Dissident Heart interviews Noam Chomsky!

Chris OConnor

Dissident Heart interviews Noam Chomsky!

In November of 2007 Dissident Heart conducted a fascinating interview with Professor Noam Chomsky on behalf of BookTalk.org. You can now read the interview transcript at http://www.booktalk.org/noam-chomsky-interventions-interview.php

Dissident also managed to get the interview posted on ZNet at http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/16924

Thank you very much, Dissident! Smile

Robert Tulip · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:23 am Post subject:

DH – congratulations for this. It is a very informative interview. I admit to being rather conflicted when reading Chomsky. I have always found his facts and coherence superb, but I also have such admiration for the mainstream of American culture that it strikes me as a dilemma - it would be great if it were possible to combine the entrepreneurial individualism which Americans often want to see as their cultural focus with the ‘eyes wide open’ engagement Chomsky calls for with humanity. I think he is correct about Kissinger, who I suspect is responsible in some part for enabling the rise of Pol Pot. His comments on Columbia University reveal what I consider a basic underlying racism in American public life, whereby people with a view critical of US policy are openly treated as subhuman. A problem, though, arises in discussion of Chavez and Castro – my sense is that their opposition to US aggression has caused them to support socialist policies which undermine human incentives. The profit motive is a good thing when it generates economic activity in a well regulated free market, but opposition to US foreign policy seems to have morphed in these cases into opposition to the underpinning economic ideas. Much of neoliberal economics is sustainable and effective, and has been a big contributor to American success and that of other countries. This problem emerges vividly in the case of Mugabe, with African leaders hitherto reluctant to criticize him because they put solidarity above rationality.

Mr. Pessimistic · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:02 am Post subject:

DH has been gone for a few months now. I wonder if he was part of the mutiny some others participated in.

Chris OConnor · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:18 am Post subject:

I don't think he has left BookTalk at all. He has a baby now and his life has probably changed dramatically. I am trying to convince him to put his baby up for adoption so that he can get back into the swing of things here on BookTalk. Shocked

Dissident Heart · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:43 am Post subject:

Professor Chomsky was generous to a fault in the process, especially since he was serving as primary care-giver for his very ill wife, Carol. I was able to facilitate the interview with Professor Chomsky via e-mail correspondence...of which Professor Chomsky responds to hundreds from people across the planet. Our thread discussing his book, Interventions generated a number of questions presented by members of Booktalk. Professor Chomsky answered all of our questions.

I do wish I had more time to engage Bootkalk these days, but as Chris noted- my priorities have shifted substantially with the baby, who is now almost 7 months old! I guess you could say I've been party to a diaper mutiny of sorts.

Robert, I think your points concerning Chomsky, Chavez and Castro are important. I agree that US imperialist interests in Latin America have influenced local governments and economies in drastic and disasterous ways. Whether or not their particular economic visions and socialisms meet min e or yours or Chomsky's standards is, well, not a concern for me...let them decide for themselves how they would like to manufacture and distribute goods and services. I am certain US trade policies (no matter what economic theory they are stamped with) in the region are not in the best interests of local populations. It is very easy for US commentators to lambast the errors and flaws of Chavez and Castro, while remaining silent about their own Imperial abuses.

Chris OConnor · Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 5:14 pm Post subject:

Dissident

I created a thread in the Contests & Book Awards forum for you. To show my appreciation for your quality Chomsky interview I'd like to offer you a free book. Visit the above referenced forum to select your book. Smile


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