Sep 06 2007
Pompous whimsy
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“Instead of identifying the themes in ‘Interventions’ and giving a thorough appraisal, National Journal writer Jonathan Rauch just gives a disinterested, curt and pompous dismissal of an outsider, whose opinions are clearly samplings of dementia to a Brookings scholar - an insider.”
By Jonathan Lenglain
9/6/07
Love him or hate him, the reaction good ol’ Noam provokes among elite writers is always instructive. In hurling invectives at him writers from major newspapers never fail to simultaneously mock the common man and his grievances against power and/or disillusionment with the media as well. Perfect examples of irate elitism.
This is still true even though Chomsky has become almost palatable to the major press since Bush began his outrages on democracy. His last two books were reviewed by the New York Times in respectful if unfavorable terms, which is fine and at least professional.
Yet his work is still liable to be harshly ridiculed and dismissed, in such a way that Chomsky readers can’t help but see as an elite repudiation of their own concerns and importance. It’s a big insult when popular ideas are rejected outright without a care in the world, and the Washington Post’s treatment of Chomsky’s latest: “Interventions” is another such exercise in elitist hate.