Western liberalism has a tendency to change the subject when confronted with the true nature of regimes opposed by the US, even to give them the benefit of the doubt: look at Noam Chomsky's effective support for the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. It is a form of intellectual decadence that won't look good on the historical record. --Colin Donald, April 15, 2006 [229]
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The author criticizes Chomsky's past support for the Khmer Rouge as intellectual decadence that harms liberal reputation.
- In plain terms
- Supporting the Khmer Rouge damages intellectual reputations.
- What can you take from it?
- Supporting bad regimes undermines liberal credibility.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do past alliances affect current credibility?
Another view
It reduces complex past decisions to current criticism.
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