Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, social critic, and political activist. Sometimes described as “the father of modern linguistics,” Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy and one of the founders of the field of cognitive science (the study of the mind, focusing on intelligence and behavior). He is the author of over 100 books on topics such as language, war, politics, and mass media.

 

Chomsky was an outspoken opponent of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, which he (quite correctly) saw as an act of American imperialism.  During this time he was arrested multiple times for his peace activism and was placed on President Nixon’s “Enemies List.” Following his retirement from active teaching, he has continued his vocal political activism, remaining a leading critic of current U.S. foreign policy (especially the War on Terror, along with America’s close ties with Saudi Arabia and other theocratic dictatorships), neoliberalism, U.S. systemic racism, contemporary state capitalism (often via an open support for the Occupy Movement), the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and the corrupted mainstream news media.  He also remains prominent exposer and critic of U.S. imperialism; believing (again, quite correctly) that the fundamental principle directing the foreign policy of the United States is the establishment of “open societies” that are economically and politically controlled by the U.S.  He argues that the U.S. seeks to suppress any movements within these countries that are not compliant with U.S. interests and ensure that U.S.-friendly governments are placed in power. He frequently reminds his listeners that officially sanctioned historical accounts of U.S. and British imperialism have consistently whitewashed these nations’ actions in order to present them as having benevolent motives in either spreading democracy or, in older instances, spreading Christianity.  Highly critical of these accounts, he regularly seeks to correct them.

 

“Neoliberal democracy: Instead of citizens, it produces consumers. Instead of communities, it produces shopping malls. The net result is an atomized society of disengaged individuals who feel demoralized and socially powerless.  In sum, neoliberalism is the immediate and foremost enemy of genuine participatory democracy, not just in the United States but across the planet.” ~ Noam Chomsky

 

“Everyone’s worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there’s really an easy way to do so: Stop participating in it.” ~ Noam Chomsky

“If you assume that there is no hope, you guarantee that there will be no hope. If you assume that there is an instinct for freedom, that there are opportunities to change things, then there is a possibility that you can contribute to making a better world … Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.” ~ Noam Chomsky

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