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Chomsky is now against antifa ... seriously, wtf ?

Discussion in 'Anarchism and radical activism' started by ungovernable, Aug 17, 2017.

  1. ungovernable

    ungovernable Autonome Staff Member Uploader Admin Team Experienced member


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    Read the article here:
    Noam Chomsky: Antifa is a 'major gift to the Right'

    See what else has been said about Chomsky on the forum:
    Noam chomsky supports elections and political partys
    Chomsky : Being anarchist is more lucrative than working

    And if you haven't heard about it before, google about his opinion on Robert Faurisson, a notorious negationist anti-semitist asshole...
     
    detached805 likes this.

  2. ungovernable

    ungovernable Autonome Staff Member Uploader Admin Team Experienced member


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    Here's what i think about Chomsky.
    [​IMG]
     
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  3. ungovernable

    ungovernable Autonome Staff Member Uploader Admin Team Experienced member


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    Reply from Libcom: 6 reasons why Chomsky is wrong about antifa

    6 reasons why Chomsky is wrong about antifa
    Noam Chomsky recently made some comments about antifa, and militant anti-fascism in general, which were as ill-timed as they were ill-informed. Here's what we think he's got wrong about the subject.

    In the aftermath of Charlottesville, the spotlight has been turned on the reality of fascist violence in America. The murder of Heather Heyer is only the most recent in a year which has seen numerous other killings (such as the two on the Portland MAX in May and Timothy Caughman in New York City), with the 2015 killing of nine worshippers at Denmark Vesey's church in Charleston by Dylann Roof showing a continuity of far-right violence long before the election of Donald Trump.

    Despite all this, many liberal talking heads have also decided that now is the time to condemn those opposing the fascists. Perhaps the most upsetting, has been the intervention of Noam Chomsky, given how important a figure he was to our politics when we were growing up. But what did Chomsky get wrong?

    1) Antifa's 'predecessors' are more significant than Chomsky thinks

    Chomsky describes Antifa as "a minuscule fringe of the Left, just as its predecessors were" with "some limited similarity to the Weather Underground". While we might take issue with Chomsky's description of contemporary Antifa, another problem is his misrepresentation of its "predecessors".

    Antifa's predecessors have almost nothing to do with the Weather Underground. Rather, they can be seen in the mass mobilisation against Mosley's Blackshirts in Cable Street, East London, as well as less famous mobilisations in Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Hulme and Stockton.

    They are the 43 Group and the 62 Group, Jewish-led organisations who took it upon themselves to smash Mosley's attempts to reorganise after the Second World War. They are in the mass mobilisation of locals in Lewisham, South East London, in 1977, the Southall Youth Movement who fought skinheads in the streets and Anti-Fascist Action, who regularly routed fascists throughout the country from the mid-1980s to the late-1990s.

    In Europe, they are the Red Warriors of Paris or the Revolutionary Front in Sweden. And in North America they were the Teamsters who formed a defense guard against the Silver Shirts in the 1930s, or Anti-Racist Action who took on Klansmen and the National Socialist Movement from the 1980s until very recently.

    None of these can or should be dismissed as easily as Chomsky seems to.

    2) Antifa are 'a major gift to the Right, including the militant Right, who are exuberant'?

    When the extreme-right get smashed by anti-fascists, they are not exuberant.

    When anti-fascists in Liverpool wiped the floor with the 2015 White Man March in Liverpool, they were not exuberant; they were utterly humiliated.

    When the English Defence League were chased out of Walthamstow in 2012, they were not exuberant, they were utterly humiliated.

    The 43 Group, 62 Group and Anti-Fascist Action successfully disrupted organised street fascism in the UK for decades after World War Two.

    In all these cases, physical defeats led to increased divisions in the far-right, mutual recriminations and, most importantly, a puncturing of the invincible street-fighter image these groups like to cultivate for themselves.

    Of course they will try and spin every defeat as them being victimised. But, they would just as much spin any unopposed march as a successful show of force, especially if they go searching for targets afterwards, as they have done in the past; 'ignore fascists until they go away' only works if you have the privilege of being ignored by them as well.

    A physical defeat is not a gift to the militant right; it is one of the most effective ways of keeping them weak.


    Attendees of the 'White Man March' not looking very exuberant as they hide in Liverpool Lime Street's left luggage department, 2015.

    3) Denying fascists a platform is not 'wrong in principle'

    Perhaps Chomsky's most dangerous claim is that "What [antifa] do is often wrong in principle – like blocking talks". We say dangerous because it encourages people to provide space for fascism to grow in.

    There is nothing wrong with denying fascists a platform, whether these be rallies, demonstrations, public meetings or debates. Fascists use their platforms to build strength and, as they grow stronger, to attack their opponents.

    We are not duty-bound to give fascists somewhere to spread their hate. In 2002, the train drivers' union, Aslef, expelled a member who had been a local election candidate for the far-right BNP. Perhaps Chomsky thinks this is wrong? Perhaps they were duty bound to accept a member who would sow divisions between white and non-white members? Perhaps Aslef should have organised a public debate to hear him out?

