Noam Chomsky: The Courage to Advocate for Truth and Peace Against the Odds

Noam Chomsky is here in Australia to receive the Sydney Peace Prize. Many who have resonated with the idea ‘Another World is Possible’ have read Chomsky’s books. I’ve just published a poem called ‘Infinite Possibilities is the New Knowledge of Leadership’. I would regard Noam Chomsky as a leader in citing his truth and drawing people into the deeper political and socio-economic complexities that are not discussed in the media. He has been a consistent critic of US Foreign Policy and governance in general, but rather than embraced excitedly he would be excluded as a player and it is unlikely he would be seriously invited to US roundtables to help illuminate the players.

We are still learning the true meaning of democracy, to-date it is in word only with the custom of voting but not participating in the democratic process. However, in the future it will be lived as in reality it is representation of the people by the people.

Always remember those who earnestly disagree with you are your greatest teachers and friends. When you get that concept, you are on your way to true peace and harmony with the people and planet.

I laughed in the article below about Chomsky’s critique of Twitter as ‘…reducing thinking and concentration to tiny little bits…’. I have smiled when people would say Twitter is a sign of being switched on. For me, I am only posting there if I feel inspired. I tend to post lines of my poetry so it has some content, but freedom of speech is indeed limited. However, I did notice people post websites for further info, so it can be used intelligently. I think Chomsky’s point is that we do need more depth in our discussions and more facts as we discuss our case, that requires time and energy rather than sound bytes. Our world these days is all sound bytes and impressions without the depth of critical thinking and compassion. Yet as I always say in my blogs, that new world is coming, for sure.

Here is a brief overview from wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noam_Chomsky

Avram Noam Chomsky (play /ˈnoʊm ˈtʃɒmski/; born December 7, 1928) is an American linguist, philosopher,[4][5] cognitive scientist, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor (Emeritus) in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years.[6] Chomsky has been described as the “father of modern linguistics”[7][8][9] and a major figure of analytic philosophy.[4] His work has influenced fields such as computer science, mathematics, and psychology.[10][11]

Chomsky is credited as the creator or co-creator of the Chomsky hierarchy, the universal grammar theory, and the Chomsky–Schützenberger theorem.

Ideologically identifying with anarchism and libertarian socialism, Chomsky is known for his critiques of U.S. foreign policy[12] and contemporary capitalism,[13] and he has been described as a prominent cultural figure.[14] His media criticism has included Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media (1988), co-written with Edward S. Herman, an analysis articulating the propaganda model theory for examining the media.

According to the Arts and Humanities Citation Index in 1992, Chomsky was cited as a source more often than any other living scholar from 1980 to 1992, and was the eighth most cited source.[15][16][17][18] Chomsky is the author of over 100 books.

The article below is from the Australian Broadcasting Commission regarding his winning of the Sydney Peace Prize and political comment.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/06/02/3233770.htm

Noam Chomsky wins Sydney Peace Prize, criticises Afghan presence and Twitter

Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan and the use of social media have been given the attention of Noam Chomsky’s sharp mind after being awarded the Sydney Peace Foundation’s 2011 Sydney Peace Prize.

The $50,000 award goes to the veteran American linguist, social scientist, human rights campaigner and political activist for what the Foundation calls an unfailing moral courage and critical analysis of democracy and power.

Previous winners include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, journalist John Pilger, former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix, Palestinian activist Hanan Ashrawi, and Indigenous human rights activist Patrick Dodson.

Mr Chomsky says he’s very honoured to receive the award but also takes the chance to speak about foreign involvement in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which he suggests “may lead to the destabilisation of Pakistan.”

He cites thoughts that “British and American soldiers and Australian soldiers are dying in Afghanistan to make the world more dangerous for Britain and the United States.

“Nobody wants the place to be run by the Taliban or the US-backed warlords,” Mr Chomsky qualifies before adding, “there are very significant Afghan peace forces, pro-democracy forces, but if you check with them, they regularly regard themselves as facing three enemies: the Taliban, the US-backed warlords, and NATO forces.”

His critique is of the foreign policies of the administrations of both Barack Obama and George Bush.

Mr Chomsky also admits to being critical of Twitter, saying, “I suppose it’s useful but it has a tendency of reducing thinking and concentration to tiny little bits of quick events – it’s not healthy.”

Noam Chomsky will appear in Sydney in November 2011 to receive his award and give an address in which he says he will “concentrate on the prospect of a more peaceful world or potential catastrophes, which unfortunately loom.”