Yes! From the Capt'n Fantastic snapshot at the start, this turned my recent fears around Noam's advancing years into joy, at realising what a gift we have in stalwarts like NC, and why we deserve better than Jordan FUCKING Peterson (whose recent contribution to my alma mater's 'debating' society- the Cambridge Union- brought back shitty memories of how a place that's supposedly about carving great minds was often about reproducing privilege and bland celebrations of a particular model of 'civilisation'- though props to the anthro department for turning me into a cynical unfucker disabused of my catholic-youth-honed determinations to 'save Africa'). From my forst forays into an edition of The Essential Chomsky that I found in a thrift store in my early 20s, I've marvelled at that memory and range of historical insight combined with a morality that doesn't rely on dogma or rhetoric. I appreciate your mention of his appearance on small platforms- he did an online chat not long ago with Contrapoints, my favourite YouTuber who's taught me much about the trans experience (on which note, in the thinking of who might take on the mantle of public intellectual, I thought of the many young people- many of them women of colour, who have been creating content that's teaching their peers stuff that I had to get indebted, via aforementioned anthro degree, to learn- and often in more entertaining and thus memorable ways, open to peer review and critique via comments sections- it's not Piketty or Klein but I do believe that there's a role for many hands- a single brilliant paper from a now-forgotten academic, webinars where land defenders and community organisers share strategy, neighbours and friends who also call out bullshit and who welcome the kind of critical conversation that is so necessary for genuine democracy, and that I consider an essential part of true friendship...so while I worry about the vaccum that NC will leave behind, I see so many of the courageous and critical minds that he and so many others have shaped, poised for battle and armed with wit. Great minds outlive their physical bodies and leave traces in their books and YouTube videos- but perhaps we need to focus on elevating the voices and faces that don't so easily make it to the platforms? FJP
What about ExPatuckers for those Ex Pats? I am hopeful to become one myself after my last one flies the coop - headed to parts with actual social democracy. Also, as a 14 year vegan - love Uncluckers! #FMF #FRR and Happy Bday Uncle Noam!
Love seeing Subf*ckers interact here. Just sayin'. Happy (almost) Noam Chomsky Day everyone!
- Max
Yes! From the Capt'n Fantastic snapshot at the start, this turned my recent fears around Noam's advancing years into joy, at realising what a gift we have in stalwarts like NC, and why we deserve better than Jordan FUCKING Peterson (whose recent contribution to my alma mater's 'debating' society- the Cambridge Union- brought back shitty memories of how a place that's supposedly about carving great minds was often about reproducing privilege and bland celebrations of a particular model of 'civilisation'- though props to the anthro department for turning me into a cynical unfucker disabused of my catholic-youth-honed determinations to 'save Africa'). From my forst forays into an edition of The Essential Chomsky that I found in a thrift store in my early 20s, I've marvelled at that memory and range of historical insight combined with a morality that doesn't rely on dogma or rhetoric. I appreciate your mention of his appearance on small platforms- he did an online chat not long ago with Contrapoints, my favourite YouTuber who's taught me much about the trans experience (on which note, in the thinking of who might take on the mantle of public intellectual, I thought of the many young people- many of them women of colour, who have been creating content that's teaching their peers stuff that I had to get indebted, via aforementioned anthro degree, to learn- and often in more entertaining and thus memorable ways, open to peer review and critique via comments sections- it's not Piketty or Klein but I do believe that there's a role for many hands- a single brilliant paper from a now-forgotten academic, webinars where land defenders and community organisers share strategy, neighbours and friends who also call out bullshit and who welcome the kind of critical conversation that is so necessary for genuine democracy, and that I consider an essential part of true friendship...so while I worry about the vaccum that NC will leave behind, I see so many of the courageous and critical minds that he and so many others have shaped, poised for battle and armed with wit. Great minds outlive their physical bodies and leave traces in their books and YouTube videos- but perhaps we need to focus on elevating the voices and faces that don't so easily make it to the platforms? FJP
What about ExPatuckers for those Ex Pats? I am hopeful to become one myself after my last one flies the coop - headed to parts with actual social democracy. Also, as a 14 year vegan - love Uncluckers! #FMF #FRR and Happy Bday Uncle Noam!