Noam Chomsky and the Manufacturing of American Dissent: 2 videos

[Peter Presland]

Why does ANYONE give a fatratsass what Chomsky thinks.

To discuss him is to dignify him.

Jack

In one sense, Jack, I'm only too sympathetic. His cowardice and dishonesty are so brazen and contemptible as to render him beyond the realm of civilized discourse. And yet, there is a serious side to this, and I can't think of any writer who has put it better than DiEugenio:

http://www.ctka.net/pr197-left.html

From the January-February, 1997 issue (Vol. 4 No. 2)

The Left and the Death of Kennedy

By Jim DiEugenio


Chomsky "That would be an interesting question if there were any reason to believe that it happened. Since I see no credible evidence for that belief, I can’t accept that the issue is as you pose it." (p.6)

Apparently, Chomsky never thought that Marcus would include their three hour session over just three pieces of evidence. This exposes the above statement, and Chomsky’s public stance since Stone’s film, as a deception.

Chomsky and his good friend and soulmate on the JFK case, Alexander Cockburn went on an (orchestrated?) campaign at the time of Stone’s JFK to convince whatever passes for the left in this country that the murder of Kennedy was 1) not the result of a conspiracy, and 2) didn’t matter even if it was. They were given unlimited space in magazines like The Nation and Z Magazine. But, as Howard Zinn implied in a recent letter to Schotz defending Chomsky, these stances are not based on facts or evidence, but on a political choice. They choose not to fight this battle. They would rather spend their time and effort on other matters. When cornered themselves, Chomsky and Cockburn resort to rhetorical devices like exaggeration, sarcasm, and ridicule. In other words, they resort to propaganda and evasion.

CTKA believes that this is perhaps the most obvious and destructive example of Schotz’s “denial.” For if we take Chomsky and Cockburn as being genuine in their crusades—no matter how unattractive their tactics—their myopia about politics is breathtaking. For if the assassinations of the ‘60’s did not matter—and Morrisey notes that these are Chomsky’s sentiments—then why has the crowd the left plays to shrunk and why has the field of play tilted so far to the right? ...

I reckon a 'QED' is in order.

I sympathise with Jack too. Problem is that Chomsky has the status of a 'saint to a believer' in Left-leaning political circles in the UK.

The guy has clearly done immense damage and I for one won't be slow to say so when I hear him idolised from now on.

Sadly, I sense a battle with the Media Lens Luvvies approaching. Oh dear.