"To Kill a People" was a talk I gave at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) at an event organized by the Green Party vice presidential nominee, Butch Ware, titled "End of Empire."
Deeply moved by the ways in which you taught us that if we do nothing , we become the crucifiers, if we don’t face and assume the costs of peacemaking - that are no less than the costs of war - we doom ourselves as actors and participants in radical evil. To act from truth and justice and care at whatever the cost is the soulful imperative. What do I stand for? Comfort? Or taking risks for what most matters? Will I choose the way of the narrow gate? Let go of outcome and choose what I am most made of? Because that is what I truly love the most and choose to serve? Am I not that which is the sum of what I choose? The way of soul blighting or soul deepening? Give me the strength and courage to be true.
Fran, I agree with you, yet I think it’s incredibly easy to move in and out of metaphorical slumber, especially in this neoliberal world. How far are most of us truly willing to go to be disruptors of the many oppressive systems in place? This is what I wrestle with on a daily basis.
When I was 16 I spent the summer reading Darwin's Origin of Species and a whole lot about our closest living relatives, the chimps, who are very territorial, often violent toward other groups of chimps, and even within their own groups. I kind of hung on to this perspective as the source of human behavior, and see people like Cheney, or Netanyahu as alpha chimps on steroids, as are many others, and history really bears that out. Of course I believe that we have evolved over time, but the behavior of some remind us who our true ancestors were. During our Middle Eastern wars I was as active as I could be in the anti-war movement, and there were many that were, including people in other countries. What happened? Nothing. When Obama got in many thought he was a die hard liberal that would end the Bush/Cheney wars. No, he was no liberal, and continued their agenda. The voices against our Middle Eastern wars became very silent in the US during his tenure and the anti-war movement died rather quickly. Well, to sum up, we know that our outrage is too quickly silenced, squashed, but I don't believe in giving up.
I would say that we aren't willing to go very far at all. In the 1980s I told my friends that we needed a General Strike and they were all too scared to do it. They were all whining shitlibs.
If we can' reason and vote ourselves into a more equitable future, we're going to have to just shut it all down. General Nationwide Strike is what we have left.
Thank you Chris for posting this. To me a real person of faith would not support Israel. I am sickened by these evangelical churches that make excuses for what Israel does. One Protestant church I drive by on occasion, has several miniature size Israeli flags on the front lawn of the church. It’s just despicable. I’m also sickened by this government siding with a genocidal maniac ethno state that acts with impunity and continues to murder, torture, rape and maim a people who just want to live in dignity, peace and freedom and btw had nothing whatsoever to do with the Holocaust in Europe during WW2. Why do the Palestinians have to pay for what the Nazis did to Jewish people during WW2?! 😢☮️🇵🇸
The Pope for one, who called for an international investigation into the allegations that a genocide was being implemented in Gaza, Good for him!!!!!!!!!!!! He use to say they were immoral, or Israel's response was disproportionate. Now he used the word genocide. Once again, good for him! Although I am inclined to agree that Christians are too silent on this issue, which I do find soulless. Huckabee, an evangelical is no Christian in my book, just crazy as hell. I don't get it either.
Thank you so much, Chris, for your unwavering deep caring and commitment to the people of Gaza/Palestine, Lebanon and for continuing to forcefully speak out when there is almost no real truth, let alone information, on the massacres, atrocities and starvation in the MSM that they are experiencing every single day. According to news from Al Jazeera and numerous sites online, there has been no water or food at all getting in or through the Israeli blockades for over a month. And little before that. Unimaginable terror and suffering! I receive countless requests from so many good organizations asking for donations towards providing food, water, tents, the most basic necessities of life. Do you or anyone on this site know which organizations to donate to that are the most able to in any way break through and get aid and supplies into Gaza?
Thank you Mr Hedges for another moving piece. That we still fund this barbarism says everything about the U S government. The UN is toothless. I proudly voted Jill Stein again. Sadly, Bernie Sanders tries to have it both ways almost all issues. He whines about the butchering, but when pressed, goes along with it. I swear if his last legislation to ban weapons to Israel had a change of passing, he would withdraw it. There are no real progressives in congress that I can see. A major reset is needed.
I don't have the mental talent to write with such depth like Mr Hedges. I struggle writing anything in a serious tone.. I try to call out the horror/injustice/hypocrisy with satire or sarcasm. These news snippets are from before the 2024 election, but I think they are still fresh (although.....Kamala seems to have vanished from the media...wt?)
From the very first moment of the televised Vice-Presidential debate, Tim Walz, adorned with 13 American Flag lapel pins, knew he had lost the narrative, when J D Vance stepped onto the stage, sporting 50 American Flag lapel pins, plus an Israeli Star lapel pin.
