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About this quote

What does it mean?
Chomsky distinguishes between legitimate protest against talks and the illegitimate act of shouting down opponents.
In plain terms
It is okay to protest talks, but not to silence speakers.
What can you take from it?
Protest should not block dialogue.

Where it applies

  • public debates
  • political rallies
  • academic forums

Putting it to work

  • organize peaceful protests
  • allow opposing views

Questions to consider

  • When does protest become silencing?
  • How do you balance rights?

Another view

The line between protest and disruption can be subjective.

More from Noam Chomsky

  1. It's extremely important to preserve freedom of speech, and not to grant the state the right to determine what is or isn't said. A sometimes conflicting right …

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  2. There's one aspect of the right-wing fury about cutting off Imus that I agree with. They argue, I suppose rightly, that Imus was pulled off because of pressure…

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  3. If we don't believe in free expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.

    Permalink to quote #172

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