Mar 07 2006
“War is a Force that Gives us Meaning”
GUEST: Chris Hedges, Journalism Professor at Princeton University, author of “War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning”
We spend the morning with a special edition of Uprising, hearing the words of Chris Hedges, a Lecturer at Princeton University – he is the Ferris Professor of Journalism there. In a 2003 commencement speech at
Rockford College, Illinois, Hedges denounced the US war on Iraq only to be booed off stage and forcibly escorted by security officers off of the campus, taken to his hotel room to pack his belongings, and put on a bus to leave town. Afterwords, his then employer, The New York Times, gave him the choice of staying true to his beliefs or conforming to the official story – he chose the former.
Having worked as a war correspondent for many media outlets for fifteen years, Chris Hedges has seen war, and its effects upon those who wage it, at close range. His reports from the front lines bear on the very nature of war itself, its causes, consequences, and the physical, emotional, and moral devastation it leaves in its wake. Hedges shows how war seduces not just those on the front lines, but also entire societies – corrupting politics, destroying culture, and perverting the most basic human desires. One of his latest books is entitled, “War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning.” Chris Hedges spoke recently in Southern California. The following presentation is one of a four part series recorded by Cheryll Roberts, Don Cannon, and Mansoor Sabbagh of Global Voices for Justice.
To order this talk, visit www.globalvoicesforjustice.org and or call 323.850.4464.
3 Responses to ““War is a Force that Gives us Meaning””
Prof. Hedges’ talk this morning was riveting, and moved my husband and me to astonished silence. I came to work in tears which flowed, I’m sure, for having the truth and beauty of his words go deep inside to reveal what he seems to know was in there. I could go on, but will save that. My only critique would be that his speech does not seem to take into account the probability that September 11, 2001 was our own contrivance, carefully planned and carried out to place us in a strategic position in the Middle East, all with the support of Congress and the ignorant American public could not fathom such an evil plan from a so-called “Christian” president and his minions. Prof Hedges, keep up the wonderful and poetic revelations about our true nature; Rockford was not ready for you for they will not fully understand Eros for 30 years. Thank you.
Great program! Very necessary to hear and understand where we are right now politically, and also the origins of masculine mythology: ie. the romantization of war and violence.
Outstanding program and presentation by Mr. Hedges. Little by little, the truth is emerging of the gross mandacity of our current American “leadership class”. Until the American people decide to dispense with their ilk, once and for all, the country will continue its decline and disgrace.