“Moynihan, when he was ambassador to the United Nations, produced the same effect when he attacked the Third World. These attacks aroused great admiration here; for example, when he denounced Idi Amin of Uganda as a "racist murderer." The question is not whether Idi Amin is a racist murderer. No doubt the appellation is correct. The question is, what does it mean for Moynihan to make this accusation and for others to applaud his honesty and courage in doing so? Who is Moynihan? He served in four administrations, those of Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford - that is to say, administrations that were guilty of racist murder on a scale undreamed of by Idi Amin. Imagine that some minor functionary of the Third Reich had correctly accused someone of being a racist murderer.”

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About Noam Chomsky

Linguist and political theorist from the United States, active since the 1950s. He developed foundational theories of generative grammar and cognitive linguistics, reshaping modern linguistics. His work also spans political philosophy, media criticism, and human rights advocacy, often challenging power structures and corporate influence.

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"Moynihan, when he was ambassador to the United Nations, produced the…" — Noam Chomsky | Daily Quotes