Identity politics and cancel culture w/Norm Finkelstein | The Chris Hedges Report

The contemporary culture war over the role of racism, patriarchy, and other questions of oppression and identity in American society and history has given rise to a political outlook some critics describe as "woke culture" or "identity politics." But can the new identity politics succeed in achieving a vision of a more just world without class politics, or a radical redistributive agenda? Norm Finkelstein joins The Chris Hedges Report to discuss his new book, I'll Burn That Bridge When I Get to It! Heretical Thoughts on Identity Politics, Cancel Culture, and Academic Freedom.
Studio Production: David Hebden, Adam Coley, Cameron Granadino
Post-Production: Adam Coley
Opening sequence created by: Cameron Granadino
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[@schutzi2282]

Dr Finkelstein is the rarest of intellectuals: brave and uncorrupt.

[@anaibarangan4908]

He intellectually tackles to the point of making others uncomfortable, but there's nothing wrong with that. Can understand that because of what kind of man, he holds his Jewishness, to the highest possible standards and aspirations.

[@anaibarangan4908]

There's the man, and separately, his Jewishness, and his high intellect and conscience guides his life. Very Christlike. Let's put it this way, not Jewish anymore, after death. I hope can see that.

[@vanillaketamine6060]

@@chadabercrombie6860 It's ironic for someone who seems incapable of communicating even in such short form to make a claim about intellectual credibility.

[@Scoring57]

@@anaibarangan4908 Yet tells others they can't prioritize their identities in the same way. Very weird

[@TheParadox_]

Hiding behind meaningless terms like “woke culture” is not bravery.

[@kinky_Z]

Exactly how one must "interview" Dr. Finkelstein - wind him up, sit back, and let him talk. Bravo Mr. Hedges! I could listen to Norman for hours and hours.

[@o0xst]

Well then do it! I certainly do.

[@wordimobi5765]

Every time I hear REAL anti-Jewish racism, I think of Norman Finkelstein, and I do what i can to counter it. I have supported Palestinians all my adult life. I salute all you have done sir.

[@lydiagerson9802]

Chris should set up a series of interviews with Finkelstein. We especially need this man's insights at this time. He's been martyred, not as badly as Assange, for sure, but he was robbed of his rightful position at DePaul university.

[@Tech-Corner2023]

they made sure he could get no other academic position worldwide after that!

[@truthbearer7891]

This is the best segment of all-time and that's a pretty high bar. It's very revealing that even the great Frederick Douglass was a sellout at the end of his life. As a black man, I applaud Chris Hedges and Norm Finkelstein for being men who are brave enough to tackle these subjects without the fear of being falsely labeled right wing bigots. You all know that those of us who aren't completely ignorant or brainwashed see your good faith critiques for what they are. We make a complete distinction between your voices and those who use "woke" as a pejorative to deny that institutional racism exists in any form. The bad faith weaponization of race is going to have to be called out by both black and white progressives without fears of mischaracterization. Because reaching a critical mass of people with this message is our only hope in disarming the weaponization of identity as a cloak for domestic and global destruction.

[@dopaminey9946]

In my microcosm workplace, years ago, I learned that people accepted their position as inevitable. But there were certain actions supported by the "ruling class" of the work place that at least would move you into.better positions, whether a better position, or treatment like entitlements. But another realization was workers hated by the rulers guided one to also reject them. Well, inevitability of authoritarian societies start at work. Those are the people we respect and mimic.

[@publicdomain1103]

Well stated and to the point 👉

[@mikenuzzo3323]

Frediceric Douglass was half white and 2 out of 3 of his wife's were White

[@WC61]

Well said!

[@gen21617]

​​​@@dopaminey9946I hear what you are saying and I know of what you speak. My observation is that the 'rulers', or in-crowd as I like to call them, rely on everyone being afraid of becoming their next victim. No matter how much effort you put into trying to convince the fearful that they wouldn't become victims if we all stood together, they will always aspire to becoming part of the in-crowd and never stand with anyone being victimised. They come up with all manner of labels to undermine those who oppose them. Most cruelly, they label their strengths misdemeanors.

