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WILLIAM PHILLIPS
Trauma
As I said in my original comment, Chomsky is right when he points
out that most libera,ls (myself included) did not protest the persecution, legal
and illegal, of dissident sects on the far "left." In their (and my) defense, all I
can say is that I, for one, was fed up with stupid, irresponsible, extreme acts
beingjustified in the name of revolution, progress, enlightenment,justice, etc.
I think the cause of socialism and of enlightened social reform would be
advanced by making clear that not every kind of illiterate stand and violent
gesture is radical or progressive. But, ofcourse, even mindless politics has legal
rights.
I still think it was reassuring to see an aroused public opinion finally sweep
Nixon and his buddies out of the White House, because, it will be recalled, we
were afraid the country was so brainwashed 'and apathetic there was almost
nothing it couldn't swallow. Even if Nixon wasn't Hitler, the noose around the
organs ofliberal opinion was getting too tight for anyone's comfort. Watergate
must be seen if not as a preparation for a putsch at least as an attempt to corrupt
and terrorize independent thought and institutions-to which I assume the
only ones indifferent are those sectarian Marxists who believe that in the long
run capitalist society remains capitalist society, and is, therefore, always poten–
tially repressive. But the long run is made up of short runs.
Chomsky says Watergate is different from the earlier muzzling of dissen–
ters only in that it affected the political Establishment. But this seems to me an
important difference, for the intimidation of "those who wield power and
authority" could have far-reaching social effects, not the least of which might
be acceptance of a more repressive government.
Besides, with the impotence of the left today, it is simply suicidal not to
recognize that we all have a stake in the preservation of liberalism. To take a
revolutionary stand when there are no revolutionary movements might seem
to be morally and politically pure. But it is also self-defeating for it serves to
incite the right while lacking the means to combat it.
Still, one must respect Chomsky for taking the longer, uncompromising
view, even though he makes me feel impure whenever I try to be practical.
William Phillips
