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Wolverine vs. Chomsky.
That's a toughy, but it all depends on what Logan's got in his pockets. While our half-feral Weapon X with the steel-coated claws may not be able to keep up with Chomsky's snappy patter and astounding ability to parse complex geopolitical issues into a manageable analysis for the layman...somebody else is.
Frankly, it all depends on whether Logan's got a certain fashion accessory.
Because while Logan might not be up to trade patter with a linguist with a mad-on for power structures, you can always count on a certain friend of his: the Bukowski of Madripoor, the man who combines bare-knuckle brawling with barstool badinage... Patch.
Chomsky would be all like
"Modern industrial civilization has developed within a certain system of convenient myths. The driving force of modern industrial civilization has been individual material gain, which is accepted as legitimate, even praiseworthy, on the grounds that private vices yield public benefits, in the classic formulation. Now, it has long been understood, very well, that a society that is based on this principle will destroy itself in time. It can only persist, with whatever suffering and injustice that it entails, as long as it is possible to pretend that the destructive forces that humans create are limited, that the world is an infinite resource, and that the world is an infinite garbage can. At this stage of history either one of two things is possible. Either the general population will take control of its own destiny and will concern itself with community interests, guided by values of solidarity, sympathy and concern for others, or alternatively there will be no destiny for anyone to control. As long as some specialized class is in a position of authority, it is going to set policy in the special interests that it serves... The question in brief, is whether democracy and freedom are values to be preserved or threats to be avoided. In this possibly terminal phase of human existence, democracy and freedom are more than values to be treasured; they may well be essential to survival."
And Patch would be all like
"Bub, the thing about civilization is it ain't stretchin' any further than my outstretched arm. Because the thing is, once you're out'a swingin' range, there's nothing holding you back to whatever 'code' you think you have when you're lookin' in the mirror come mornin'. I usedta know a fella told me, there's nothin' worse than a man with principles, 'cause a man with principles ain't no man once they've been taken from him.
No sorta man.
At all.
So you can take your values and do your preservin' outta my joint, Noamy, because the kinda trouble we get in here ain't one you can be solvin' with fancy talk. There ain't nothin to survival but gettin' yours.
There ain't nothin' to survival but gettin' in the first shot when the gettin's good.
Got me, bub?"
And Noam Chomsky would be all "whooooaaaahhh" and then he'd have a beer and then he and Patch would fight cybernetic pirates with a flying ship called REDBEARD ONE. |
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