Michael Parenti, "Against Empire"
Most people know about Fox Television�s "Celebrity Boxing Match," putting second-rate has-beens like a Brady Bunch kid up against a Partridge Family child, or Tonya Harding against what was supposed to be Amy Fisher but turned into a grudge match with Paula Jones. As of this writing, there is a final battle being planned, but as of yet it is unannounced. (Actually, that�s incorrect. I just checked the Fox website, and it will be Vanilla Ice against Todd Bridges � or �Willis� from �Diff�rent Strokes.�)
I have a suggestion for the headliner: Michael Parenti in a Caged Battle Royale against Noam Chomsky.
The benefits are endless. This event is already decried as pandering to the lowest common denominator, so here is a chance to have two of the highest respected members of academia battle it out in a no-holds-barred death match. Two men enter, one man leave!
Plus, these two reportedly already hate each other, which is weird, as they seem to agree on everything. They both write numerous books criticizing U.S. foreign policy. Both are professors in highly regarded universities. They�ve even quoted each other in various books!
But from what I�ve heard, they refuse to speak at the same rallies. The bad blood is already simmering. I say, let them vent.
And while Fox may worry about suddenly becoming too high-brow, I�d like to mention that Parenti has already graced the covers of the National Enquirer, so he�s right at home with the likes of Vanilla Ice, Tonya Harding, and Todd Bridges. (The headline for Parenti�s story: �U.S. PROFESSORS ARE TEACHING OUR STUDENTS AMERICA IS EVIL AND COMMUNISM IS GOOD,� complete with a picture of Parenti next to Karl Marx, and a hammer and sickle slicing through a map of the United States with blood dripping from the gash.)
Tell me this doesn�t fuel the storm of a ratings giant! Sweeps week!
So this book is very much like all of Chomsky�s work, but without as many footnotes and references. It covers various areas from our foreign policy, to favoritism in the senate, to repercussions in academia for refusing to follow the hawk line. Well written, but as I�ve read a lot of Chomsky already, nothing here was really a surprise. (Ooh, that should get things started!) It would make a good introductory reader for someone less familiar with the material, but I don�t think it is the �Brilliant Expos� of the Brutal Realities of U.S Global Domination� the cover proclaims it to be.
Still though, looking from the photo on the back cover, I�ll put my money on him over Noam. Any takers?
