tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32552056.post4402286183829838943..comments2022-03-25T18:46:32.159-07:00Comments on Nihilo Zero: You Don't Have to be a Chomsky to Know Something is Wrong...N. Zerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11280089601231142195noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32552056.post-79399200586692532472009-04-12T04:42:00.000-07:002009-04-12T04:42:00.000-07:00That is an awesome Banksy tagThat is an awesome Banksy tagutopia or busthttp://utopiaorbust.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32552056.post-88061023987144748252009-04-07T21:48:00.000-07:002009-04-07T21:48:00.000-07:00I distributed this article in leaflet form to the ...I distributed this article in leaflet form to the audience, got a copy to Chomsky, and actually had him sign one for me after the event (yippee!). It was an informative talk he gave -- albeit a somber one to a large somber audience. A few points I found particularly interesting... <BR/><BR/>The first was his belief that this conflict between Israel and Palestine is one that is relatively easy to handle relative to some of the other problems facing humanity. He seemed to feel that enough political pressure could be put on American politicians to eventually get them to withdraw their support for Israel's aggression. Without U.S. support, he believes that Israel would have little choice but to accept a fair settlement/compromise with the Palestinians and withdraw from the occupied territories. Nice and tidy. I don't know whether he thinks this is likely or inevitable (a question probably worth asking), but that's how he envisioned it possibly going (as an ideal) and he did actually say it was a relatively easy problem to solve -- because he feels that America's direct interests are not served there and larger problems might include creating peace with Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran (for example).<BR/><BR/>The second thing I found interesting (and sadly accurate) was in response to a question from the audience after his presentation... he affirmed the questioners understanding of his belief that humanity is not guaranteed to survive the 21st century. In fact, he said it was "almost a miracle" that we haven't destroyed ourselves already with nuclear war. He then gave various examples of how we have already come close to nuclear war and suggested that we are not moving further from that threat but to the contrary. He mentioned Israel's nuclear "Samson option" -- named after the biblical character who sacrificed himself to destroy so many Philistines. <BR/><BR/>He also mentioned that the ever-growing threat of environmental degradation might lead to the extinction of humankind within the next hundred years.<BR/><BR/>When he signed this leaflet I gave him my "too cool for school" critique of Noam Chomsky... Basically, I asked him why he wasn't able to get together with people like Zinn and Naomi Wolf and other prominent leftists to vigourously inspire a general strike type event in the U.S.? He was kind enough to answer my question, but I felt a little rushed (not wanting to hog his time) and I don't think we were exactly on the same page at the moment. He said something about Naomi Wolf being of a different generation and something about a catch-22, damned if you do -- damned if you don't scenerio in regard to writing and speaking and getting momentum for something like a general strike. I'm not sure if either of us really understood each other at the moment, but I plan to follow up. <BR/><BR/>All in all... it was an interesting night for me and, undoubtedly, for others in attendance. I just hope we all can be inspired to take some real and positive action in regard to righting some wrongs and defending ourselves, our freedoms, and our planet.N. Zerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11280089601231142195noreply@blogger.com