The criticisms were so tepid they were embarrassing. Almost nobody, including me, dared to criticize the U.S. attack on South Vietnam. That's like talking Hittite. Nobody even understood the words.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Chomsky argues that criticism of the U.S. attack on South Vietnam was so muted and incomprehensible to the public that it was embarrassing.
- In plain terms
- People were afraid to speak out against the war, and even those who tried were ignored.
- What can you take from it?
- Fear and ignorance silences public dissent against military actions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do people fear criticizing government military actions?
- How does language affect public understanding of war?
Another view
The quote focuses on perception rather than objective measures of dissent.
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