Noam Chomsky: The U.S. Continues to Be a Terrorist State

via AlterNet:




Guernica / By Joel Whitney

Noam Chomsky: The U.S. Continues to Be a Terrorist State
Noam Chomsky discusses his forthcoming book, the hypocrisy of neoliberalism and where he feels hopeful about democracy despite U.S. terrorism.

May 12, 2010 |


If Noam Chomsky’s critics have a common refrain, it is pointing to his habit of being far too hard on America’s motives and too easy on its opponents. The former, of course, is his métier. The latter criticism has limited (though a few important) instances. In fact, Chomsky’s central question is how do you punish the crook who owns the jailhouse, pays the police their salaries, and fails consistently to see his crimes as such? Or perhaps, how do you get a self-enamored hypocrite to reckon with his pathology? Certainly not by repeating the praise, or what Chomsky sometimes calls America’s “state religion” of self-worship. And despite this, in a very limited way, Chomsky does give credit where credit is due.

In his forthcoming book Hopes and Prospects, Chomsky admits that a black family in the White House is historic. But he credits not “America,” a “system of power” defined by “market interventions” in the economy that once tolerated, and even fought for, the right to own humans as slaves. Nor does he give much credit to “Brand Obama,” as he calls the phenomenon that elected our new president, insisting that the new president is “likely to ‘have more influence on boardrooms than any president since Ronald Reagan.’” In fact, Chomsky gives credit for the 2008 election, in a way, to himself and his ilk.

In an early manuscript of the book, Chomsky writes, “The two candidates in the Democratic primary were a woman and an African-American. That, too, was historic. It would have been unimaginable forty years ago. The fact that the country has become civilized enough to accept this outcome is a considerable tribute to the activism of the nineteen sixties and its aftermath, with lessons for the future.” As such, this small tome is Chomsky’s legacy book.

And high time. His landmark critique of B.F. Skinner that crippled behaviorism’s predominance in psychology and linguistics turns fifty this year. His first book on politics, American Power and the New Mandarins: Historical and Political Essays, turns forty. The Essential Chomsky, edited by Anthony Arnove, came out from the New Press last year, in time for Chomsky’s eightieth birthday. And Chomsky’s wife died of cancer last winter, which would make anyone take stock. Regularly voted into the “top public intellectual” polls various magazines frequently run, the linguist and foreign policy critic, said to be worth two million dollars, remains a polarizing figure. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/books/146815/noam_chomsky%3A_the_u.s._continues_to_be_a_terrorist_state/

Avidly read around the world. Speaks to packed houses across the country. A 'rock-star', almost.

NEVER ON 24/7 CABLE NEWS.

What are they scared of?

He is a man as you know, not shy about the truth and brings substantial support for his opinions.

Rachel Maddow should ask him on, if anyone would do it, she has the brains to have a conversation with him.

but once I tuned into an all Noam Chomsky all the time internet radio station and he simply lost me.

Chris Hayes mentioned Noam when he was the guest bogus DJ* for Rachel last night.

-90% Jimmy

*....it's a dog whistle term for Zappa fans, if you're curious

Thanks for the thread, marmar.

http://www.chomsky.info/articles/19711230.htm

it's quite a delight