The rupture of social bonds and loss of community, caused by the decades-long assault on the poor and working class and the ravages of the pandemic, have resulted in a dangerous social isolation.
Oh, Eunice! The, Dear Reader...” comment was hilarious! I wish she narrated all my podcasts, books and would replace Alexa. Glad to find other audiobooks she’s narrated.
As a somewhat socially isolated person, I appreciated this article. Loneliness and alienation are public health threats physically, mentally, spiritually, politically, socially - in every way.
I could happily listen to Eunice Wong read pretty much anything- that said, this theme really resonates. There are reasons so many of us struggle with addiction and profound depression and it helps to hear sensible insights into why we are this way. Thank you.
The politicians locked everything down and continued to do so. The pandemic didn't order gyms to be locked down. The political class wanted control, along with upward transfer of wealth. It's no wonder major corporations and billionaires became more wealthy during Covid, while the working and middle classes struggled or were wrecked.
I'm appalled by the direction we humans have taken as well, although I would say those that are finding human contact via the net are at least staying in touch with fellow man. Crazies motivated by hate have been around for a long time, a lot longer than the internet and it is onto all of us to be as accessible on the net as we are/were in the real world.
At the moment when the true left appears to share many of the same concerns as the right I have developed a quick litmus test to tell me who is who in this new zoo.
I no longer listen to whether someone claims to be across Marx or Engels or A Hitler, as far as I am concerned the true litmus test for a real leftie is do they hate?
If they do tell me the world would be fine if it wasn't for those dashed . . .whatever - fill in the gap with whoever fits, I know that this person is not what I consider to be a real leftist no matter how well they articulate Marxist dialectic.
Socialism has always been about humanity, all of us not just some of us. The Western Australian Labor Government which refused to recognise the indigenous stockman's strike in the 1940's and drove entire clans off their traditional lands into the Pilbara, was no more leftist than the US unions in the 50's & 60's which made it impossible for african-americans to work in 'their' industry.
If decent humans create enough places on the net for all people to feel welcome those rightist boards & blogs will lose much of their custom because if you read a rightist board for long enough it is only a matter of time until someone on it declares hatred for some value or people you hold dear.
Yes it would be much better if we all still met in person but there is no doubt in my mind that one of the features of the Pandemic was that it drove many, many small personalised businesses out in favour of large, unfeeling & corporatised mundanity - it cannot last, humans will just seek alternative ways to interrelate.
All I can say is wow. Chris Hedges gets it. I have been waiting since he wrote the foreword to the 20th anniversary edition of Voltaire's Bastards. I hope he writes the foreword to this this year's thirtieth anniversary.
The banality of Evil is the central theme of John Ralston Saul's masterpiece.
It has been a rather mystical week in the Moezone. It is a shock for me to hear Chris talk about our banality. It is becoming ever more apparent that "FREE WILL" is highly overrated. In my world Mr Trump suffers from a pathology that shields him from empathy. The same for Putin and so many other would be autocrats.
Who in their right mind wants to run the world in 2023?
Let us discuss Voltaire's Bastards. I understand your concern but what is this thing you call evil? Do we have free choice? Could Adam not eaten of the fruit of tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Fetal alcoholism often destroys empathy but has no effect on reason. You are an Harvard theologian. Why is Noah the town drunk? Purim is a day to not know the difference between good and evil. It is the one day of the year to get falling down drunk.
Why are our myths legends and moral lesson looked upon as literature? That is what it is, just like turtles carrying the Sun on their backs. it is literature? That is what it is, just like turtles carrying the Sun on their backs.
What you are missing is an understanding that the Earl Butts globalization of agriculture hollowed our rural corn-bean big AG states and towns every bit as much as off shoring industry decimated cities. Farmers and ranchers were turned into factory workers by big AG and the "food" processing industries. We have to rebuild local food and energy autonomy, regional industries and small scale manufacturing, and quality of life and thus grassroots democracy.
Eunice Wong is a wonderful narrator of Chris Hedges work. PERFECT. I thought her little aside in this piece was great fun and was very glad I'd listened to it after reading it yesterday.
Another great writer/narrator couple are Kaitlin Johnstone and Tim Foley. Tim reads Kaitlin's brilliant work perfectly as well. Somebody already posted this example here today: "Let's Nuke The World Over Who Governs Crimea"
I wonder if Chris is aware of Caitlin's work. While Chris has become the LEADER of America, the Martin Luther King for ALL Americans and English speakers who read his work (because all but the billionaire elites have been stripped of their freedom, if not their material comfort), Caitlin is a brilliant writer, speaker, and poet we need to hear.
Chris, like MLK is always strong and measured, while Caitlin is sometimes wild and crazy. But the world needs both of these great writers and thinkers now desperately.
It struck me as peculiar that Justice Scalia The Originalist would be disqualified from interpreting the constitution in 1776.
The Quebec Act of 1774 would allow Scalia's service on the court. It was the fifth and final Intolerable Act.
Antonin Scalia chose not to be an American.
It is the choice of the GOP to be antiAmerican.
I don't know if your Democrats are any better. I don't know what America stands for. I suspect many Americans are wondering the same thing.
Jefferson wrote The American Bible because he knew how much blood was spilled by The King Jame's Version. Jefferson answered Milton's query. Jefferson said it was better to serve in heaven and Jefferson was a Deist and heaven and hell are only here on earth.
America was supposed the Pie in the Sky before you die.
Well read Eunice. Well written as usual Chris. Happy New Year to you both
https://caitlinjohnstone.substack.com/p/lets-nuke-the-world-over-who-governs
Let's Nuke The World Over Who Governs Crimea -- Caitlin Johnstone Jan. 22, 2023
Oh, Eunice! The, Dear Reader...” comment was hilarious! I wish she narrated all my podcasts, books and would replace Alexa. Glad to find other audiobooks she’s narrated.
