Chomsky on Oscar Romero

[RPenta]

Was it the evil MOOOSLEMS or the evil Commies who killed all those people in El Salvador?

[Rahula]

@RPenta

What's your point?

[supercondo]

chomsky is basically a communist, that covers himself as a scumbag left wing liberal. Oscar Romero was an ignorant communist sympathizer that was mixing church with state.

[Tamtumergo]

@supercondo wake up the cold war is over my friend! Dont forget we are still doing business with a Giant Communist Country, China!! and just re established diplomatic relations with ...Vietnam?

[makokun9]

@supercondo And you are a waste of oxygen and should be publicly executed for being so unbelievably stupid.

[legalbeagle26]

Chomsky could give a dern less about the faith of Archbishop Romero! Don't know why he is quoting him.

[shurednichso]

@legalbeagle26

Why do you say that? Did you hear anything cruel from this man- like ever?

Dont you think he is against the brutal assasination of a man,wich was for the peoples right for a decent life?

Seriously man.

[RPenta]

@legalbeagle26

How the hell do you know that? He obviously cared about the life the great man lived.

Although Reagan and the Bush Crime Family have MUCH to answer for, this one has to be laid at Jimmy Carter's feet-and that of the someday to be saint, John Paul 2.

[CarlosDCblog]

La sangre derramada por Ronald Reagan y sus mercenarios jamas sera olvidada.

El padre Oscar Romero vive en cada uno de los salvadorenos que luchan por justicia para su pueblo, y en cada uno de los pueblos oprimidos de las Americas.

[teasedboy]

On this day 30 years ago, Oscar Romero, the archbishop of San Salvador, was assassinated, sparking El Salvador's 12-year civil war.

[Chiyo1967]

Thank you so very much for sharing this.

[RPenta]

I know that many Catholic Bishops in America wanted to attend the ceremonies in 2009 for the Oscar Romero Award for Human Rights which is given at a chapel; however they had a scheduling conflict because they needed to attend the annual Prayer Breakfast where they had invited President Bush as a keynote speaker. It worked out for them since they were on their knees in any event.

[8data]

"Strategic ignorance" has value to consumerism. Most Americans did not know where Haiti was; now they know. Most Americans did know know where Vietnam was, they knew at the end of 1975. Political awareness is a slow and laborious process.

[fathead8489]

True. It took years just to educate the people that America was even at war with Vietnam let alone a anti-war movement. That said I still think people are willfully ignorant to a degree. People are to concerned with their own lives to be bothered by the real world. I think we are all guilty of that.

[Simbelmyne13]

@fathead8489

You're right it truly is shame. Especially when you realize that at any time we could band together and change our situation. Yet we don't..

[trinitystarr11]

guilty of what? If this happened in america like it did haiti, u think most countries around would care about us no so stfu we cant do anything about it so y bother u think they care and would they do anything to help us, no so think about it genuis

[fathead8489]

@trinitystarr11

You type like a twelve year old, and seem to be as morally mature as one. Would the rest of the world care if you raped and killed some children? Probably not. Does that give you the right to do it? No.

[cbhagman]

One of the low points in politics in recent years was when Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) spoke of the Reagan administration's policies in El Salvador in glowing terms, attempting to recast a bloody civil war that cost thousands of lives as the Gipper conferring freedom on the Salvadoran people. I wish I were exaggerating about Hunter's claims, but you can see and hear him making those claims the footage right here on YouTube.

[8data]

The expert on Latin American and Latino issues is David Sweet. I don't know if he is still alive but he understood all the popular movements of Central and South America. The Current Chilen president is fascist like the group who gunned down Liberation Theology's Oscar Romero.

[Simbelmyne13]

I totally agree. It such a sad, and yet inspiring story. We should all have such courage in the face of injustice. Even as an atheist I would have been proud to stand by his side.

[hugosal2004]

This film, like most of Hollywood's films are intended for commercial purposes.Most of the action here is untrue or exagerated only to capture attention. As a Salvadorean I know what happenned to the Archbishop, but if the film was made in the authenticity of what really ocurred, then it would be another boring documentary, and you would be surprised to learn that it is not the way it is shown at all.

The films "Romero " and "Salvador" are commercial, and show only an exagerated part

[8data]

Its not all "exaggerating"; I, a Gringo, lived in Caracas Venezuela during the Caracazo. They shoot you on sight. Commercial Appeal does not change the fact that every government can do as it pleases when the situation accords.

[Arkinight]

Same thing's happening again in Honduras.