    Fascists love it when liberals provide them with a platform. It helps them spread their message so that they can build numbers and confidence to crush their opponents - liberals included.

    These platforms - whether on city streets or in debate halls - should not be provided.

    4) Street confrontations are not always won by 'the toughest and most brutal'...

    Chomsky claims "When confrontation shifts to the arena of violence, it's the toughest and most brutal who win – and we know who that is". Yet mass anti-fascist mobilisation can shut down fascists without being 'the most brutal'. In Liverpool, fascists ran to hide in a train station's left luggage department after being outnumbered 10-to-1. In Brighton, fascist marches have been made impossible without heavy police escort due to mass local opposition.

    Ultimately, the most powerful force in society is the working class. We can always win when we turn out in force.

    5) ... and the far-right aren't always 'the toughest and most brutal' anyway.

    It is the stuff of far-right fairy tales that they have the monopoly on using violence. The experience of Post-World War Two Britain is that the far-right, for all their bluster, were not as 'good on the pavement' as they thought they were. From the 43 Group to the 62 Group to AFA, the far-right were frequently beaten on the streets.

    While it is important that we focus on building mass, working-class anti-racist movements rather than crack squads of elite anti-fascist special forces, it's also important not to perpetuate the myths which the far-right perpetuate about themselves. Just look at this loser for a start:



    6) Physical opposition to fascism does not negate 'constructive activism'

    Chomsky's claim that one of the "costs" of physical confrontation with fascists is the "loss of the opportunity for education, organizing, and serious and constructive activism" is a false division. Moreover, it's one that shows a lack of real-life contact with anti-fascists.

    In reality, anti-fascists often are involved in activity beyond 'anti-fascism' whether that be migrant solidarity, union organising, anti-police violence or whatever else. They hold film screenings, concerts and football tournaments. The fact that Chomsky misses all this says more about him than it does anti-fascists.

    If people are prepared to put their lives and safety on the line to resist fascism that's a choice which should be celebrated. Community self-defense can create space for other organising to happen, whereas un-opposed fascists will happily crash and disrupt left meetings and organising.

    A big contingent of antifascist mobilisations in the US have been associated with the IWW, a radical union which puts huge importance on serious, constructive education and organising. You can organise at work Monday to Friday and oppose fascists when they occasionally come to town on Saturday, that's not much of an 'opportunity cost.'

    Ultimately, it's important to remember that 'anti-fascism' will never be enough to defeat fascism; in fact, there is no defeating fascism without defeating capitalism. That means building a mass, working-class political culture that stands as an alternative to both the far-right and the liberal politics of 'business as usual': vibrant workplace organisations both inside and out of traditional unions, community groups fighting on housing, police brutality, proper provision for survivors of domestic violence, migrant solidarity, and so much more it couldn't possibly fit here.

    We mustn't think of antifa as an end in and of itself. But we don't need the left's most prominent public intellectuals to throw them under the bus either.
     
  4. punkmar77

    punkmar77 Experienced Member Uploader Experienced member


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    Bigmouth strikes again..
     
  5. Lardy Cox

    Lardy Cox Experienced Member Experienced member


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    I was never into all that Chomsky worship..
    But then I never considered Freedom to be an academic theory to be debated..
    Just get out there and do it.. It's in the heart, not the fuken head!
     
    delirio punk and Anton One like this.
  6. JolleyPunk

    JolleyPunk Active Member Forum Member


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    The continued fight against the antifascist movement is ridiculous. If violence wasn't the answer to defeating fascism, why would Hitler himself have said that it was the only way anyone could have stopped the nazi movement? The problem with pacifism in the face of violence is that for non-violence to work, your opponent has to have a conscience and a general sense of humanity. Fascist have neither of those. They work only in violence and hate. To counter this, do we sit down and sing hippie shit with them? Do we "hear them out" like so many mindless liberals have said to do? No, we bash their fucking faces in and show them without a question that fascism isn't welcome in our world. Antifascism is the essential right arm of the movement, while the equally essential left arm provides community support, collective education, and collective autonomy for our neighbors and communities.

    Alerta Alerta! Antifascista!
     
  7. Arctic

    Arctic New Member New Member


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    Never expected otherwise from Chomsky. No one should be surprised...I mean the guy has some power in a knowledge sweat shop, what some call a university.
     
  8. kyledewolf85

    kyledewolf85 Member New Member


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    Noam Chomsky often takes such a liberal stance that he is better seen as a Democrat than an anarchist. He supports gun control. He opposed the withdrawal of US troops from Syria. He said that anyone who would not vote for Hillary Clinton and now Joe Biden was basically unethical and irresponsible. He maintains liberal illusions that the government can be made to work for the people and hold private power accountable. If you want to be a Democrat, you can be a Democrat. I have gotten some wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from reading liberal authors and watching liberal pundits like Robert Reich, Chris Hedges, Kyle Kulinsky, etc. But liberals are not the same as anarchists, and while there might be some overlap on social issues like abortion or homosexuality, whenever there is a conflict between liberal views and anarchist views, Noam Chomsky will undoubtedly come down hard on the side of liberalism.
     
