Andy Chertow wrote:
>
> I must disagree with Chomsky's statement about the 'sad legacy' of 1968's
> radical student movement and the negative consequences allegedly suffered by
> those radicals who did not plan for the future but thought that Revolution was
> imminent.
>
> I would call it a proud legacy.  While there is nothing wrong with organizing or
> with building movements, there are times when the people are way out in front of
> their so-called leaders and events that were not anticipated take place.  While
> there are always revolutionaries there are revolutions only infrequently and I
> don't see that history suggests that they follow a program.
>
> Andy
>

        I have not read the interview , so I cannot comment on it
directly. But I think you may be right. The revolutionaries of the 60's
were active at a time when I was in college. Initially, I was apathetic
but their intellectual fervor and ethical zeal enriched my life and I
soon became a vocal opponnent of war. Later , I became involved in other
types of activism against the ruling class. My point is that without the
sacrifices of the revolutionaries , many people like me would have led
empty narrow and shallow lives.

        So I believe Chomsky is in error to say that the 60's were tragic
for the revolutionaries (if I am restating his position correctly). The
powers that be would like us to believe that the 60's were a failure.
Chomsky may have succumbed to the force of that assertion by elitists
because he is partially immersed in the rarified atmosphere of his
academic acheivements and interaction with such elites, despite his well
thought out critique of statist society.

        I think I can understand that Chomsky is ethically concerned by
the burnout of radicals used as cannon fodder by political movements. He
may also be concerned about premature committment to revolutionary
strategy which results in "wasted" lives. But this attitude is merely
indicative of the fact that he really thinks responsibly about those with
whom he shares the barricades.

        I did not mean to get this long-winded, but the upshot is that
Andy is right to disagree about any alleged waste of revolutionary energy
since I am the beneficiary of the '60s radicalism along with millions of
others who are still aware. this does not justify the sacrifice of those
radicals but it ameliorates the alleged tragedy.

                        Howard