Noam Chomsky interviewed in February 2002:
QUESTION: But you seem to see this moral equivalence...
CHOMSKY: There's no moral equivalence.
QUESTION: ...between bin Laden and Bush, don't you?
CHOMSKY: Moral equivalence is a term of propaganda that was invented to try to prevent us from looking at the acts for which we are responsible.
QUESTION: You say there are plenty of bin Ladens on both sides.
CHOMSKY: There are bin Ladens all over the world.
QUESTION: That's moral equivalence. That's a polemic, isn't it?
CHOMSKY: That's not moral equivalence. There is no such notion. There are many different dimensions and criteria. For example, there's no moral equivalence between the bombing of the World Trade Center and the destruction of Nicaragua or of El Salvador, of Guatemala. The latter were far worse, by any criterion. So there's no moral equivalence. Furthermore, they were done for different reasons and they were done in different ways. There's all sorts of dimensions...
QUESTION: But why, when the US is considering what to do about this, do you always go back to past crimes?
CHOMSKY: Not past. Present.
QUESTION: You mentioned Nicaragua.
CHOMSKY: I mentioned that because it's uncontroversial. Since there's a World Court [decision], Security Council resolution...Since it's uncontroversial, it's a good example. I mention these cases...
QUESTION: Are you kicking the US when it's down?
CHOMSKY: No. I'm asking that we accept the definition of "hypocrite" given in the Gospels. I think that's correct. The hypocrite is the person who refuses to apply to himself the standards he applies to others. I don't think we should be hypocrites.
QUESTION: To what aim do you do this? To what aim do you wish to point this out?
QUESTION: But you seem to see this moral equivalence...
CHOMSKY: There's no moral equivalence.
QUESTION: ...between bin Laden and Bush, don't you?
CHOMSKY: Moral equivalence is a term of propaganda that was invented to try to prevent us from looking at the acts for which we are responsible.
QUESTION: You say there are plenty of bin Ladens on both sides.
CHOMSKY: There are bin Ladens all over the world.
QUESTION: That's moral equivalence. That's a polemic, isn't it?
CHOMSKY: That's not moral equivalence. There is no such notion. There are many different dimensions and criteria. For example, there's no moral equivalence between the bombing of the World Trade Center and the destruction of Nicaragua or of El Salvador, of Guatemala. The latter were far worse, by any criterion. So there's no moral equivalence. Furthermore, they were done for different reasons and they were done in different ways. There's all sorts of dimensions...
QUESTION: But why, when the US is considering what to do about this, do you always go back to past crimes?
CHOMSKY: Not past. Present.
QUESTION: You mentioned Nicaragua.
CHOMSKY: I mentioned that because it's uncontroversial. Since there's a World Court [decision], Security Council resolution...Since it's uncontroversial, it's a good example. I mention these cases...
QUESTION: Are you kicking the US when it's down?
CHOMSKY: No. I'm asking that we accept the definition of "hypocrite" given in the Gospels. I think that's correct. The hypocrite is the person who refuses to apply to himself the standards he applies to others. I don't think we should be hypocrites.
QUESTION: To what aim do you do this? To what aim do you wish to point this out?
4 Comments:
Well he is right on the the question of moral equivalence. The murder at the World Trade Center and in Nicarauga share the same immoral equivalence. 2 wrongs do not make a right. The murder of 1 is as immoral as the murder of 2. Whether ripped apart by a suicide bomber while going to school or run over by a bulldozer in a peaceful effort to save anothers house, the immoral abyss of man's inhumanity to man does not have a bottom.
I have not read any publication by Chomsky so I really can not comment on it. Some people claim that he is a "Holacaust denier". If so the man could hardly be described as an intellectual. Much less the "World's Greatest".
Peace. Your fellow Human
Hi addamo-01. In the interest of further research what book was that?
Peace. Your fellow Human
bazra - since you seem to have misunderstood me I'll write it again - "I have not read any publication by Chomsky so I really can not comment on it." Some people claim that he is a "Holocaust denier”. I did not accuse him of being a holocaust denier. Others have and that belief is prolific even if false. I did not know of the accusation until I googled his name. Instead of me closing my mind to the possibility I gave my, "if so".
Since you have interviewed him, and the belief that he is a Holocaust denier is held by many, maybe you can tell us if you had asked him about it? Also in an effort in further research I would like to read/listen to your interview with him. The interest is to get a better whole picture of the man, not just fact checking on whether he is a Holocaust denier.
I want to thank you for your interest in what my "media diet" is. On the tv I watch the Cable News shows, The Daily Show, Sponge Bob Square Pants, Movie Classics(uncut), The Nature Channel, The Learning Channel, History Channel and Travel Channel. My only interviewers who I like because of their calm and even handed manner is Travis Smiley and Charlie Rose. The political rags that I read range from The Nation to The Weekly Standard. On line my 1st click of the day is truthout.com. Other news sources are as far ranging as you could imagine. One of my favorite things to do is on blogger I click next blog just to see what comes up. I visit many different political blogs including ones that hold very different opinions than mine. As a member of splc.org I monitor hate sites like Neo-Nazi and KKK sites. The real viewpoint that I lack is non-American ones, hence my interest here and there. I would really like to read History from other than American perspectives however I can not read anything but English so unless it is translated and in the library I don't get the chance.
Again thank you for interest. Peace. Your fellow Human
PS - Thanks addam0 for responding to my query and trying to set bazra right.
addamo-01 - thanks for the suggestion.I will. It sure would be interesting to read/hear bazra'a interview. Peace. Your fellow Human
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