I delivered this sermon at the St. James Church of Culture on Aug. 20, 2023 to celebrate Julian Assange and his groundbreaking work to reveal the truth about the powers of the world in their pursuit of maintaining and expanding their brutal global hegemony.
Julian is going home with time served plea deal.. he can sit on a beach with his beautiful family and let sun kiss his face after a dozen years in captivity five in a dungeon.. free at last!! <3
This was a beautiful sermon and so typical of the many sermons and speeches you have given over the years. They all have been inspirational for me.
It has just been announced that Hulian has accepted a plea deal and with approval of a federal judge, will be free to return to his family and Australia.
This must be joyous news as there can be little doubt that Julian would have perished in the U.S. prison system.
For you and all those who worked and spoke on his behalf over these long years, many congratulations. I believe these efforts have made the difference in this deal finally being offered. It is not optimal as it would have if the U.S. had admitted its grievous pursuit of Julian, was illegal and ill advised, but he will be safe and hopefully return to good health.
I’m sure it’s a long shot, but I think a serious campaign for a Nobel Peace Prize would be a lovely effort. Sort of to make up for Kissinger and Obama.
I read somewhere that because Julian is pleading guilty, he will be unable to sue the government for the cruel and unnecessary punishment they inflicted on him, so the Nobel Prize might be the best
After the sermon, finding out that Julian was out of prison, and watching him actually board the plane created an emotional dissonance that is impossible for me to put into words. I am guardedly optimistic that this horror is finally over for him and his family. The judge in the Marianas (whose jurisdiction, apparently agreed upon, is, one hopes, the last bizarre factotum in this awful saga) still has to approve the plea agreement and give it his or her judicial imprimatur. When that occurs, and when Julian arrives safely in Australia, perhaps we can all fully exhale.
However, the takeaway from Chris Hedges’ spellbinding sermon is, for me, pretty darned bleak. When journalism that actually NEEDS the protection of the USA’s clearly vitiated First Amendment protection requires the divine madness of a prophet who is nearly martyred after more than a decade of torture, it really cannot be done any longer by mere mortals. By definition. Julian is not a mere mortal. Neither is Chris Hedges. But prophets like these are not easy to find or to emulate, to put it mildly. I looked inside myself during that sermon and did not find hope’s second beautiful daughter- courage- in an amount sufficient to the needs of the present. I wish it was otherwise. But it is a comfort that it is not otherwise, just as Chris said it is.
Thank you Mr Hedges for your role in exposing the railroading of Assange and his work ...
But now that his release is certain, please tell us if you EVER intend to "return to America" to expose the accelerating downward slide of the U.S. working class? ...
My records indicate that you've now posted 124 pieces here since the OCT 7 attacks, with only five (5) serious pieces focusing on the real problems facing the U.S. working class - that's "YOUR working class", Mr Hedges ...
Certainly you know that the unemployed and divorced mother of four children in Camden NJ never gives a thought to the plight of Assange ... so what do you intend to do? ...
Julian is going home with time served plea deal.. he can sit on a beach with his beautiful family and let sun kiss his face after a dozen years in captivity five in a dungeon.. free at last!! <3
This was a beautiful sermon and so typical of the many sermons and speeches you have given over the years. They all have been inspirational for me.
It has just been announced that Hulian has accepted a plea deal and with approval of a federal judge, will be free to return to his family and Australia.
This must be joyous news as there can be little doubt that Julian would have perished in the U.S. prison system.
For you and all those who worked and spoke on his behalf over these long years, many congratulations. I believe these efforts have made the difference in this deal finally being offered. It is not optimal as it would have if the U.S. had admitted its grievous pursuit of Julian, was illegal and ill advised, but he will be safe and hopefully return to good health.
In admiration.
Wayne McRoberts
Julian is free!
I’m sure it’s a long shot, but I think a serious campaign for a Nobel Peace Prize would be a lovely effort. Sort of to make up for Kissinger and Obama.
I read somewhere that because Julian is pleading guilty, he will be unable to sue the government for the cruel and unnecessary punishment they inflicted on him, so the Nobel Prize might be the best
After the sermon, finding out that Julian was out of prison, and watching him actually board the plane created an emotional dissonance that is impossible for me to put into words. I am guardedly optimistic that this horror is finally over for him and his family. The judge in the Marianas (whose jurisdiction, apparently agreed upon, is, one hopes, the last bizarre factotum in this awful saga) still has to approve the plea agreement and give it his or her judicial imprimatur. When that occurs, and when Julian arrives safely in Australia, perhaps we can all fully exhale.
However, the takeaway from Chris Hedges’ spellbinding sermon is, for me, pretty darned bleak. When journalism that actually NEEDS the protection of the USA’s clearly vitiated First Amendment protection requires the divine madness of a prophet who is nearly martyred after more than a decade of torture, it really cannot be done any longer by mere mortals. By definition. Julian is not a mere mortal. Neither is Chris Hedges. But prophets like these are not easy to find or to emulate, to put it mildly. I looked inside myself during that sermon and did not find hope’s second beautiful daughter- courage- in an amount sufficient to the needs of the present. I wish it was otherwise. But it is a comfort that it is not otherwise, just as Chris said it is.
Thank you. The HORROR on innocent and heroic Julian may be ending !!
Chris,
Would it be okay with you to show this sermon at my church for the fellowship.
Yes. Certainly.
Thank you. Would you be okay with me using Wikipedia to introduce you or would you prefer to send me your own? Carla
It was Chris Hedges and others like Chris that free Julian. Thanks Chris:)
From your mouth, to God's ears...
Thanks, Chris Hedges, for this. Thankful for Julian's ministry for mankind.
Thank you Mr Hedges for your role in exposing the railroading of Assange and his work ...
But now that his release is certain, please tell us if you EVER intend to "return to America" to expose the accelerating downward slide of the U.S. working class? ...
My records indicate that you've now posted 124 pieces here since the OCT 7 attacks, with only five (5) serious pieces focusing on the real problems facing the U.S. working class - that's "YOUR working class", Mr Hedges ...
Certainly you know that the unemployed and divorced mother of four children in Camden NJ never gives a thought to the plight of Assange ... so what do you intend to do? ...
If they bring on nuclear war the working class won’t fare so well. Endless wars have to end…