November 11, 2009 at 12:15 pm (Activism, DesertPeace Editorial, Gaza, Israel, Palestine)
Just my two cents…..
In recent days he has been very vocal about the situation in Gaza. He speaks of International Solidarity as a new phenomena in People’s Struggles. Did he never hear of the International Brigades that went to Spain to fight Franco? Did he not hear of the worldwide movement to eliminate apartheid in South Africa? Does he think Cuba could have survived as a free nation all these years without the support of International Support Groups?
Chomsky overlooks the movements of Palestinians within Gaza and the Occupied West Bank. He gives the impression that without his endorsements, nothing will change. So typical of so many ‘ivory tower’ dwellers. The problem with these people is that their views of reality are often obstructed and they never really see the entire picture of a situation.
The struggle of the Gazans, and all other struggles of people throughout the world need more than endorsements. They need action, they need your ‘body on line’. People often ask me to define the word zionist….. I often say that a zionist is a person, not living in Israel, that writes a TAX DEDUCTIBLE check to the Jewish National Fund every year. Perhaps that definition oversimplifies such a vile movement, but even there you see a large ‘movement’ of talkers, not doers.
We in the People’s Movements cannot afford talk…. to quote from Chomsky himself, “It is wise to attend to deeds, not rhetoric”.
You can read about the Free Gaza Movement HERE. See where you can fit in…. we need YOU, not your endorsement.
The following is a recent interview with Noam Chomsky, the interview that soured me as far as he is concerned….. I usually refrain from this type of post, but the dilettantes of the ‘left’ are really getting to me.
In my opinion this editorial by "Desert Peace" is not fair to Chomsky. Increibly the man is harshly criticised in the USA when he is one of the brightest minds the USA has produced ever. He is highly respected by the people throughout Europe. Certainly, Chomsky knows knows of the international brigades that came in Spain to help fight fascism. Actually, the first article that Chomsky wrote was when he was 10 (ten!!!) years old, after the impression he got by the fall of Barcelona to the fascists, and the threat of the spead of fascism. But these Brigades (may god bless their souls) were different from current popular solidarity with Palestine, and I think it is this aspect what Chomsky was pointing out. As to the survival of Cuba, it had not that much to do with popular foreign support, but rather with the Cubans' will and purpose.
Ben says that he did not see Chomsky participating in events lately. Maybe it is due (apart from his advanced age) to the fact that for the last two years he has been looking after his wife Carol, who was very ill and died of cancer in December past. But I recall Chomsky taking to the streets and predicating with his example many times before.
I deeply respect this man, and I resent when he is unfairly criticised. I only wish he could last for 30 more years so that he could continue to teaching many of us.
In my opinion this editorial by "Desert Peace" is not fair to Chomsky. Increibly the man is harshly criticised in the USA when he is one of the brightest minds the USA has produced ever. He is highly respected by the people throughout Europe. Certainly, Chomsky knows knows of the international brigades that came in Spain to help fight fascism. Actually, the first article that Chomsky wrote was when he was 10 (ten!!!) years old, after the impression he got by the fall of Barcelona to the fascists, and the threat of the spead of fascism. But these Brigades (may god bless their souls) were different from current popular solidarity with Palestine, and I think it is this aspect what Chomsky was pointing out. As to the survival of Cuba, it had not that much to do with popular foreign support, but rather with the Cubans' will and purpose.
ReplyDeleteBen says that he did not see Chomsky participating in events lately. Maybe it is due (apart from his advanced age) to the fact that for the last two years he has been looking after his wife Carol, who was very ill and died of cancer in December past. But I recall Chomsky taking to the streets and predicating with his example many times before.
I deeply respect this man, and I resent when he is unfairly criticised. I only wish he could last for 30 more years so that he could continue to teaching many of us.