very smart and doesn't see the need to state the obvious every five minutes.
"So, in the United States, for example, which is one of the most free and democratic societies there is, by now about three-quarters of the population regard presidential elections as basically a farce-just some game played by rich contributors and the public relations industry, which crafts candidates to say things that they don't mean and don't understand."
(Language, Politics, and Propaganda: Noam Chomsky interviewed by David Jay Brown)
Or this:
Bill Bennett: "Go through the Chomsky work, line by line, argument by argument, and you will see this is a man who has made a career out of hating America and out of trashing the record of this country. Of course, there is a mixed record in this country, why do you choose to live in this terrorist nation, Mr. Chomsky?"
Chomsky: "I don't. I choose to live in what I think is the greatest country in the world, which is committing horrendous terrorist acts and should stop."
(On 9-11: Noam Chomsky debates with Bill Bennett)
Or this:
"People like us are so privileged by comparison with most of the world that to talk about anything that happens to us is almost obscene. There are problems, but nothing like what's faced in most of the world, and in this country, over a long period, many rights have been won - not granted, won. Even some of the things that are best established here like freedom of speech - and in that respect, the United States is maybe the best place in the world."
(On the Repression of Democratic Movements, US Elections, and Future Prospects: Noam Chomsky interviewed by Nancy Nangeroni & Gordene O. MacKenzie)
Hmmm...
I wonder if Noam Chomsky is just very smart and doesn't see the need to state the obvious every five minutes.
1 Comments:
Well put. I enjoy Noam's pontifications now and again.
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