>I'm familiar with Chomsky's organize-by-guilt statements and they
>just don't do anything for me.
I don't see "organize-by-guilt statements" in Chomsky's works. I finally bought Chomsky's _9-11_ (NY: Seven Stories Press, 2001) yesterday, so I'll cite a couple of relevant passages from it;
***** _How do you judge the reaction of Americans? They seemed pretty cool-headed, but as Saskia Sassen recently said in an interview, "We already feel as though we are at war."_
[CHOMSKY] The immediate reaction was shock, horror, anger, fear, a desire for revenge. But public opinion is mixed, and countercurrents did not take long to develop. They are now even being recognized in mainstream commentary. Today's newspapers, for example.
(Chapter 1 "Not Since the War of 1812," Based on an interview with _Il Manifesto_ [Italy], September 19, 2001, p. 20) *****
***** _Q: As you know, there is rage, anger and bewilderment in the U.S. since the September 11 events. There have been murders, attacks on mosques and even a Sikh temple. The University of Colorado, which is located here in Boulder, a town which has a liberal reputation, has graffiti saying, "Go home, Arabs," "Bomb Afghanistan," and "Go Home, Sand N-words." What's your perspective on what has evolved since the terrorist attacks?_
CHOMSKY: It's mixed. What you're describing certainly exists. On the other hand, countercurrents exist. I know they do where I have direct contacts, and hear the same from others....That's another kind of current, also supportive of people who are being targeted here because they look dark or have a funny name. So there are countercurrents. The question is, what can we do to make the right ones prevail?
(Chapter 4 "Crimes of State," Based on excerpts from an interview with David Barsamian on September 21, 2001, p. 3940) *****
***** _Are reactions unanimous in the U.S.? Do you share them, partly or completely?_
[CHOMSKY] If you mean the reaction of outrage over the horrifying criminal assault, and sympathy for the victims, then the reactions are virtually unanimous everywhere, including the Muslim countries. Of course every sane person shares them completely, not "partly." If you are referring to the calls for a murderous assault that will surely kill many innocent people -- and, incidentally, answer bin Laden's most fervent prayers -- then there is no such "unanimous reaction," despite superficial impressions that one might derive from watching TV. As for me, I join a great many others in opposing such actions. A great many.
What majority sentiment is, no one can really say: it is too diffuse and complex. But "unanimous"? Surely not, except with regard to the nature of the crime.
(Chapter 6 "Civilizations East and West," Based on interviews with European media September 20-22, 2001 with Marili Margomenou for Alpha TV Station [Greece], Miguel Mora for _El Pais_ [Spain], Natalie Levisalles for _Liberation_ [France], p. 89) *****
You can disagree with Chomsky on his assessments of sentiments of peoples in the United States, predominantly Muslim countries, and the rest. You can disagree with him on his past and present analyses of terrorism, US foreign policy, political economy of capitalism, etc. I can say with confidence, though, that he never attributes the guilt of the US power elite and crimes of the US state to ordinary Americans; to the contrary, what he says or writes always manifests his great faith in the capacity for understanding, self-emancipation, and solidarity with others struggling for liberty that ordinary people do possess, be they Americans or others. -- Yoshie
* Calendar of Events in Columbus: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/calendar.html> * Anti-War Activist Resources: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/activist.html> * Student International Forum: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/> * Committee for Justice in Palestine: <http://www.osu.edu/students/CJP/>