I Apologize Re Chomsky
Noam Chomsky's assistant comments below that there is an illness in the linguist's family and that's why he had to run, to make a plane back to Boston. Also I note that Chomsky gave good weight at an earlier event at Columbia the same day. I'm feeling bad about the meanspiritedness of my original post. Not the substance, but the sniggeringly oedipal tone. Chomsky has my apology for that.
Thanks, Phil, for your second thoughts about Chomsky. Let me add that whatever you think about ol' Noam, the guy is a mensch. One of the great things about being an activist in the Boston area is the opportunity to get a lot of Chomsky exposure, up close, as I've been doing for the past generation or so. Whatever you think about him from a distance, up close this is a genuinely good guy. When the Reagan administration declared its "national emergency" against Nicaragua, the Call to Resistance was activated and close to 600 of us sat in at the JFK Federal Building and were incarcerated in the basement, and Chomsky was there with us, quietly sitting on the concrete with everyone else. He's getting on now, but not so long ago he would stand at the podium after a talk and engage with anyone who approached the mic for hours, often until the janitor would close the place down. There is probably no one in the intellectual firmament who is more accessible than he is. He is the genuine item.
Phil, you are much too nice. This is politics! Take no prisoners!
A King may choose his garment as he will: there is no certain test; but a beggar cannot hide his poverty. Beware therefore! Love all, lest perchance is a King concealed! Say you so? Fool! If he be a King, thou canst not hurt him.
Therefore strike hard & low, and to hell with them, master! (A Crowley)