As a somewhat socially isolated person, I appreciated this article. Loneliness and alienation are public health threats physically, mentally, spiritually, politically, socially - in every way.
When in doubt, reach out!
I could happily listen to Eunice Wong read pretty much anything- that said, this theme really resonates. There are reasons so many of us struggle with addiction and profound depression and it helps to hear sensible insights into why we are this way. Thank you.
The politicians locked everything down and continued to do so. The pandemic didn't order gyms to be locked down. The political class wanted control, along with upward transfer of wealth. It's no wonder major corporations and billionaires became more wealthy during Covid, while the working and middle classes struggled or were wrecked.
I'm appalled by the direction we humans have taken as well, although I would say those that are finding human contact via the net are at least staying in touch with fellow man. Crazies motivated by hate have been around for a long time, a lot longer than the internet and it is onto all of us to be as accessible on the net as we are/were in the real world.
At the moment when the true left appears to share many of the same concerns as the right I have developed a quick litmus test to tell me who is who in this new zoo.
I no longer listen to whether someone claims to be across Marx or Engels or A Hitler, as far as I am concerned the true litmus test for a real leftie is do they hate?
If they do tell me the world would be fine if it wasn't for those dashed . . .whatever - fill in the gap with whoever fits, I know that this person is not what I consider to be a real leftist no matter how well they articulate Marxist dialectic.
Socialism has always been about humanity, all of us not just some of us. The Western Australian Labor Government which refused to recognise the indigenous stockman's strike in the 1940's and drove entire clans off their traditional lands into the Pilbara, was no more leftist than the US unions in the 50's & 60's which made it impossible for african-americans to work in 'their' industry.
If decent humans create enough places on the net for all people to feel welcome those rightist boards & blogs will lose much of their custom because if you read a rightist board for long enough it is only a matter of time until someone on it declares hatred for some value or people you hold dear.
Yes it would be much better if we all still met in person but there is no doubt in my mind that one of the features of the Pandemic was that it drove many, many small personalised businesses out in favour of large, unfeeling & corporatised mundanity - it cannot last, humans will just seek alternative ways to interrelate.
All I can say is wow. Chris Hedges gets it. I have been waiting since he wrote the foreword to the 20th anniversary edition of Voltaire's Bastards. I hope he writes the foreword to this this year's thirtieth anniversary.
The banality of Evil is the central theme of John Ralston Saul's masterpiece.
This is well written and poignant.
"Social isolation is the lifeblood of totalitarian movements."
And yet the same people most harmed by it seem to be the same people inviting more of it with their political choices. What gives?
Enjoyed Eunice’s inside asides. ❤️
It has been a rather mystical week in the Moezone. It is a shock for me to hear Chris talk about our banality. It is becoming ever more apparent that "FREE WILL" is highly overrated. In my world Mr Trump suffers from a pathology that shields him from empathy. The same for Putin and so many other would be autocrats.
Who in their right mind wants to run the world in 2023?
It would take me less than a second to go mad.
Absolutely wonderful.
Let us discuss Voltaire's Bastards. I understand your concern but what is this thing you call evil? Do we have free choice? Could Adam not eaten of the fruit of tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Fetal alcoholism often destroys empathy but has no effect on reason. You are an Harvard theologian. Why is Noah the town drunk? Purim is a day to not know the difference between good and evil. It is the one day of the year to get falling down drunk.
Why are our myths legends and moral lesson looked upon as literature? That is what it is, just like turtles carrying the Sun on their backs. it is literature? That is what it is, just like turtles carrying the Sun on their backs.
What you are missing is an understanding that the Earl Butts globalization of agriculture hollowed our rural corn-bean big AG states and towns every bit as much as off shoring industry decimated cities. Farmers and ranchers were turned into factory workers by big AG and the "food" processing industries. We have to rebuild local food and energy autonomy, regional industries and small scale manufacturing, and quality of life and thus grassroots democracy.
Eunice Wong is a wonderful narrator of Chris Hedges work. PERFECT. I thought her little aside in this piece was great fun and was very glad I'd listened to it after reading it yesterday.
Another great writer/narrator couple are Kaitlin Johnstone and Tim Foley. Tim reads Kaitlin's brilliant work perfectly as well. Somebody already posted this example here today: "Let's Nuke The World Over Who Governs Crimea"
https://caitlinjohnstone.substack.com/p/lets-nuke-the-world-over-who-governs
I wonder if Chris is aware of Caitlin's work. While Chris has become the LEADER of America, the Martin Luther King for ALL Americans and English speakers who read his work (because all but the billionaire elites have been stripped of their freedom, if not their material comfort), Caitlin is a brilliant writer, speaker, and poet we need to hear.
Chris, like MLK is always strong and measured, while Caitlin is sometimes wild and crazy. But the world needs both of these great writers and thinkers now desperately.
Today I was summoned to the Act of Toleration of 1689. When you don't travel in straight lines you end up in curious places.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Toleration-Act-Great-Britain-1689
It struck me as peculiar that Justice Scalia The Originalist would be disqualified from interpreting the constitution in 1776.
The Quebec Act of 1774 would allow Scalia's service on the court. It was the fifth and final Intolerable Act.
Antonin Scalia chose not to be an American.
It is the choice of the GOP to be antiAmerican.
I don't know if your Democrats are any better. I don't know what America stands for. I suspect many Americans are wondering the same thing.
Jefferson wrote The American Bible because he knew how much blood was spilled by The King Jame's Version. Jefferson answered Milton's query. Jefferson said it was better to serve in heaven and Jefferson was a Deist and heaven and hell are only here on earth.
America was supposed the Pie in the Sky before you die.