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WHAT_SHOULD_WE_DO

                                                 Aug 30, 2012

http://crookedtimber.org/2009/08/06/response-5/

   George Scialabba:

   "Aaron asks, very eloquently: 'What is
   to be done?'  People ask Chomsky this
   constantly, and his answer is always the
   same: 'Give me a break. I talk to people
   in the Third World all the time, and
   they never ask, 'what should we do?'
   Instead they say, 'this is what we're
   doing-- what do you think?' You should
   do what they do: talk to one another,
   form groups, study your problems, find
   other groups that share your concerns,
   discuss strategy and tactics, pool
   resources, try one thing, then another,
   then another. Organizing a political
   movement is not rocket science, or even
   auto repair. It just takes initiative,
   dedication, and perseverance. You knew
   that.'"


         This is perhaps a reasonable response,
         but I think not completely adequate.

         The frequently asked question is often
         asked for a reason, it's not to be
         dismissed simply because it's common.
                                              
         The standard advice is that a speaker        
         should lead up to a call to action, and      
         if it's consistently absent in               
         Chomsky's remarks, the audience may          
         very well take that as a sign that           
         it's all hopeless.                           
                                                      
                                                     


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