Noam Chomsky from US- Viewpoint

[slack]

Hello Everybody ;)

I would like to know something about Noam Chomsky. In Germany I'am reading Interviews of him, some articles and many of his Books. Is he influent in the USA or did nobody knows him? He's really great, but I never heard anything in the mainstrammedia about him. I would like to hear something about his influence in the USA.
Thank you :)
slack

[AlecBGreen]

1. he is a great liberal thinker

but not many people pay him attention these days. I dont know why :shrug:

[BigMcLargehuge]

2. here's the breakdown as I see it

Mainstream media ignores his existence
Independent media does pay attention to him but most of America doesn't pay attention to independent media
The right thinks he's an American-hating crank
The center thinks he a crank but not necessarily an America hating one
The left reads him extensively, quotes him often, and discusses his linguistics theory and political writing/interviews. But the people most in need of hearing/understanding his words are either centrists or rightists.

Saw him speak when I was in college and have read as much of his stuff as I could get my hands on. I think he's very rational and lucid with his approach to foreign policy and his descriptions of the design and practices of the US government.

[Demeter]

3. He Is (or was in the 80's) an MIT Professor

worked in computers and language--designed Transactional Grammar (truly fascinating concept) and it seems that even his own schoool MIT wanted to ignore his existence.

That's the trouble with telling the truth, it gets you into big trouble.

[slack]

5. thank you

for your opinions, i'am glad to hear it.

[CanuckAmok]

7. He wrote two of the most important works in modern progressive thought:

"Necessary Illusions" and "Manufacturing Consent". Both are availible in German.

There's a very good documentary out called "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media", which was produced by the National Film Board of Canada. You may be able to find it in your local library.

And I think there's even a "Chomsky for Dummies" book out in the 'Dummies" series, but I think they're English only.

If you like Chomsky, check out Howard Zinn and Greg Palast, too.

[Hoping4Change]

4. He doesn't pander to anybody and pisses people off but his

intellectual powers and depth of knowledge are undisputed so he can be ignored but not discounted.

The following is an interview on ZNET which you may find interesting as he speaks at length about Germany and how he even royally pissed off a Canadian journalist for accusing a Canadian Prime Minister who had won the Nobel Peace Prize of being a war criminal.


http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=36&ItemID=5694

[slack]

6. yes

I'am often reading zmag.de
the german translation of http://www.zmag.org/weluser.htm

[CanuckAmok]

9. My fave Chomsky interview, with Tom Morello od Rage ATM

http://www.chomsky.info/interviews/1996summer.htm

[Hoping4Change]

10. You're right amzing interview. His remarks about human

competitiveness are interesting given the role of competitiveness in our society. I'm going to have to bookmark this.

[realisticphish]

8. Excellent writer

though sometimes his books bog down, because hes so fucking smart; im working on Hegemony or Survival right now, and had to stop, just for a break (I read Amy Goodman's exception to the rulers)


:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[slack]

11. think so too

thank you ;)

[slack]

12. It's a mess

*drama*
http://atomfilms.shockwave.com/contentPlay/shockwave.jsp?id=this_land&preplay=1&ratingBar=off