[Arkinight]

@Arkinight Rate me down all you like but it's unfortunately true

/watch?v=hoJLhL9xWnM

[montrealguy71]

On the contrary, my friend, the yankee imperialists ARE VERY WELL AWARE AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AWARE of how evil their foreign policy is - they put it in place to begin with. The imperialists have always had one goal: become rich and powerful at any cost. Real-life oppression in the third-world, as seen here and in other fact-based films like this (Missing, Salvador, as others) are the sad evidence of this. They know all too well of the suffering they have caused. But wealth and power mean more.

[fathead8489]

No I mean if the people of America knew. Of course the government is well aware of what they are doing. The people of America on the other hand are willfully ignorant. So long as they have their cell phones and American Idol they simply don't wna tot be bothered with reality.

[montrealguy71]

And then they wonder why so many people hate them...and they probably don't realize just how many people there are in the world, now that you mention it. I'm sure reality would be way too much to handle for them.

[mcc1789]

Now Archbishop Romero was the kind of Christian I like and can support. Yet if he were typical the Church would have been suppressed at the beginning. Ideologies that have sufficient apologetics to power will be allowed and coopted. Those that oppose it are crushed as dangerous heresies. Liberation theology is such a dangerous heresy.

[mussman717word]

Staggering reality, and I love to hear it, because it just makes me feel like nothing is hidden from the truly intellectual minds, such as Noam Chomsky and Oscar Romero, both of which whom I greatly admire.

[compa902]

The bible prohibits about 90% of tyhe things the catholic church practices, proven by the word of God among these are: Praying to dead 'saints" creating images or statues, worship of images and relics, the assession of mary, baptizing children, devotion to mary instead of the living GOD, and the list goes on and on. All i say can be proven by the Bible.

[Paradoxpat]

If you really want to know the answer go to a University and study theology. Would you try to learn nuclear physics on your own? How far more imortant is theology than nuclear physics, but most pop "theologians" don't even try to understand Biblical Criticism. The Bible like any text can only be understood in the context of the history and community which created it. It's not magical.

[fjramirez]

What the hell does the Bible have to do with the assination of a bishop? Get bent

[johnny9022]

Nothing. I was just commenting about some ones comment of making oscar romero a saint, so I repplied.

Sorry if in a way this offended you.

Bye

[compa902]

I give all my respect to Oscar romero but it amazes me how ignorant people can be. where in the bibke do yoy find that we(humans) can make some one a saint? there are no saints in this world, only humans, make no mistake, Only God can make saints and he hasnt made one on earth. Only saits are the hosts of heaven not a regular human beign who dies and people now wants to make them saint? on what authority? we need to study the bible ans see how deceived people are

[rolpho]

Oscar Romero was a man who stood for justice in the face of true oppression, at the barrel of a gun..could you say the same?

[Courage2ChangeONE]

There are Angels even in the darkest places:)

[Courage2ChangeONE]

Que Dios Le Bendiga el Padrecito VIVA OSCAR ROMERO!!!

[RPenta]

Any chance Romero will beat John Paul 2 as a canonized saint? JP2, is, you should excuse the expression, the patron saint of the theocons and neocons in and outside the Church.

See EWTN, the Eternal War Television Network.

[Courage2ChangeONE]

Brother Let me tell u somethin', Yes Oscar Romero was a affliated w/one of the most hainus cover ups, being the Catholic church i.e. the Demonic vatican. ALTHO Romero (may the DIVINE grace him w/serenity on his soul's path) saw the corruption of the gov't AND on his OWN he sheltered the militia forming to free the oppressed El Salvadoreans from a tyranny...

[paduaprs]

congratulations to the people of El salvador.

hope democracy lets them better with themselves &

each step is a progress for the people.

i am happy for the new government there.

greetings from brazil,

antonio

[Rockerboy2007]

Nice video

[clodaghoconnor]

My friend..x

Are you insane....the poor man just wanted to end the murder of innocent people....what is in you that you condem something so painful...you animal..Are you a human being...??

[antidote7]

Maybe he's a machine...

[shenanigan55]

So the Salavdorans are hypocrites for opposing their brutal government because they're predominantly catholic? That some perverse logic.

[ArachnoCapitalist]

Stupid fucking catholic church. I went through years of catholic school, I had to go to an orthodox church (as in, spies for the Czar orthodox church) as a kid. They even made me watch this movie, I think it was my sophomore year. They are so full of shit on so many levels, all this situation teaches us is that religion is incapable of solving the problems of oppression and poverty.

[Rockerboy2007]

Aren't u missing the point of this video?

[shenanigan55]

Yeah, the audacity of a public figure for actually trying to help his community.

[mtr4216]

go suck a dick

[ArachnoCapitalist]

This is why I am pro machine (preferably machines with 8 legs).

