December 27, 2009

Chris Hedges: Empire of Illusion

America has very few journalists or preachers who have the courage to speak their minds and tell the truth, but in Chris Hedges we find both identities in one man, which is very encouraging to see.

Although I disagree about much of his thoughts on Michael Jackson's death, I have a lot of respect for his conclusions on our fame-obsessed consumer culture, the imperial wars, American totalitarianism, the corporate-propagandist media, and the economic crisis. Still, I believe that he doesn't go far enough in his criticisms. According to moi, Hedges has a good general grasp of the issues, but his narrative is a little off the mark. He throws out "unfettered capitalism" to label the present destructive system a bit too much, when, as we well know, capitalism has long been forsaken by the American elite for a corporate-state partnership to screw the average citizen. In the last hundred years the American economy has not been unfettered or capitalistic, but almost the reverse, it has been tied down by a criminal financial and corporate elite, who are not interested in competition, but in enriching themselves at the expense of the nation.

And I'm also upset that Hedges has not questioned the validity of the official story of 9/11, which has served as the bedrock of tyranny's master bedroom in the world's new and ugly house. 9/11 should be the bulls-eye of any anti-war movement. Going into battle against the government at this stage without raising 9/11 is like facing down a bull without a red flag. Being anti-war but refusing to ask questions about 9/11 verges on the ridiculous. And I'm afraid Chris Hedges and others in the progressive hive are doing that. Or he may be for real, because he has denounced both of the two major parties on numerous occasions, which is a clear sign that he is half-awake. And although I don't particularly like his socialist leanings, I realize that his views are obviously based in a deep sense of social justice and religious morality, something that I can understand and even appreciate. Overall, I have little complaints and much admiration, because however ridiculous he may seem, he has unbelievable guts, which is an extreme rarity in our times. And any person who tells a piece of the truth about the government, and our own failings, is doing something right.