Chomsky on Palestine, Israel, and the US-11/29/07 (3/3)

Noam Chomsky speaking on a panel titled:

Palestine, Israel, and the US
40 Years Since 1967
60 Years Since 1948

At Harvard Law School, on 11/29/2007.

Recorded and Edited by Charngchi Way

More professor Chomsky: http://www.chomsky.info

Radio Free Maine: http://www.radiofreemaine.com

Z Communications: http://www.zcommunications.org

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Noam
• Chomsky
• Palestine
• Israel
• US
• Gaza
• West
• Bank
• occupied
• territory
• terrorism
• settlement
• separation
• wall
• intifada

[DanLackey]

Thanks, Chomskyan . . . for the addition. Reading the first response to this tape (from one Maxwedge12000) I was reminded again of the downside of Internet anonymity, I mean the mask of "user names," which allow the ignorant and the petulant and the vile the therapy of "free" expression but demand in return not one ounce of civil responsibilty for what they say. I decided some time ago that I did not wish to say anything on the net that I would not say at, say, my school.

[Chomskyan]

Thanks. And I agree with you about the nature of the internet.... It can be a great tool for information and organization, but it also brings out the anti-social crowds who are terrible distractions.

[g7870]

All the coments miss the real issue. Talking about what the bible and god says shows that we are more interested in our beliefs than in solving the problem that is Palestine. Hopeles peace, ceasefire, sectarian dispute talks and the ego tripping comments below to me say that Palestine is a 'dead' country. The internal conflicts, Israels stirs these problems while it creeps over the West bank and puts out propaganda to the world. Palistine is bleeding to death. Its commited suicied. I dont care

[SkeffingtonP]

"Do you think you're in a superior position to make life judgments for all mankind about who they sleep with?"

Yes. Do I think it will change what they believe? No. Do you think that being open to everything is positive? Do you think that a complete breakdown of boundaries is positive?

This whole notion of "you do what you do and I'll do what I do" is the beginning of any breakdown of sense of cultural and national identity.

[karmagal]

As far as the morality questions you posed are concerned, I will decide what's right for me as that is all I have the right to. I'm not making life judgments for anyone else. Do you think you're in a superior position to make life judgments for all mankind about who they sleep with? The things you find morally reprehensible should apply to you, only. If you think gay is wrong, don't be gay. If you don't support pulling the plug, worry about you're own plug, but keep your hands off others.

[karmagal]

You're ego is getting in the way. The above clip is about Israel/Palestine/US. All my comments have been in reference to this. "You're god" wasn't directed at you, per se, but at the general "you" who's god tells them its good to kill Palestinians b/c that's what the above clip is about. I hope I don't have to break everything down so tediously. If this doesn't apply to you, no need for name calling, just say "my god doesn't spread that message". I can follow.

[karmagal]

Ah, again we disagree. Believing in god does not guarantee someone has a working moral compass. What that does, all too often, is let people off the hook. If their god tells them something is right, or worse, righteous, they do it and justify it no matter how heinous it is. Like killing Palestinians. Just because you don't support it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. You did watch the above clip, correct? Well, religious zealots are an enormous part. Them and plain ole oil greedy Americans.

[SkeffingtonP]

In terms of moral compass, we can go on forever about this, but you realize that without God there is no objective morality. Is being gay moral? Well 30 years ago in the US it wasn't, not it is. Is pulling the plug moral, it depends who you ask. Is killing yourself moral?

[SkeffingtonP]

Alright, you started off this dialogue with a reasonable statement and now you are just making your ignorance glaring. What the heck does killing Palestinians have to do with being a Jew, observant that is. I don't think killing Palestinians is correct either. Neither do most people with whom I associate.

[karmagal]

The message you follow teaches you to believe. The message I follow teaches me to think. I respect your choice. I know there's plenty of room here for everyone. What is wrong, according to my moral compass, is murdering people for not following another group's idea of the "correct" message. Each person's message has to be correct for them and them only.

[karmagal]

I have no animosity, I have indifference. The bible, other than being a book of interesting tales, has no impact on my life. I came here with a built-in moral compass so the threat of death being the wage for sin would be comical if it weren't so blatantly manipulative. I'm not a rookie when it comes to religion so your view point is nothing new. If your "god" tells you its your birth right to exterminate Palestinians, its a genocidal message. It was hideous when Hitler did it, and it still is