When later questioned about the "Pin-Gate" crisis, Governor Walz stated, "Golly, I had no idea someone could have access to so many American Flag lapel pins. And dummy me, I never thought of wearing an Israeli Star pin." Mr. Walz then suddenly smacks himself on the forehead with his right palm and exclaims, " I mean...shit!......I have a desk drawer full of those damned stars in my office back home in Minnesota."
Appearing before a large contingency of Muslim Americans in Dearborn Michigan, Kamala promises them an equal role in the killing of Arabs in the future Harris Administration.
The below was composed after the election........( it was my satire on a piece "Top 10 reasons to embrace the election results" by Stephen Eisenman, published in Counterpunch. Mine was not published)
Top 10 Changes Coming to America
1.) China happily ramps up production of pussy hats and MAGA caps to meet America's ever expanding needs.
2.) Instead of a Walz, we get a Waltz. Even though 20 years have passed, the T party is still in your face.
3.) Americans will now have full access to the 75% federally subsidized, "Big Mac Industrial Food Complex", crushing healthy organic foods out of existence.
4.) The Biden pro-Israel dicks are out ---- The Trump pro-Israel pricks are in.
5.) RFK jr. to publish his memoirs, "Mein Cough".
6.) Trump expected to relocate the "Space Command Headquarters" deep underwater in the Mariana Trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean. Military advisors believe that Klingons and Martians would never think to look there.
7.) After America declares war on China, China stops manufacturing all of our shit. Frantic, America runs in circles, trying to figure out how to "make American shit again". Ironically, the first product to be manufactured in the U S are inconsequential "MASA" caps.
8.) People will continue to enjoy working in CAFO's, slaughter houses, fruit picking operations, and extreme heat vegetable field work....but with a whiter shade of pale.
9.) Democrats are already floating names of viable democratic candidates for the 2028 presidency. Three billionaires and one 87 year old top the list.
10.) Black and brown pantsuits are now in vogue. No longer seen are the Hillary yellows or Kamala purples. Greatly moved by this trend, Donald Trump jr., an accomplished closet composer, pens a jazzy country rock hit song, "Black, Brown and Orange".
Chris Hedges barely kept his composure. Considering the gravity and tragedy of his words it was remarkable he made it to the end. What a courageous man.
A remarkable piece of journalism, a great work on a sore historical subject. What would you suggest to do with our incoming group of leaders; what noise is appropriate? Would writing letters to Congress, etc.? Move them off the volume dial?
Brilliant. Henry Kissinger said, ''He who gives into the mood of the moment shall live with profound regret''. Because President Biden is frozen with fear of Netanyahu and AIPAC, after 1/20/25, when he is out of office, he will realize that he had the power to make peace that would have given the Palestinians in Gaza no reason to carry out the prison break of Oct. 7th. 2023, but it will be too late. And he and us who put him power will live with profound regret.
I have contacted repeatably my legislators. I have received in response, when there is a response, word salads of justification. I cannot believe these public servants, these “representatives” of somebody not clearly defined, that these politicians, do not know and understand their role in this layered criminality. The crime of genocide, the crime of bribery, the refutation and neglect of their constituency, their sworn obligations abandoned. There must be an uprising to DEMAND the complete reform of our Congress, the executive branch, and the SCOTUS. This must include the destruction, through intense taxation, of the super-wealthy class. They are absolute and dedicated enemies of democracy. Progressives must join with the Working Class and their Unions to overthrow this oligarchic, US imperial, incredibly dangerous and stupid, MESS! Progressives need to learn how to connect and support working people and everyone that’s struggling to survive. THEY ARE THE PROGRESSIVE CONSTITUENCY!
What you really need to know if you’re an American today is that your Congress is bickering over gender identity bathrooms while the deteriorating empire falls down upon the heads of its people.
Yossi Eeilin former Israeli Justice Minister of Israel challenges the decisions of the ICC and relies on Israel's forever claim of victim-hood to justify every horror it has inflicted on the Palestinians, including it's genocide in Gaza.
Thank you once again for continuing to provide an accurate and concise appraisal of what is happening in Gaza. It is truly a tragedy that this ever had to be written. Unfortunately, our Capitalist economy "selects" for the worst human attributes. There are many people of good will that are marginalized by a system that is far from a democracy and channels most energies the people have into endeavors which for the most part could be satisfying to the soul, but really do not lead to anything---sort of like a runaway truck lane to dissipate energy.
Deeply moved by the ways in which you taught us that if we do nothing , we become the crucifiers, if we don’t face and assume the costs of peacemaking - that are no less than the costs of war - we doom ourselves as actors and participants in radical evil. To act from truth and justice and care at whatever the cost is the soulful imperative. What do I stand for? Comfort? Or taking risks for what most matters? Will I choose the way of the narrow gate? Let go of outcome and choose what I am most made of? Because that is what I truly love the most and choose to serve? Am I not that which is the sum of what I choose? The way of soul blighting or soul deepening? Give me the strength and courage to be true.
