Chris Hedges "Brace Yourself! The American Empire Is Over & The Descent Is Going To Be Horrifying!" - YouTube

I am in complete agreement with you, thank you for saying what needs to be said.

I am of the opinion, that the true bottom line purpose of current it's not so much to inform, but to shape and corral public opinion through the tactic of consensus thought.

This would explain their obsession with the control of language. As soon as you begin to control HOW something is said, not just the content itself, you are by definition attempting to control thought. I have said many times, that the people who have been put in charge of scrutinizing what is written, come across as either good little corporate Wordsmith police, or still adolescent minded young adults, who have very little real knowledge of how the world actually works around them, but are afraid to admit it to themselves least they no longer be seen as "cool", it is analogous to a first-year physics student giving their inestimable insights and knowledge on physics, to Prof. Einstein.

I have said it before and I'll say it again, this is not a fucking church, and we are not fuckin children, we are adults, and do not need to be told how to say what the fuck we want to say, if you go into a bar (if it's a really good bar that is) you'll hear lots of loud talking, laughter and yes profanity, and if that offends you, then fucking leave, I doubt that you would have the audacity to make a loud announcement in the bar, explaining that your poor little child like sensitive ears, do not wish to hear any profanity, while you were in the bar, The people there would simply ignore you, or tell you to get the fuck out, so to any and all of you "moderators" out there, grow a pair, and grow the fuck up, we do not need you to tell us what we can say or how we can say it, we have a corporate controlled increasingly fascist government to do that.

I remain, V

thanks V....lucid, coherent and spot on...as always.

With pleasure.

Ok, I read the Sam Harris blog entry. It seemed to be one of the most vacuous and content-less exercises in crafting a response to Hedges I have ever encountered. A lot of accusation, innuendo and opinion.....not much fact. So now I know, sort of, what Sam Harris objects to about Chris Hedges.

Sam Harris is a very controversial figure on both the political and religious landscape, as is Hedges. Harris is religious in his affirmation of non-religion, and he is entitled to his opinion, as you and I are, but all of our opinions, like those of Hedges, are only opinions. I think inserting the opinions of Sam Harris into comments on a specific interview broadens the discussion in such a way that the discussion no longer bears any resemblance to the content of the original interview...and so, we find ourselves compelled to enter into a much broader and much more vacuous discussion about religion, rather than the current political landscape, which was the major content of the Hedges interview. In essence, the opinions of Sam Harris shut down any further discussion, discrediting Hedges simply because of religious persuasion....the very thing Harris himself decries in his opposition to religion, but thank you for taking the time to post a response clarifying your comments.

Let's just agree to disagree. Your reading of the SamH response as vacuous is laughable and nails my point of immaturity. Then again, you have a right to your opinion and we simply disagree. No harm done!

We should not ignore what he said about Obama either.

Excellent post, bdeja. This is how I feel. Chris Hedges speaks the truth. This needs to be heard!

This is obvious to anyone who studies Libertarianism. It's just out-of-touch with a modern technological society, much less a national security state; however, big government needs to get out of the way of liberty. The liberty to decide what goes in your body, who decides what medical procedure you choose, and who you want to sleep with & marry, and etc etc etc. This is why Libertarians run away with liberal and progressive voters!

if this were so obvious, I rather doubt that Ron Paul would have many followers....

the notion that big government is the problem and needs to get out of the way of liberty is merely a myth that is employed to delude the poor and empower the corporate state....but keep reading...you may still have time to figure it out.

"Political anemia isn't the problem. It's politicians and special interests playing a two way game of extortion where the politician gets paid for voting one way while the lobbyist gets the vote he wants if he's willing to pay. "

mmmm, I have to agree. I think Hedges use of the word anemic is semantics, but your description narrows the problem much more thoroughly.

a huge marijuana lobby with unlimited funds....now that would be interesting.

If you've read this guy, you know where he stands on various issues. Some I agree with; others I don't!

then I would love to hear you comment on what you agree and don't agree with, but don't disparage an interview you didn't even bother to listen to....

Who put you up as the one who decides who listened to what. The sad fact is that the best argument you can make about my comments is that you believe I didn't listen is immature. Sounds and looks like from the votes I walked into a Chris Hedges christian fan club with you as the overlord over the decision as to how to characterize independent comments. This kind of nonsense may be acceptable to you and your friends here; however, to me you are all showing clear bias. As for what I like about Hedges or not doesn't really matter at this point now does it!

yes it does matter....and frankly, all I asked you to do was comment on the content of the interview, rather than your own personal bias...not sure how you are getting immature from that (it is a very common request in public debates), nor am I sure how you are deducing that people who commented on the interview are part of a christian fan club. I might point out that Hedges said, in the interview, that he doesn't claim to be a christian, at least not in the organized religion sense of the definition, but hey, no problem, I think you made your point.

While I appreciate your more cordial reply, I personally see it as falling over yourself to excuse Hedges.

It is a bitter pill .

Thanks for providing parts of the interview. I got to listen to some of it. Mr. Hedges knows what's going on. The paragraph you posted here should be seen by everyone.
I'm disapponied in Obama for the same reasons.

Do you NOT think Occupyers are awake ?

Hedges is an adamant and articulate supporter of OWS!

"in order to make a better world, we have to put our bodies on the line."

Occupy-ers are awake, but when they are spending their time getting bailed out of jail after spending anywhere from 2 to 10+ days locked up, their power is diminished greatly. When the Occupy numbers reach in the millions then I will have confidence in the ability of the movement to change things. As much as I support Occupy, we as a nation need to support them and get up off our collective asses and show the dictators in this country that we will no longer take it.

That is why he is , to me at least , a breath of fresh air , and one of the very few who is truly dedicated to getting the word out . We are surrounded , insulated , you might say , by lies and delusions . Not everyone has the courage to look into the heart of the darkness we need to face , simply to survive . We must give each other the courage . There is only one way to do that . Love . Love creates courage . We must reach out to the deluded in love , and friendship and let them know they are , in reality , not alone . It is the illusion , the lie , that has cut them off from living . The illusion that they need not participate in life as it passes by . We must all participate in this . There are many distractions , diversions . Even current can be such . I hope it is far more that that .

So , what is your better idea ?

one of the interesting things Hedges says about occupying is that it is only movements like occupy that give us any recourse for resistance at all. He talks about how afraid LBJ was of MLK, and that when MLK went to Memphis, 50,000 people went with him...and people went to jail, and others died, but institutionalized racism was no longer legal when they were through. We must resist, we have no choice.

Exactly. Strength is in numbers and if we can get at least that many people to march they will get the message.

Good extracts and good point.
LOL. I guess we should give fair-warning to those expecting Hedges to stroke their liberal righteousness: You might get your feelings hurt. :)

In a world where "celebrities" are manufactured by the media, where viewpoints change with every news cycle, and where the trendiness of one's lifestyle is the only thing one needs to maintain, what else can you expect?

Elections are a dog and pony show. Nothing else.

I read your post! lol