[@jcjcviews]

"I'll Burn That😉😉 Bridge When I Get to It." Hilarious!

[@carpediem44]

Dr. DuBois could have immigrated to the Soviet Union. Instead, he immigrated to and died in Ghana. There, he did gravitate to and promote socialism and was a dear friend of socialist, pan-Africanist, and Ghanian President Kwame Nkrumah.

[@heldinahtmlhell]

Yes, that choice says everything about his values and loyalties. Anyone who chooses their "identity" over material and class-based concerns is not of the left. They're of themselves. And he wasn't a "Dr". He was not an MD, he was a "social scientist". And his insistence on being called a Doctor says everything about his character.

[@philliplouie7759]

I was hoping Finkelstein would appear on this program. Great interview.

[@raymondbedborough8522]

Norm is fierce in his work. He's a hero

[@ryancraig9352]

😂

[@likuidmethod]

This why the term intersectionality is so poignant but only to the extent that it includes fighting the elitist powers structures and institutions that oppress the rest of the general working class population

[@Gettothegone]

Identity politics and intersectionality are products of post modernism and holds very little if any water in the real world.

[@chrisrageNJ]

Intersectionality is just the oppression Olympics, aka a race to the bottom. Weaponized victimhood at best, subversion to a functional society, at worst

[@BrendanZ-cd4wr]

Please define 'intersectionality' in one sentence.

[@heldinahtmlhell]

@@BrendanZ-cd4wr It's woke-speak for "divide and conquer".

[@georgeleddy483]

This has been a fantastically salubrious discussion for me. I have been on the outs with all of my colleagues in higher education for resisting their focus on gender, race, and identity. I am also a gay man who has been out and active since 1979. I first wrestled at the emergence of the postmodern takeover of political thought when Q was added to LGBT. Q means queer. We fought against being named queer for decades, but now those who think that LGBT is too confining, have added that and an endless number of letters to being in a sexual minority. In the process, they destroyed the gay movement and created a postmodern movement of gender fluidity, and non-binary identification. There are no laws against being non-binary, or being queer, or the rest of the alphabet soup. Laws against sexual minorities are based on what we do physically. But that was not good enough for the postmodernists who added the so-called progressive chevron to the very beautiful rainbow flag designed by my dear friend Gilbert Baker. The rainbow flag was a Universalist image that embodied all of the basic elements of being human. None of them were designed to be exclusive, or based on identitarian politics. But here we are. They ruined Gilbert‘s flag, and trashed progressive politics down the toilet. It is not surprising that those who benefit the most from this turn are tenured professors and universities writing books on gender fluidity and getting attention for novel takes common to us all. Their angle is language. And that is the point. Once they debunked, or got rid of materialist theories of social change, the academics would have us embrace identity and culture as starting points for radical change. It has done the exact opposite. It has engendered and reactionary movement that is attacking the most vulnerable people in society, while the tenured professors at UC Berkeley do not have to pay the price. I am also Latino. But when the postmodernists decided that Latinx is a better word, I realized I no longer belong in their club. Even though Latinx is an affront and even insulting to about 67% of Latinos in the United States, a professional managerial class that runs nonprofits and the liberal media and publications continue to embrace it nonetheless. Even the New Yorker Loves the word. Identity politics sucks.

[@Jorenanthony]

Sister brother, thank you for saying so. I have witnessed this steady takeover, basically since the very day (30 years ago) I learned about these distinctions. I was a college student then, majoring in arts and humanities. It’s been one heck of a hell ride that eventually forced me to breakout of charades…. and into class consciousness.

