The world will lose one of the great modern-day thinkers when Chomsky is no longer with us. It's hard to fathom how he remains such a clear thinker at his age.
His contribution to linguistics is definitely great and no one can take that from him. But to call him a great modern-day thinker is a bit of a stretch.
Hey, if you haven't read any of his books, I would recommend it some time. He has a mind like a steel trap. His books are meticulously researched, and he has a sad dry humor.
But what you also get is hope. I've always felt that the reason he does what he does, is because we can point to openness, and draw a clear line between today and the past. Not recognizing what we do in the world leads to barbarism. The world has been rejecting barabarism consistently for centuries. Even a century ago, in america, the discrimination was horrendous. It is better because democracy allows us to question the implementation of government. And he asks the big questions.