Re: Chomsky (was: Christopher Hitchens' Column)

From: Michael M. Butler (butler@comp-lib.org)
Date: Sat Oct 20 2001 - 12:57:46 MDT


I usually find Chomsky at least worth listening to when I see him on some
PBS program. Haven't done any deep reading of him, though _Manufacturing Consent_
has been on my to-read list for a long time. I find his viewpoint provocative and
worthwhile, usually, even though I often don't agree with his conclusions.

He's an anarchosocialist, which makes it funny that Dees and Lorrey should
both find fault with him.

Then again, plenty of people criticize _The Bell Curve_ when they haven't ever
even read the chapter précis...

Miriam English wrote:
> I doubt that either Lorrey or Dees has actually read what Chomsky has
> written -- just what others have said about him. I don't idolise the guy, I
> just recognise that he's an honest person seeking the truth, and has some
> valid info to contribute. To vilify him the way some people here have been
> doing strikes me as downright weird. It is not even guilty till proven
> innocent, but prejudgement on whim. Hardly the kind of quality we are gonna
> need if we are to live comfortably with each other for millennia.

Cartoon thinking is not thinking. It is the 2-D _illusion_ of thinking.
Trompe l'oeil thinking is harder to identify. :) I have been guilty of both
from time to time.

Yours for properly sized glasses,

MMB

-- 
Job One:  MAKE YOURSELF USEFUL.  If you're not part of the solution, 
  what are you doing scumming up the bottom of our beaker? --MMB  
"Let's roll." --Last words heard over Todd Beamer's cell phone 
   before the counterassault aboard UA93, 02001.09.11.~10:10EDT


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