Mr. Hedges, you have a diamond mind and heart. Thank you for your unswerving commitment to rouse us from our comfortable, self-serving slumber.
Sorry Karen, but the ones listening to Hedges aren't the one's who are sleeping.
Fran, I agree with you, yet I think it’s incredibly easy to move in and out of metaphorical slumber, especially in this neoliberal world. How far are most of us truly willing to go to be disruptors of the many oppressive systems in place? This is what I wrestle with on a daily basis.
When I was 16 I spent the summer reading Darwin's Origin of Species and a whole lot about our closest living relatives, the chimps, who are very territorial, often violent toward other groups of chimps, and even within their own groups. I kind of hung on to this perspective as the source of human behavior, and see people like Cheney, or Netanyahu as alpha chimps on steroids, as are many others, and history really bears that out. Of course I believe that we have evolved over time, but the behavior of some remind us who our true ancestors were. During our Middle Eastern wars I was as active as I could be in the anti-war movement, and there were many that were, including people in other countries. What happened? Nothing. When Obama got in many thought he was a die hard liberal that would end the Bush/Cheney wars. No, he was no liberal, and continued their agenda. The voices against our Middle Eastern wars became very silent in the US during his tenure and the anti-war movement died rather quickly. Well, to sum up, we know that our outrage is too quickly silenced, squashed, but I don't believe in giving up.
I would say that we aren't willing to go very far at all. In the 1980s I told my friends that we needed a General Strike and they were all too scared to do it. They were all whining shitlibs.
If we can' reason and vote ourselves into a more equitable future, we're going to have to just shut it all down. General Nationwide Strike is what we have left.
Thank you Chris for posting this. To me a real person of faith would not support Israel. I am sickened by these evangelical churches that make excuses for what Israel does. One Protestant church I drive by on occasion, has several miniature size Israeli flags on the front lawn of the church. It’s just despicable. I’m also sickened by this government siding with a genocidal maniac ethno state that acts with impunity and continues to murder, torture, rape and maim a people who just want to live in dignity, peace and freedom and btw had nothing whatsoever to do with the Holocaust in Europe during WW2. Why do the Palestinians have to pay for what the Nazis did to Jewish people during WW2?! 😢☮️🇵🇸
thanks Chris. yeah. there are no more powerful words than yours.
and still, nothing is done.
I'm losing all faith in humanity and my country.
I'm happy to be a Christian man because Christian values matter to me.
so I'm appalled by the behavior of churches who support Israel
It's a shy stupid indifference dusted with a thick layer of hate
Not all Christian faiths send the same message.
yeah where
Prosperty Jesus
seeks Opportunities
the Regular Jesus cannot
find his Soul in their churches.
The Pope for one, who called for an international investigation into the allegations that a genocide was being implemented in Gaza, Good for him!!!!!!!!!!!! He use to say they were immoral, or Israel's response was disproportionate. Now he used the word genocide. Once again, good for him! Although I am inclined to agree that Christians are too silent on this issue, which I do find soulless. Huckabee, an evangelical is no Christian in my book, just crazy as hell. I don't get it either.
Thank you so much, Chris, for your unwavering deep caring and commitment to the people of Gaza/Palestine, Lebanon and for continuing to forcefully speak out when there is almost no real truth, let alone information, on the massacres, atrocities and starvation in the MSM that they are experiencing every single day. According to news from Al Jazeera and numerous sites online, there has been no water or food at all getting in or through the Israeli blockades for over a month. And little before that. Unimaginable terror and suffering! I receive countless requests from so many good organizations asking for donations towards providing food, water, tents, the most basic necessities of life. Do you or anyone on this site know which organizations to donate to that are the most able to in any way break through and get aid and supplies into Gaza?
Thank you Mr Hedges for another moving piece. That we still fund this barbarism says everything about the U S government. The UN is toothless. I proudly voted Jill Stein again. Sadly, Bernie Sanders tries to have it both ways almost all issues. He whines about the butchering, but when pressed, goes along with it. I swear if his last legislation to ban weapons to Israel had a change of passing, he would withdraw it. There are no real progressives in congress that I can see. A major reset is needed.
I don't have the mental talent to write with such depth like Mr Hedges. I struggle writing anything in a serious tone.. I try to call out the horror/injustice/hypocrisy with satire or sarcasm. These news snippets are from before the 2024 election, but I think they are still fresh (although.....Kamala seems to have vanished from the media...wt?)
From the very first moment of the televised Vice-Presidential debate, Tim Walz, adorned with 13 American Flag lapel pins, knew he had lost the narrative, when J D Vance stepped onto the stage, sporting 50 American Flag lapel pins, plus an Israeli Star lapel pin.
