2 ms·

When I read the ideas in his book "Manufacturing Consent" during the build-up to the invasion of Iraq, I elevated him to hero status in my mind. This was exactl

When I read the ideas in his book "Manufacturing Consent" during the build-up to the invasion of Iraq, I elevated him to hero status in my mind. This was exactly what I was seeing happening all around me, and he nailed it. In more recent years, it became obvious to me that the man was a "tankie." He was somehow able to convince himself that only the USA could have been guilty of imperial ambitions, while the CCP, Moscow, and others could never be accused of such malfeasance, clear evidence to the contrary be damned. I still have great respect for Chomsky due to his contributions, even though we disagree on so much. I have met a few people online who have had personal/professional relationships with him, and this seems to be a somewhat common refrain. This was yet another lesson in the pitfalls of hero worship for me. Since then, I have fallen into the hero worship trap a couple more times, as if I had learned nothing.

orwin 2y ago
It's "campism". It simplify how you think, and while it's uncomfortable if you _really_ think about it, as long as you don't its easy. I hate Trotsky and what he did in Ukraine and Kronstadt, but Trotkysts (anti-staline Marxists) had the correct vision on this since 1935: the enemy of your enemy isn't your friend. While you first have to defend against the biggest inequality, the one with the greatest urgency (in the case of Chomsky, Russian imperialism/aggression) while knowing that you will have to fight against your former ally once this is won (censorship and factory work laws passed in Ukraine during the war are anti-worker, and will have to be discarded). You can apply the same idea everywhere.
- consumer451 2y ago
  > It's "campism". Thank you very much for teaching me this term. It is much more appropriate than my clumsy use of the term "tankie." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campism

orwin 2y ago

It's "campism". It simplify how you think, and while it's uncomfortable if you _really_ think about it, as long as you don't its easy. I hate Trotsky and what he did in Ukraine and Kronstadt, but Trotkysts (anti-staline Marxists) had the correct vision on this since 1935: the enemy of your enemy isn't your friend. While you first have to defend against the biggest inequality, the one with the greatest urgency (in the case of Chomsky, Russian imperialism/aggression) while knowing that you will have to fight against your former ally once this is won (censorship and factory work laws passed in Ukraine during the war are anti-worker, and will have to be discarded). You can apply the same idea everywhere.

consumer451 2y ago
> It's "campism". Thank you very much for teaching me this term. It is much more appropriate than my clumsy use of the term "tankie." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campism