  9. ungovernable

    ungovernable Autonome Staff Member Uploader Admin Team Experienced member


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    Here we go again ... Chomsky signs a letter against the so-called "cancel culture" crying a fucking river for the racist assholes being fired or censored. At this point I'm ashamed I even have some of his books in my library ...

    An open letter calling for an end to 'cancel culture' signed by JK Rowling, Margaret Atwood and many more has stirred a debate
    A Letter on Justice and Open Debate | Harper's Magazine
     
  10. LordManHammer

    LordManHammer Member Forum Member


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    I HATE to be the one to say it but sometimes our biggest letdowns can be someone we identify with the most.

    Yes I do think people in power should be called out for their shitty abhorrent behaviors. Lets be real for a second here, where do we draw the line in the sand when it comes to certain things that are or aren't okay to speak about?

    Homophobia, Racism, Mental Illness are subjects that should be carefully discussed with sensitivity and caution (no matter the context albeit comedian or influencer).

    However if someone wants to be a turd and spout racist vile shit let em, they'll be irrelevant soon enough someone will knock their block off. My opinion about cancel culture might seem ignorant however for ourselves as a anarcho collective sometimes we've got to suck it up and deal with this bullshit one at a time.
     
  11. punkmar77

    punkmar77 Experienced Member Uploader Experienced member


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    "Cancel Culture" is a bullshit distraction perpetuated by those that would seek to remain without consequences... it's Consequence Culture as far as I'm concerned.
     
  12. ungovernable

    ungovernable Autonome Staff Member Uploader Admin Team Experienced member


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    "Cancel Culture" implies that racism would be part of our culture, which would be disgusting and definitely deserves to be "canceled".
    But is it really part of our culture? The Confederacy only lasted for 5 years and they lost the war. The sole reason for their existence was to fight to preserve slavery. That's like if the Germans wanted to celebrate the Fourth Reich as being part of their culture and glorify statues of Hitler just because "it's part of their culture".

    Chomsky is just a dumb hypocrite for defending this bullshit. It doesn't help the anarchist cause at all, it just reinforces the power of racists by glorifying slavery. That's not how you fight for an anarchist revolution. That's not how you fight for equality. On top of all, the timing of this is disgusting. Hundreds of thousands of people are protesting in the streets for their rights.... and what is Chomsky's answer to the Black Lives Matter movement? Oh, right, it's time to defend racist statues. This is just a big "fuck you" to the people Chomsky is supposed to defend.

    Here's a quote from Alexander H Stephens, the president of the confederacy who has his own statue.
    If this is your culture, then fuck your culture.

    Cancel Slavery Heritage
     
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  13. LordManHammer

    LordManHammer Member Forum Member


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    Having spent my teens to 21 you will come to find out in the south (racism, xenophobia,sexism, homophobia) it is deeply ingrained like god over everything else faith..

    Odd excuses for casual shit like I'm not racist buttttttt garbage. I'm not gay but two lesbians blah blah blah. hypocrisy

    Please understand I DO NOT CONDONE THESE VIEWS I'M USING SHITTY EXAMPLES OF THE DEEP SOUTH THAT I HAD LEARNED AND SEEN.

    Hatred & Ignorance is taught at a very young age, from the time I've spent in Georgia, Alabama , Tennessee, Arkansas , Mississippi, South Carolina and Kentucky.

    The best way to relearn the world you view without ignorance and hate is empathy and mindfulness to travel without anything and put yourself in others shoes.

    A lot of my own bullshit and self hatred was caused from religious indoctrination and having that sin or consequences make you feel like shit for being a little odd to them.
     
  14. punkmar77

    punkmar77 Experienced Member Uploader Experienced member


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    I lived in the south too, I fought the Klan in Louisiana. I risked my life many times to fight them, had my life and that of my wife and children threatened, never stopped, and beat David Duke from becoming governor. Guess what? I had black and white Southerners helping me. Guess what, I have confederate ancestors, don't give a fuck. It all needs to go, I'm an anarchist plain and simple.
     
  15. LordManHammer

    LordManHammer Member Forum Member


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    I agree it all needs to go, hope you understand that I am an ally in the same fight, more importantly now then ever especially living in Palm Beach county where the heart of this orange turd lives. I pass by it every other day and make a habit of throwing my dogs shit in a bag and throwing over the fence, once he's gone it doesn't matter to others as he'll still be living here when everything is said and done.
     
  16. aint ashamed

    aint ashamed Experienced Member Experienced member


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    If chomsky had ever gotten down and dirty and bloody, perhaps
    he wouldn't have gone astray, while staying safe in his lofty perch.
    aint ashamed
     

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