In "Understanding Power", Noam Chomsky says:

[TennesseeWalker]

that the USA is one of the most fundamentalist countries in the world, on par with some third world countries. Due to the fact that the USA does not have a strong labor party, many citizens who are feel powerless (against the corporate machines, the WalMarts, "you should feel lucky to have a job at all" attitude) turn to religion.

He further asserts that this is dangerous because in times of great crisis, the fearful masses can be drawn into groupthink and the result is most readily facism. His thesis seems inherently possible, and seems to be playing out to a certain degree right now.

What do you think?

[no name no slogan]

1. He's right.

For being such an "advanced" civilization, we are still very much under the sway of religious fundamentalists. We live in a country where some school districts are actually considering dropping the teaching of the evolution theory and replacing it with "creationism"-- not in a religion class, but in a SCIENCE class. WTF?

Religious rules and traditions dominate this society to a scale not seen in most of the industrialized world. For example, how many western european countries make their schoolkids recite a pledge to their flag that contains the word "God"?

This country has become little better than Iran in some respects. And it's creeping closer and closer to fascism every day.

It's quite frightening when you actually think about it.

[rudeboy666]

2. Straight Up

Chomsky makes a lot of great points(always!).

He even succesfully sustains a lot of attacks from the Freep/Horowitz of the world.

Still, some(not all) of his assertions ARE too fringie for me(I still haven't heard a good response over the 'Cambodia/Pol Pot controversy').

By the way, his work as a Linguist/Philosopher is obviously first rank. I'll probably study some of it next year in connection with Donald Davidson. But this aspect of Chomsky is probably uninteresting to many politcos. So i'll spare you the details. ;-)

[TennesseeWalker]

4. Actually, I'd be interested in hearing some of that.

[rudeboy666]

5. ok

I actually heard of him way back in the late 80's/early 90's via Pacifica.

But a lot of people don't realize the importance of Chomsky as a linguist/philosopher. He is a pretty important guy to say the least(and I am being humble here).

I'll definitely keep you updated. ;-)

[kalian]

3. He's pretty close to the truth...

I also believe that rampant and diseased consumerism that has a hold on Americans makes them feel as if they themselves are being consumed.
Americans, as a nation, are lost and religion...the type that is being offered, is feeding off this sense of loss.

As for American being "on par" with some third world nations...I'd like to know what third world nations Chomsky is comparing the US too. Many third world nations do not have an ingrained religious foundation or political parties that are awash with religious facsim. At least, no other christian based religions.

DO you have the original interview or editorial? I'm quite curious to read what Chomsky has to say and under what context.

[rudeboy666]

6. Love him or Hate him

....it would be interesting to see him in our 'liberal' media.

Kristol vs. Chomsky

I'll give a left nut(no pun intended) to see this battle!

[FDRrocks]

8. You should look up on the Horowitz-Chomsky debacle...

Horowitz accused Chomsky of holocaust denial, citing a french article that David claimed Noam wrote, but Noam was only quoted in it.

Hilarity ensues, Chomsky chews David up, and a followup article is never delivered.

Woo!

[rudeboy666]

10. those Fronters

Ronald Radosh(who is actually a historian__even if you disagree with him) had to fess up(though it was his buddy Horowitz who took the flak) for many inaccuracies in a hit piece on Chomsky.

Like I said, Chomsky sometimes tends to go overboard(do your own research). Still, he somehow tends to come back up intact!

p.s. FrontPage a while ago had a hit piece from a linguistics grad student(i.e. challenging Chomsky's standing as a leading Linguist). Of course, the article stank worse than shit.

[FDRrocks]

9. I really think Chomsky...

is the finest person on the side of the left, even though he isn't a Democrat (though he apparently likes Dennis). The guy is old as hell, but can still lecture for however long he wants, citing sources and facts accurately and can shoot down most any criticism. He is a gem, and the day we lose him will be dark day. He really speaks truth to power.

[FDRrocks]

11. I can't edit that last post for some reason....

But in response to overboard comment, I just think he tends to be too cynical. Just like Zinn in his great history book is (imo) way too cynical of our founding fathers, since many lost thier fortunes and thier lives (which they pledged). He claimes the motives were majorly about knocking the barrier to capital that England was.

I'll forgive that, because I am cynical by nature, and see along the same line they seem to.

[lostnfound]

12. He says there's plenty of reasons to hope these days..

that everywhere he goes, people are organizing and speaking out.

[david_vincent]

7. Does anyone remember the book

that came out several years ago - it's a coffee table book, and the authors went around the world and photographed a typical family in all sorts of different countries, in each case standing in front of their home, with all of their possessions spread out on the ground, and holding what they considered to be their "most precious possession"?
It's a wonderful book. Someone at DU will remember the title of it...
Here's my point: the authors, in their commentary, noticed that the American family was the ONLY one, worldwide, to choose a religious object as their most precious possession. The American family was, I think, in Texas and they were photographed holding their Bible.