Chomsky's point about the moral and intellectual acceptance of the imperialist policies of their governments is well made. However I would like to point out that imperialism by itself is not and has never been the prerogative of the West alone- depending on the circumstances everyone black, brown and white is susceptible to such tendencies.

The reason I mention this, as a person from the so called East, is that it is time we put aside these grand `civilisational' categories and put an end to imperialism everywhere, of course beginning with the one that dominates our times. What we are witnessing right now in the wounded rage of the United States following the Sept.11 attacks is the death throes of its brand of imperialism- one that has dominated the twentieth century.

When a collosal beast falls it takes along a million innocent beings with it and that may well happen with the impending war. The point to note is that the beast is falling nevertheless. And it is the task of the anti-globalisation movement to organize the funeral.

Many indigenous cultures around the world have a tradition of celebrating the departure of even loved ones with music, wine and dance. The demise of US imperialism calls for a Rave. See you all at the party.

whilst i agree that it is possible that the attack on the usa is the first sign of the downturn in US hegemony, i think it is pretty despicable to celebrate the deaths of thousands of people, no matter what their nationality.

we all probably let ourselves goggle at the scene of the accident of 9-11. i know i've felt a mixture of feelings, horror, pity and also the smartarse idea that "the US government brought it on their own people". but i think it's better not to indulge in feelings of delight at the sufferings of others. everyone has unwholesome characteristics, but the measure of our humanity is our ability to follow the less cruel and selfish aspects of our characters.

tell me, are u really eagerly anticipating global chaos and destruction? such a prospect should not fill the heart of anyone with glee, unless they like the idea of millions more people starving to death, tortured, raped by marauding armies, dispossessed from their lands etc.

i'm personally praying for gradual change, not cataclysms and revolutions.

The party, I called for, was not over the death and destruction that we saw on September 11 or that which is about to come with the so called `War on terrorism'. The celeberation is for the impending demise of US and other imperialisms.

I do not support destructive movements but am trying to make sense of the destruction that happens around us all the time. It is all very well to root for `gradual change' from the comfort of wherever you are but trying talking about it to those who perished at the WTC or to the citizens of Afghanistan who have suffered a war born out of Cold War rivalry for no fault of theirs.