I personally watch a lot of world news from BBC and AP. I find the US Networks fairly skewed. So when I saw this quote, it just rang true!
Chomsky is a whole thing unto himself. I have friends who hold Phd.'s in applied linguistics and they rank his linguistic ideas as the #1 contribution of the 20th century (above Einstien!!). If you know a prof of linguistics ask them about Chomsky's contribution I guarantee they will agree. Now in addition to that he is like the #1 radical intellectual in the world. He is absolutely despised by the American right wing. He applies intensive scientific rigor to analysis of the American media and the results are absolutely mind blowing (check out this book http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/08...4?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance)
Chomsky had a few ideas about the orgins of language, etc. They were nice concepts and are good topics of converstation. However, they can not be applied to anything constructive. Chomsky is also an extreme leftwing nut. He is as much of a sad joke as that coin, that phony coin, that is being displayed. It is funny how the left is so quick to march to the drummer. Those leftist riots in Argentina with the destruction and looting were alot to be proud of. Now I am going to be called a rightist or kkk member or something by some leftist for I spoke out against them. Leftwing = zero tolerance.
Andy you should find someone (even a righty) with a phd. in applied linguistics and ask them about Chomsky's nonpolitical work. You will be surprised at the magnitude of his contribution to our understanding of the working of the human mind (they will tell you that he has contributed more to our understanding of thinking than any other person). As for his political work I see why you dislike him, he was involved in the Israeli Kabutz movement (which is a small scale communism), protested the war in Vietnam, and opposes Bush. But if you auctually take the time to read the book at the above link you may find yourself agreeing with many of his conclusions on the media. The book linked above is an easy read compared to his linguistic work which takes some background in the field to understand.
Danr, There goes a leftist attitude thinking that someone who disagrees with their point knows nothing. I have no problem with kibbutzs. That was individual choices that I support. By the way, most of them failed by time the second generation grew up and grew out of them. Individual choice. Look it up. I studied Chomsky's work in applied linguistics over 23 years ago and have read his articles and speeches that he has done since then and I am not impressed with his political and social rational. Now if you think that a person who supported Pol Pot who killed millions of his own people was a great man, then I just do not know what to say. By the way, Chomsky is also anti-Israel. Most likely from anger that they did not become a communist state. He has been pro-terrorist for years. Typical leftist thinking. If you can not build then destory.
In the book linked above Noam explains the PolPot thing. He did not support PolPot, what he did was complain that the western media blocked out much of the news from Cambodia during those years. Small out of context quotes from his argument were used to make it look like he was supporting PolPot. I could make YOU (Andy) look liberal if I took small quotes out of context and deleted certain words from your statements, that would be easy. Anti Israei (BTW he is Jewish), not really. But he strongly opposes guys like Sharon(sp?) and the treatment of Palestianians. He would probably align himself with the far left wing of the labor party in Isreal. Deep structures in language, a language organ, generative grammar, it is wrong to minimize his contribution because he holds views that differ from yours.
Go ahead, you said you could, so now I would like to see this little stunt. Sure you'r not into the grape juice again?
Now that is misquoting me to seem liberal. So you are stating the liberals like Pol Pot. As for me, I think that liberals are nice people who were against Pol Pot. The left is another matter. You have to remember that until recently liberal did not mean leftist and conservative did not mean rightest. Most moderates are both depending on the issue and I honestly feel that is what most of this nation is. As for Norm Chomsky, does he go to temple. Is he keeping koser. Is he following the Ten Commandments. Is he following the spirit of the Talmud? The way I view him is that he was born of Jewish Parents but his religion is communism. Just like any other communist they typically spit upon the religion of their parents.
Danr, I know that you do not like Pol Pot nor do I but I do wonder if you like Pot Pies or to think even deeper Popeye. He was a sailor man you know. But he didn't eat pot pies. What I know about Norm has nothing to do with what anyone else has written about him. He is really a forgotten person in many ways. What I do know is what he has written himself in leftist publications. If you like Norm that is between you two guys. But if I may suggest, like Norm from a distance.