[@matthewkopp2391]

I hate how they changed the rainbow flag. But as far as the addition of the word “queer” is no one knows what the word refers to, however I will point out in the 1960’s many like Allen Ginsberg and Paul Goodman used the word queer to publicly describe themselves. In Paul Goodman’s case it was because he was bisexual and in Ginsberg case because he felt outside the mainstream gay movement. But both were anti-war and very left political activists. The real question is in the 60’s the most visible out and vocal LGBT men were Ginsberg, Baldwin, Vidal, Goodman and others who were very left social democrats, in the 1990’s you get Andrew Sullivan a conservative Republican who turns Democrat. And as far as I can tell gay in popular culture since 1970 featured more Andy Warhol types or pop singers than political radicals. So the same trend of “inclusion” was applied as long as it doesn’t question US imperialism and the class system, then it’s OK.

[@phasespace4700]

And these are issues Norman Finkelstein or anyone claiming to be a serious activist, should preoccupy themselves with and blather on about hour after hour after hour-whether there's a Q at the end of LGBTQ? That's more important to Norman than..oh, I don't know..climate change? The migrant crisis? Ukraine?

[@loninappleton]

Catherine Liu's book called "Against The Professional Managerial Class" (as you mention above) is a small book from which Liu once promised a full and expanded version on the topic first introduced by Barbara and John Ehrenriech in the 70's.

[@HarryAcorns]

I learned more in your comment than any I've ever read. Nice! And the replies. I think the gender ideology stuff isn't left. It started on the left. But the folks these days I believe, have been guilted, coerced, feared and propagandized in it. They seem to be very organized at the top. It's a globalist movement. Not a left movement. Been hijacked by globalists. And yes, it's all to control language and speech. Changing definitions. Etc. Etc. We are literally being corralled into submitting. Look at them going after the game show host. And his lawyers too. 🤯 No regular American could go against that machine.

[@Lost_Johnny]

Norman Finkelstein is unparalleled.

[@33333Tarun]

One of the very few full on, no holds barred, truth teller in the world.

[@anaibarangan4908]

Everything I've ever heard him say, I agree with him.

[@Adamb87]

Identity politics is nothing without a deep a class analysis , radical redistribution of wealth & power across the board with working class empowerment is the major goal

[@antimattv]

We can destroy identity politics with one concept: "Wouldn't it help more of [insert group] if they could actually afford to pay for housing?" Given that the vast majority of each group is struggling in the working class.

[@TravisRiver]

Very well said

[@tymanung6382]

For very interesting new view, + enlarged working class idea as under lying all identities. See Nancy Fraser's 3 part (Walter) Benjamin Lectures Class, Race + Gender, ???, Class Beyond Class.

[@tymanung6382]

Pure identities are cultural, social psychological, even physical that easily become chauvinist + supremacist, beyond seeking EQUAL rights, seeking dominance over others, including oppressors,,.but 2 wrongs do, not make 1 right.

[@antimattv]

@@tymanung6382 100%

[@winstonwins1096]

"Diversity" is meaningless without diversity of thought and an environment that encourages one to develop, discuss and debate these topics where one's biggest fear is to temporarily look foolish. Not being put on a list, ticketed, jailed, or hounded by the Capital 'Police.'

[@gazfisher7391]

I wholeheartedly agree. In solidarity from the UK.

[@jayxavier6930]

Whenever Norman is on fire, which happens to be all the time, thirty minutes is never enough: you need thirty hours (!)

[@Gumbi1012]

Thanks Chris. Norman takes his time answering questions, we need more than 30 mins when you interview him 😂 Keep up the great work

[@loninappleton]

Yes there could easily be a Part II with Finkelstein on this or any topic.

[@liuj88]

​​@@loninappleton And a Part III, a Part IV.... I'll be here for all of it. :)

[@madeleineswords704]

Steve Bannon: "I want them talking about Identity Politics all day long, and then we move with " Economic Nationalism" ("homeshoring") :divide and rule

[@BartAnderson_writer]

Dr. Finkelstein seemed more relaxed than a year or two ago. I find him more articulate and easier to follow now. Impressed by him.

[@abdulhaqq1980]

Professor Finkelstein... May you live FOREVER!!!

[@liveontheverandah]

In a world of banal, populist crap this interview shines like a jewel..... I remember when there were current affairs programs on Tv (yes remmber when we watched tv!??) that were of this quality..... but now its so rare to get honest academic debate that one feels it's a special and rare treat. MORE PLEASE- we need hope.

