There Are Plenty of Opportunities
In the immortal words of Howard Beale, the TV anchor played by Peter Finch, in the classic film Network, “Things are bad, they’re worse than bad. I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore. Things have got to change.” If you are feeling that way you’re not alone. In facing adversity some choose to do nothing and sit on their hands, others rise to the moment and resist. A long-time activist advises: “Get off of Facebook and into the faces of the powerful.” Social media is good for getting people out to demonstrations but it is no substitute for solidarity and movement organizing. There are plenty of opportunities. Perhaps we can take inspiration from poor and tiny Armenia. It just toppled its corrupt government in a massive display of non-violent citizen power.
Speaker
Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky, by any measure, has led a most extraordinary life. In one index he is ranked as the eighth most cited person in history, right up there with Aristotle, Shakespeare, Marx, Plato and Freud. His contributions to modern linguistics are legendary. In addition to his pioneering work in that field, he has been a leading voice for peace and social justice for many decades. Chris Hedges says he is “America’s greatest intellectual” who “makes the powerful, as well as their liberal apologists, deeply uncomfortable.” The New Statesman calls him “the conscience of the American people.” He is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy at MIT and Laureate Professor of Linguistics and Haury Chair in the Program in Environment and Social Justice at the University of Arizona. At 95, he continues to inform and inspire people all over the world. He is the author of scores of books, his latest are Consequences of Capitalism, Chronicles of Dissent and Notes on Resistance.
jean beland –
This was a gift CD; far superior to the one I actually ordered. Noam Chomsky supports his remarks with factual information, cites his sources, and, as a result, made me think about my responsibility for the mess in which the USA finds itself. I am approaching my 90th birthday, but there still are opportunities for change open to me.