Wednesday 15 April 2020

Noam Chomsky — wisdom and responsibility


Noam Chomsky is old, doesn't speak especially clearly, and doesn't have the most brilliant sound system in this video. You have to pay attention and stay with it to benefit from what he has to say. 

For those reasons I hesitated to pass it on here — I thought most people wouldn't have the patience to listen to him. But then I came back to it, and decided, yes, I would put it up here; because if even the smallest handful of people take in what he is saying, and takes him seriously, and lives accordingly, then all of us will have that much better a chance of a life characterised by peace and wellbeing.

Noam Chomsky is a man of great wisdom and responsibility, and is more worth hearing than most political leaders alive today.



7 comments:

Anonymous said...

What an erudite man. What’s apparent from listening to him is how ill or mis- informed we all are. The politics are vast. I’ve been thinking about it all day and have only been able to come back to my small circle of influence. I’m not sure if that’s narrow or realistic...
Anyway, plenty of food for thought. Thanks for another interesting post!
Deb x

Pen Wilcock said...

I think small circles of influence are the keynote of our time. Think about the coronavirus. All it took was this or that individual meeting a boyfriend, going to the store, going to church, going to a family barbecue, taking a holiday, going to a concert or a wedding. Ordinary things. Small circles of influence have spread this like wildfire round the whole world. Heads of state and government ministers have been to a greater or lesser degree influential; it hasn't been power that has helped them, only conscientious preparedness and responsible choices — which are within the grasp of us all, however humble. This can also be true of love, justice, kindness. I think this is what the coronavirus is saying to us; that all of us acting together is what's needed to heal the world, just as it was what made all the world sick. x

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your reply Pen, and having thought about it some more completely agree. The way it’s affected everyone regardless of race and geographical boundaries unites us in our vulnerability, and forces us to regard our actions very seriously. The Drs and nurses are exemplary in working for greater good in their immediate circle. As they apply their skills and dispositions so must we all in our own unique way, and just hope our tiny contribution meets with others for a wide spread ripple affect. Thank you for helping my thinking!
Deb x

Pen Wilcock said...

:0)

x

Bean said...

I feel a little more pessimistic about the whole situation. Poor leadership by government has allowed this situation to occur. How we come out of this, I don't know. We are all isolated, separated from loved ones, co-workers, neighbors, and feel guilty when we do have a real need to restock groceries. Neighbors spying on neighbors, reports of nasty notes left for people who do have to go out to work. Our world has changed beyond belief over the past month. United we stand, divided we fall. At this point we are all divided, we hope our leaders are making the correct choices to lead us through this, but I really have my doubts. It is said that most of us will end up having this virus, yet a vast majority won't even KNOW they had it! This seems so bizarre. There are so many bizarre things going on and so much conflicting information that my head spins, who to believe, what to believe, and I think those in charge like that the population is fearful, confused, controlled. My biggest fear is that in five years time we will look back and see that this was the biggest con ever played on regular people around the world, and the top 5% will own basically everything (they already almost do now) and we will all be left to fend for ourselves, I hope I am wrong.

Here's hoping for a better world, Peace be with you,

Bean

PS I listened with ear buds and it was the best way to listen.

Pen Wilcock said...

Hi Bean — your analysis certainly resonates with me. My focus (in life generally, I mean) has been inspired by something St Francis said about temptation. I've forgotten the exact wording now, I read it long ago as a teenager, but I do remember clearly the gist of it. He said that when we are tempted (morally, to sin) our instinct is to fight the temptation and try of overcome it. He said often we don't succeed because it is stronger than we are, but there is another way. He said that if you can become lowly enough, sufficiently simple and poor and insignificant, you can go down below the temptation rather than overcoming. Like the old Scottish folk song (do you know it?) about Loch Lomond:
"Ye'll tak' the high road and I'll tak' the low road, and I'll be in Scotland afore ye".
Someone like me has now power, barely any influence, breathtakingly little money — but there is a low road you can take, a disregarded and rarely understood power in simplicity.
Like the little mouse in Malvina Reynolds song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJGnSMc32u8

Bean said...

Totally agree Pen, we live simply and in a way we live below the radar. We choose to live this way so all is good. But for many it is going to be a drastic realignment of priorities. I fear that my children and grandchildren will be paying for this pandemic nightmare for the foreseeable future, not just monetarily, but loss of freedom and loss of opportunity.
As a bumper sticker, hanging on our fridge, states, "Live Simply so that Others May Simply Live".

Peace,

Bean