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Quotes
“Why am I compelled to write?… Because the world I create in the writing compensates for what the real world does not give me. By writing I put order in the world, give it a handle so I can grasp it. I write because life does not appease my appetites and anger… To become more intimate with myself and you. To discover myself, to preserve myself, to make myself, to achieve self-autonomy. To dispell the myths that I am a mad prophet or a poor suffering soul. To convince myself that I am worthy and that what I have to say is not a pile of shit… Finally I write because I’m scared of writing, but I’m more scared of not writing.”
― Gloria E. Anzaldúa
I got things I wanna do in my life I aint did yet
I know I’ve been close to the edge but I aint dead yet
it’s never too late to make a change for the better
and I really mean it this time I’m bout to get myself together
I know it’s not just me I’m not the only one
everybody got something that they need to overcome
you aint gotta smoke crack to be a fiend
a fiend is just somebody who’s addicted it can be anything
too many of us addicted to the American dream
we high from the lies on the TV screen
we drunk from the poison that they teach in the schools
and we junkies from the chemicals we eat in the food
Noam Chomsky has been actively addressing global issues since long before I was born. He has written hundreds of articles and books and conducted numerous interviews. In fact, today, I’ll be lucky enough to watch him speak. How does a man like that maintain such integrity and the will to constantly search for justice?
In an interview yesterday with Jeremy Paxman, he’s asked something similar.
Paxman: “Can I finish with a personal question, you’re how old now?”
Chomsky: “82″
Paxman: “Why haven’t you mellowed?”
Chomsky: “Because I look at the world. There are things happening in the world which should lead anyone to become indignant, outraged, active and simply engaged.”
If there is a single living figure to point to for inspiration, just look at Noam Chomsky.
“I am not afraid. It doesn’t make a difference to me. My life and my death are one. That’s how it is here. What’s the meaning of life when you’re lying asleep and you’re awoken by the sound of missiles or the sound of a tank or an invasion? It’s like there’s this tape player next to you and you can’t turn it off. It just plays by itself and you have to stay there listening, disturbed by it but unable to stop it.” – Mohammed Al Farra, Khan Yunis
Ben M’Hidi: Jaffar says you weren’t in favour of the strike.
Ali La Pointe: No, I wasn’t.
Ben M’Hidi: Why not?
Ali La Pointe: Because we were ordered not to use arms.
Ben M’Hidi: Acts of violence don’t win wars. Neither wars nor revolutions. Terrorism is useful as a start. But then, the people themselves must act. That’s the rationale behind this strike: to mobilize all Algerians, to assess our strength.
Ali La Pointe: To prove it to the UN?
Ben M’Hidi: Yes, to prove it to the UN. It may not do any good, but at least the UN will be able to gauge our strength. You know, Ali, it’s hard enough to start a revolution, even harder to sustain it, and hardest of all to win it. But it’s only afterwards, once we’ve won, that the real difficulties begin. In short, there’s still much to do. You’re not tired, Ali?Ali La Pointe: No.
“I am different. In a different way
The only thing that stays the same is change
While people claim their states, I state my claims
I’m a quiet natured player who outwardly hates the game
I shake what I got, which is a jingly pocket
I do my mini-market research and make noise for myself when I walk quickI talk with authority while I question it
When I ask, “Who am I?” I’m left guessing
But if you’re a poor man’s version of anything
It is your self-perception”
“Sometimes people hold a core belief that is very strong. When they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the new evidence cannot be accepted. It would create a feeling that is extremely uncomfortable, called cognitive dissonance. And because it is so important to protect the core belief, they will rationalize, ignore and even deny anything that doesn’t fit in with the core belief.”