...the self-indulgent and auto-congratulatory Noam Chomsky, arguably one of the most virulent anti-Semitic Jews you can hope to encounter. His endless diatribes on what he wants you to believe to be the horrible treatment of the Palestinian people at the hands of the cold-hearted Israeli oppressors are unparalleled in literary hyperbole. Unfortunately, he doesn't offer one shred of evidence to back this up. He invites you to join him, the consummate Jewish intellect, in collective snobbery by simply accepting (because you are so frightfully well-educated as he is) that what he says is so. I have yet to see one single person stand up and ask, 'Dr. Chomsky, what is the evidence for this?' Should this take place, hopefully there will be a paramedic team standing by to resuscitate him. --Moss David Posner, July 3, 2006 [234]
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The critic attacks Chomsky's character and claims his arguments lack evidence.
- In plain terms
- Chomsky is called arrogant and unsupported by evidence.
- What can you take from it?
- Ad hominem attacks often replace substantive debate.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does critique become abuse?
- How do we demand evidence?
Another view
The quote is highly charged and relies on insults.
More from Noam Chomsky
It's hard to imagine any American reading this book and not seeing his country in a new, and deeply troubling, light. --Jonathan Freedland, June 25, 2006 [233]
Permalink to quote #252 The Left's spiritual leader, Noam Chomsky, went to Hezbollah - a murderous, extremist, nationalistic organization by its own leaders' account - and saluted. Th…
Permalink to quote #254 ...it is a pack of lies... --Michael Berube, June 22, 2006 [232]
Permalink to quote #251
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