When later questioned about the "Pin-Gate" crisis, Governor Walz stated, "Golly, I had no idea someone could have access to so many American Flag lapel pins. And dummy me, I never thought of wearing an Israeli Star pin." Mr. Walz then suddenly smacks himself on the forehead with his right palm and exclaims, " I mean...shit!......I have a desk drawer full of those damned stars in my office back home in Minnesota."
Appearing before a large contingency of Muslim Americans in Dearborn Michigan, Kamala promises them an equal role in the killing of Arabs in the future Harris Administration.
The below was composed after the election........( it was my satire on a piece "Top 10 reasons to embrace the election results" by Stephen Eisenman, published in Counterpunch. Mine was not published)
Top 10 Changes Coming to America
1.) China happily ramps up production of pussy hats and MAGA caps to meet America's ever expanding needs.
2.) Instead of a Walz, we get a Waltz. Even though 20 years have passed, the T party is still in your face.
3.) Americans will now have full access to the 75% federally subsidized, "Big Mac Industrial Food Complex", crushing healthy organic foods out of existence.
4.) The Biden pro-Israel dicks are out ---- The Trump pro-Israel pricks are in.
5.) RFK jr. to publish his memoirs, "Mein Cough".
6.) Trump expected to relocate the "Space Command Headquarters" deep underwater in the Mariana Trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean. Military advisors believe that Klingons and Martians would never think to look there.
7.) After America declares war on China, China stops manufacturing all of our shit. Frantic, America runs in circles, trying to figure out how to "make American shit again". Ironically, the first product to be manufactured in the U S are inconsequential "MASA" caps.
8.) People will continue to enjoy working in CAFO's, slaughter houses, fruit picking operations, and extreme heat vegetable field work....but with a whiter shade of pale.
9.) Democrats are already floating names of viable democratic candidates for the 2028 presidency. Three billionaires and one 87 year old top the list.
10.) Black and brown pantsuits are now in vogue. No longer seen are the Hillary yellows or Kamala purples. Greatly moved by this trend, Donald Trump jr., an accomplished closet composer, pens a jazzy country rock hit song, "Black, Brown and Orange".
Chris Hedges barely kept his composure. Considering the gravity and tragedy of his words it was remarkable he made it to the end. What a courageous man.
A remarkable piece of journalism, a great work on a sore historical subject. What would you suggest to do with our incoming group of leaders; what noise is appropriate? Would writing letters to Congress, etc.? Move them off the volume dial?
Brilliant. Henry Kissinger said, ''He who gives into the mood of the moment shall live with profound regret''. Because President Biden is frozen with fear of Netanyahu and AIPAC, after 1/20/25, when he is out of office, he will realize that he had the power to make peace that would have given the Palestinians in Gaza no reason to carry out the prison break of Oct. 7th. 2023, but it will be too late. And he and us who put him power will live with profound regret.
We hippies and other counter-culture people were saying all of this back in the 1960s.
I have contacted repeatably my legislators. I have received in response, when there is a response, word salads of justification. I cannot believe these public servants, these “representatives” of somebody not clearly defined, that these politicians, do not know and understand their role in this layered criminality. The crime of genocide, the crime of bribery, the refutation and neglect of their constituency, their sworn obligations abandoned. There must be an uprising to DEMAND the complete reform of our Congress, the executive branch, and the SCOTUS. This must include the destruction, through intense taxation, of the super-wealthy class. They are absolute and dedicated enemies of democracy. Progressives must join with the Working Class and their Unions to overthrow this oligarchic, US imperial, incredibly dangerous and stupid, MESS! Progressives need to learn how to connect and support working people and everyone that’s struggling to survive. THEY ARE THE PROGRESSIVE CONSTITUENCY!
What you really need to know if you’re an American today is that your Congress is bickering over gender identity bathrooms while the deteriorating empire falls down upon the heads of its people.
https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/11/21/netanyahu-gallant-wanted-for-arrest-by-international-criminal-court
Yossi Eeilin former Israeli Justice Minister of Israel challenges the decisions of the ICC and relies on Israel's forever claim of victim-hood to justify every horror it has inflicted on the Palestinians, including it's genocide in Gaza.
Thank you once again for continuing to provide an accurate and concise appraisal of what is happening in Gaza. It is truly a tragedy that this ever had to be written. Unfortunately, our Capitalist economy "selects" for the worst human attributes. There are many people of good will that are marginalized by a system that is far from a democracy and channels most energies the people have into endeavors which for the most part could be satisfying to the soul, but really do not lead to anything---sort of like a runaway truck lane to dissipate energy.
Absolutely brilliant speech full of passion & truth. You sir are the real deal. Thank you
a wee typo Chris
"— 2,400 people have been killed and
over 1.2 Lebanese have been displaced —'
feel free to delete
Very powerful. Thank you Chris