Lula Visits Chomsky Recovering from Stroke: "You Are One of the Most Influential People in My Life"
98,200
Published 2024-07-02
The world-renowned linguist and dissident Noam Chomsky was discharged from a São Paulo hospital in Brazil last month as he continues to recover from a stroke last year that impacted his ability to speak. His wife, Valeria Wasserman Chomsky, told a Brazilian newspaper he still follows the news and raises his left arm in anger when he sees images of Israel's war on Gaza. False reports that Chomsky had died went viral online in June. We speak with historian Vijay Prashad, who co-authored his latest book with Chomsky, _The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of U.S. Power_, and was able to visit him twice while in Brazil. He describes Chomsky as "a beloved friend, adviser, confidante, but in some ways the one who helped explain what was happening in the world for decades." When Prashad was with Chomsky, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also stopped by.
Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET.
Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest: democracynow.org/subscribe
All Comments (21)
-
He is 95 years old, he has done a lot and humanity is thankful for his work
-
his book "manufacturing consent" changed my life.
-
“He still follows the news and raises his left arm in anger when he sees images of Israel’s war on Gaza.” Fucking legend.
-
Great Noam Chomsky, we Brazilians recognize as a great human being, a special person, a great connoisseur of history and a great activist. There are no words for his legacy and it will continue. May you recover well. Take care.
-
I'm Brazilian and we will always be deeply indebted to Chomsky. Best of wishes in his recovery.
-
Prayers for Chomsky
-
He’s one of the most influential people in any moral persons’ life
-
He is the greatest scholar and intellectual in the World. Lots of Love to Chomsky
-
Chomsky is one of the greatest American intellectuals in history.
-
I'm a New Yorker. And I shout out a special saluté to our Brazilian comrades ❤🎉
-
Bless you, Noam Chomsky, thank you for all that you have done for us. ❤❤❤
-
I do believe that there are many "important" people in the world who will be happy to see Noam gone. He has been too insightful, too intelligent and too courageous. And most importantly, perhaps, he is a Jew unafraid to explain just what a disaster for the world the creation and continued arming of the state of Israel has been.
-
I named my son after him, simply because we need more Noams in this wicked wretched world..
-
Free Palestine 🇵🇸
-
Noam Chomsky is the light - world owes so much to him.
-
My mind was exposed to the writings and contributions of Noam Chomsky. What a privilege for you to share, especially during these tough times and the horror of inflicted on Palestinians 🇵🇸
-
Mr. Chomsky, you are my hero. Was gifted by the Universe the opportunity to see you speak in 2011. All my best to you and your dear family. ✨
-
Only three people have ever aswered my e-mail queries. The first was Noam Chomski, the others being David Graeber (RIP) and Scott Ritter. Keep going Professor, we need you more than ever. Hasta Siempre from Nicaragua.
-
"He still follows the news and raises his arm in anger" gave me a good chuckle. I wish him all the best. It really pains me to see him suffer these severe health issues, especially in times like these. His work has perhaps had the biggest influence of my understanding of the world, and I will forever thank him for that. Godspeed, Noam.
-
If Noam Chomsky were just known for his contributions to linguistics-- he is known as the father of modern-day linguistics due to his theory of generative grammar--he would still be one of the greatest scholars of the 20th century. He's like the Einstein of linguistics.