[ddrumsman549]

You cannot really alienate sadistic activities from the humanity. Torture on some level will always be something that humans do. Its apparently in our nature for good or bad.

[mr1001nights]

Well, if torture is such an intrinsic part of human nature, then you shouldn't be surprised nor upset if it happens to you--anymore than you would be surprised or upset by something as natural as rain.

[the2500]

Damn straight. I'm never compelled to torture anyone. To say that torture is part of human nature is to say that humanity is inhumane. Not so much an observation of the futility of existence, as it is an observation of the ridiculousness of the ideas we're intended to accept despite their blatant logical fallacies. As an atheist, i think Mr. Christs historically attributed advice is pretty valid.

Don't be dicks to one another, and things will improve.

It may actually be just that simple.

[ddrumsman549]

Someone can be upset about torture even if it is something that is apparently in human nature. I can be upset when someone cheats on me, but I can also know that it is something that humans do all the time.

[Zatzzo]

@ddrumsman549

doesn't seem to be in my nature, i've never felt the urge to do it.

[Rahula]

@ddrumsman549

From Romero's perspective, to admit that evil is natural to humanity would imply a blasphemic materialistic worldview.

[PseudoVoodoo]

I would motion that they were activities of those who are inhuman.

[dopeskies]

R.I.P oscar romero ey toda la gente que muerido en esta guerra que los estados unidos asido a mi gente.

[coffeebeaner]

Goddamn, I was just reading about this last night. I had nightmares about the School for the Americas...

[Alexopolux]

I see comments in the margins, some theorizing on the role of the church, others commenting on how human torture is.. - while overlooking the point the video: The US governments financing gangsters and co-authoring murder with the implicit support of its citizens, who then ironically ask: "why do they hate us"? Or should Salvadorians love them?

Thanks for the video Jonathan

[sammasati1]

ROMERO LIVES

[jrpigg]

Every time I see clips of that my movie ... I can't keep from getting emotional. Thanks for posting it 1001. 

As far as Romero's relationship to the Church ... his case for canonization is currently pending, and the views of the theological movement he was a part of (liberation theology) have gained quite of bit of traction. This is one of the many incidents that really woke the Church's ass up during the end of the 20th Century.

[thebalancetheory1212]

interesting that as power was in the hands of the churches they committed atrocities, but since the power shifted to the state institutions of the world, they (the state) became the ones committing atrocities, and in many cases are opposed only by religious leaders.

[mr1001nights]

Actually Romero was breaking away from the conservatism of the church. Carter even urged the Pope to keep him under control.

[thebalancetheory1212]

My mistake, i suppose i garbled that together, but nonetheless religious figures and based groups did stand on the side of human rights in central america during the eighties and up to now.

[8data]

The School of the Americas was still in operation then. Too dangerous politically.

[loswichitangeles]

@mr1001nights

The fact still remains that whoever is in power will abuse of that power,as long as there is no perfect human beings there will be no perfect system to rule society.

[hassan691987]

@mr1001nights  what movie are these scenes from?

[NancyWSullivan]

@hassan691987 You asked about the scenes from the movie with Chomsky speaking and then someone (acting as ROmero) in prison listening to someone being tortured. The film is "Romero", with Raúl Juliá as Romero. He actually wore Romero's own glasses in the film, which I'd encourage you to watch.

[RPenta]

@NancyWSullivan Bush-Chaney would have had Archbishop Romero assassinated-Obama probably would not but would not lift a finger to bring BC to justice if they did.

[Quitenno]

he was a bishop, but the curch has nothing to do with politics,

[thebalancetheory1212]

As i specify above i dont mean the church as in the vatican, i mean christian or religious centered groups who stand up for human rights.

[axioms101]

@thebalancetheory1212 All power is eventually abused. Give any person or organization power, and they will abuse it. That's why the founders of America, and other democracies, tried so hard to limit the powers of government and to place checks on them.

[agentjs09]

@thebalancetheory1212 When was power ever really fully in the hands of the churches? There was always a struggle between church and state. Even during the crusades, most of the barbaric actions such as the sacking of Constantinople were done by individual crusaders in disobedience to the commands of the pope. And also things like the Inquisition, the secular authorities were mostly responsible for these.

[loriejo67]

@thebalancetheory1212 - "and in many cases are opposed only by religious leaders." As it should be.

[UcanbeGOD]

Were human beings. Bitches.

[buddhagem]

Excellent video. Five Stars

[MaxKantar]

what is the name of this movie?

[tiecuando]

Yeah, I wanna know too.

[CHATNO1R]

It's called Romero.

[Cefuroxx]

can´t wait for one of adamguy´s brilliant responses....

[crackwad420]

lmfao cefuroxx