90 YEARS OLD, FOREVER YOUNG

There are many people who can contribute important changes in human life.
But I guess only a few of them can do what dear Prof. Chomsky did in his life of 90 years.
He was not able to stop the rise of Nazism or stop Hirosima.
He was also not able to stop Bushes, nor Trumph.
But what he did was something much more important.
He spread seeds of democracy and human rights, to the brains of millions of people all around the world. The seeds to grow slowly, but instantly.
You cannot see them everyday, anywhere.
But all of a sudden you can see the spring, where you might never guess even one day before it blooms.
I am a very lucky person who met him and had the chance to participate in a few of his seed-spreading events.
It was in February 2002, when the publisher of his books was tried at the State Security Court of Istanbul. According to former Penal Code, the publisher was responsible when author was not reached.
Prof. Chomsky would never allow it. He accepted our invitation and came toIstanbul. The hearing lasted less than 15 minutes and ended with acquittal of the publisher. Yet he accepted a second invitation from Diyarbakır and gave speeches all around during his visit.
Ever since then, whenever we needed, he never rejected any demand of support.
How happy we are to have had the trust of such a great man, and have him beside us in the most difficult days we live, such as today.
Long live, dear Chomsky, 90 years young friend of all…
Sanar Yurdatapan
Initiative for Freeom of Expression- Turkey