Chris Hedges, "America: The Farewell Tour" -- What's Ahead Of Us

[ancianita]

Last edited Tue Sep 4, 2018, 12:52 AM - Edit history (1)

His book talk is long, but is a good overview of the major problems that have sown the seeds of our empire's demise.

I intend to read and add it to my other Hedges books.

Please refrain from comments, challenges or questions if you don't spend the time to view this first.

&feature=youtu.be

[SHRED]

1. Correct me if I'm wrong but...

Wasn't Hedges pushing a false equivalency just prior to the election much in the same way that Greenwald did?

I apologize if this is incorrect.

[ancianita]

3. Please, no apology ever needed. I protested CH's throwing antifa in with alt-righters back then --

-- however, I realize he explains the historical contexts that show these are symptoms of longstanding decisions our previous administrations have made, and not the only problem we face.

The way I look at Greenwald and Hedges, they have too different of backgrounds to see the world similarly, except in a couple of ways. Hedges' is journalism, religion and political history; Greenwald's is law, writing and his self admitted background spent in acting and thinking in oppositional defiance. To me, Hedges shows how our particular problem reflects the problems of current societies who've experienced the same thing.

Hedges gets asked very hard questions here. And he offers his book as a sharpener of our awareness about information, our leaders' political decisions' ramifications, and our vigilance for ways to transform in spite of them, rather than because of them. Greenwald doesn't bother with any of that. He confronts. He makes war. This week's r New Yorker article on Greenwald does little to change our seeing him as an asshole; it just helps us understand why.

Hedges asks hard questions back. Our political views have a narrow rightness. We have to be careful to not believe we are always right because we have gotten some things right. When we miss the historical, political decisions that force us into these corners of a political ring, as a party, we unnecessarily hobble our ability to "see" vanguards and new ways forward that might break the momentum of this nation's drift.

It can't just be one election or major investigation, though those will open up possibilities. We can't be zero sum, binary or knee-jerk oppositional out of habit, and this framing might help us to "see" better when we get disjointed, minimized and/or amplified topics in the news. Otherwise, how will our party be part of the solution?

I'm also not happy about his mentioning Hillary, but Bill tainted her.

[SHRED]

6. Thanks for the detailed analysis

Sounds like you've put a lot of thought into it.

[ancianita]

8. Did you watch it? It hasn't even been posted long enough for people to comment yet.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

2. A grim title.

I'll pass.

[ancianita]

4. Okay, but don't only attend to what validates the present mindset. CH explains why you want to pass.

In the world of fight or flight, fight allows others the time for flight -- not away, but upward.

This is about the future.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

5. Respectfully, I havent the time. Reading several blockbusters right now. I repeat....GRIM and morose

title. Kinda pisses me off, considering.

[ancianita]

7. Respectfully back, I really can't address some comment based on the title. Hear him out or don't.

He explains why you feel you don't have the time. He addresses the grimness that you feel. He offers answers for how you can get relief from that.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

9. Then i choose "dont"

have a good evening now. Its late but still the holiday.

[FreepFryer]

14. Good call. Grim, morose, and Russia-funded. (n/t)

[AJT]

10. I've read a couple of his books, which I found both informative and alarmist.

He sure seems to despise the Democratic party. He criticizes Dems much more than he does republicans. He hates the Clintons. He has some good points but dismisses Russian interference as unimportant and defends Assange as some kind of hero.

[Granny M]

11. Bookmarked for later, nt

[bbgrunt]

12. Thank you for posting this. Even though CH can bring

the despair, it is totally refreshing to hear him expose a much broader analysis of the situation than what most of us are getting in the expanded 280 character tweet universe we are being driven into.

It is totally worth the hour's investment to listen to him. I would encourage all that want a clearer picture of what is happening to find the time and help clear out the cobwebs of your mind.

[FreepFryer]

13. Here is Hedges' talk show on Russia Today, Kremlin-sponsored state TV.

Hard pass, thanks but no thanks.

Author and social critic Chris Hedges hosts a weekly interview show called ‘On Contact,’ which will air “dissident voices” currently missing from the mainstream media. Hedges interviews the black sheep of the establishment, leading discussions that can’t be heard anywhere else.

https://www.rt.com/shows/on-contact/

[ancianita]

15. It doesn't show a date. Do you know when?

[FreepFryer]

16. That's Russia Today's current Web site. The show is currently running on RT.

Here is his “on air” artist page on Russia Today.

Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and now the host of On Contact, a weekly interview series on U.S. foreign policy, economic realities and civil liberties in American society. https://www.rt.com/onair-talent/chris-hedges/

You will have to find the show times for yourself, I’m not interested in promoting Russian propaganda.

[FreepFryer]

17. Here's a lovely article where he accuses the US of a "witch hunt" for requiring RT to register...

...as a foreign agent under FARA in November 2017.

”In one of the most horrendous blows to press freedom since the anti-communist witch hunts of the 1950s, the U.S. Department of Justice has forced the news broadcaster RT America to file under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

The assault on RT America, on which I host the show “On Contact,” has nothing to do with the dissemination of Russian propaganda. It is driven by RT America’s decision to provide a platform to critics of American capitalism and imperialism, critics who lambast a system of government that can no longer be called democratic.”

https://www.truthdig.com/articles/rt-america-torched-witch-hunt-17/

Gross.