From: ant.mcwatt@ntlworld.com
Date: Sun May 23 2004 - 17:24:07 BST
What is it about American intellectuals born in 1928? Last night I saw Noam Chomsky give a lecture to over 650 people at Liverpool University and he's probably the best speaker (very knowledgeable and clear) I've heard in the last ten years.
Irrespective of political opinion, if anyone (especially those interested in modern American history) has the opportunity of seeing Chomsky speak in the near future, do make the effort. He's currently touring Europe (giving two or three lectures a day) and will no doubt, be making the academic rounds (again) in North America soon.
Similar to Pirsig, Chomsky observed that the New Deal/1930s era was a pivotal time for the modern United States though interesting points concerning the nineteenth century to the 1960s to the modern day were also put forward. Again, the theme of freedom came to the fore. Though Chomsky was pretty realistic in the power of the various state and corporate forces in undermining the hard won freedoms of working people (from over the last two hundred years or so), he was also very optimistic about the future and his especially thoughtful replies to younger people who asked what they should be doing now ("look at the students/ black/ women movements from the 1960s and what they achieved") was inspirational.
Anthony
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