[arinlen]

> He’s an academic,I don’t think he “supports” like it’s a ball team.

Noam Chomsky is "an academic" in the field of linguistics and cognitive science.

Outside of academia he's an activist, and one which is very vocal in his anti-US sentiment.

This is not a negative trait. Free and open societies need contrarians and antagonists, as democratic regimes do not resist echo chambers. However, let's not pretend that just because someone is employed by a university that person is suddenly impartial and devoid of any personal opinion on politics.

[hef19898]

As with all academics that gain fame, and then step outside their field of expertise, he started to look a tad stupid. Peterson is another example, as are those German "intelectuals" who also called for a Ukrainian surrender of sorts.

[arinlen]

> As with all academics that gain fame, and then step outside their field of expertise, he started to look a tad stupid.

Chomsky's political opinions aren't stupid per se, they are simply his personal opinions.

What's indeed mind-numbingly stupid is this notion that just because someone is paid by a university to dedicate his time to research a specific topic, such as linguistics, that somehow that makes that person an infallible authority in any conceivable topic, including highly subjective ones like politics.

[random314]

One could say the same about you. Or alternately, you could provide a reference to stupid statements by chomsky. He has been speaking for more than 60 years.

People don't become stupid if their world view doesn't match yours.

[hef19898]

I said look stupid, even out of context. Like advising Ukraine, from a very safe place in an other country, to just roll over. Even if Ukrainians want to fight back. Sure, it is just an opinion, but one that makes you look stupid and out of touch. And this has nothing to do with world views, just with trying apply expertise in one field into another, unrelated one. More often than not based on publicity and fame than anything else.

[random314]

Well you are in a very safe place and advising Ukrainians to put their lives at risk instead of negotiating a settlement in accordance with what Zelensky proposed in March and the United states disagreed with.

You look even more stupid. And Chomsky absolutely did not ask Ukraine to "roll over". So you are also just making shit up.

This topic has already been beaten to death here.

https://www.counterpunch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Open...

" To stress the main point again, you do reject diplomacy, evading the fact by keeping to negotiation strategy. And your apologetics for Washington’s undermining of diplomacy makes that even clearer. We are left with your very clear advocacy of the “ghastly experiment,” which I do find shocking. I hope you will reconsider your position, and think through the evasions and misrepresentations. The proper reaction would be to publicly withdraw the accusations that you have widely circulated, but that’s your business. And it’s far less important than publicly withdrawing your advocacy of the ghastly experiment. That reinforces the stand of others who are willing to gamble with the fate of Ukrainians, and far beyond."

As chomsky explains, the so called supporters of Ukraine - sitting on a comfortable couch in another country- are insisting on performing a "ghastly experiment" with the Ukrainian people. The correspondence above, shows how chomsky's critics really have no interest in the well being of Ukrainians, but are more focused on beating up Putin, just like you.

[hef19898]

I'm not asking Ukrainians anything, I do respect their decisions so. If they decide to continue with the Selensky government's course of resisting, cool, give them all the support NATO can offer short of going to war with Russia. If want to negotiate for peace, with or without a Selensky government, cool, help during negotiations as much as possible.

Resisting invaders is something I support my whole life, including the Taliban and Kurds. Or the whole of north africa. I also support, properly done, interventions against oppressive regimes.

[random314]

More pertinently, it seems you don't have any specific objection to any particular statement by Chomsky.