[@vascoalmeida9805]

A superior mind who deserves being read and listened to.

[@aleksandrl6740]

Thank you Chris for having Norm Finkelstein. Always incisive, methodical and conscientious. He is truly one of the few intellectual scholars with unwavering integrity. Thank you both!

[@alexar4883]

What was the reason for cutting off Norm Finkelstein at the end? You run a podcast on KZbin! There is no time limit! You should have allowed Professor Finkelstein to complete his thoughts! I’m always riveted by what Dr. Finkelstein has to say. He is one of the most important intellectuals of our time.

[@garygarlucialuciani9794]

Norman is so well read and so well versed that it's mind boggling. Another half hour would have been great. Thank you Chris Hedges for doing this interview.

[@dabay200]

Always look forward to any interviews with Prof. Finkelstein - he has such a refreshing perspective, but haven't seen much of him on any left youtube channels for a long time.

[@jeanettesdaughter]

We should all begin by saying: “ it’s not a simple question…” I have multiple identities; I claim them all and move as one person whose word is bond, who knows right from left and right from wrong. I’m not taking photos while police and vigilantes murder people. I’m throwing my cell phone at the perpetrator / something! .Carry on.

[@beadingbusily]

Throw a rock, not your phone.

[@JD-ve6kn]

The Holocaust Industry was a seminal text in my youth and in my radicalization. from what i can tell, Finkelstein has always been unwavering in his conviction and i respect the man for it. i read his latest and walked away with many, many thoughts. i am very glad I read it, and that it exists for others to read. at certain points it did seem like an out of touch old man screaming at clouds, but perhaps that was just his delivery and not the content. i encourage others to read it with an open mind. i disagreed with several of his points but still walked away more enriched by his ideas. it has certainly stuck with me like no other book i’ve read recently

[@bodricthered]

It's fascinating this invention of 'identity politics' as though it's ever been anything else is an amazing piece of marketing to divide and rule, shame it works so well....

[@davidschultz6840]

When a Black person speaks up about police reform it comes with a quality that most White folks won't get. There is a depth of understanding the sting of racism. Some white folks will get it, without the depth of understanding racism. That changes the culture of classroom.

[@heldinahtmlhell]

Nice example of racism. For a start, anecdotal experience has no value in any academic setting. Secondly, the bias against males in the criminal justice system is magnitudes higher than any bias against blacks. As is the bias against the poor, the young and many other biases. How hard is it to let go of race and racialising every subject? ie how hard it it to not be a racist?

[@NoName-cu4gr]

Norman embodies and exudes open minded integrity and even handed intellectual prowess, with a desire to approach the truth in all it's awkward complexity, like few others have ever come close to. I could listen to him for hours.

[@lion-o6821]

Affirmative action was never about representation. It was about off setting racial injustice. About creating pathways out of poverty for an oppressed group.

[@kennethg9277]

And it was the wrong pathway, obvious from the beginning. Guaranteed to set the cause back instead of advance it.

[@thegreatergood8081]

AA has to go. It's a failed experiment

[@nochepatada]

Norm is not a fan of identity politics

[@ryancraig9352]

Meh. Anything to stay relevant. The guy can't identify what he says he's against but spent a lifetime being that same entity. These two were woke before it became your boogeyman. ❤

[@nochepatada]

@@ryancraig9352 white blood cells dont know what they are attacking. They just know something is wrong and they are trying to rectify it

[@hellbee105]

Are you woke and cut up? @@ryancraig9352

[@purdjack3]

The sad fact is that when my view is not the same as the narrative I lose friends, family, and even my doctor will drop me as a patient. When I contact any level of "health services" in Canada whether it be municipal, provincial, or federal they just misdirect me to one or the other forementioned services. Health makes it blatantly clear that they do not answer such questions and direct me to my doctor who will drop me.

[@KyleRuggles]

Which view is that exactly? Anti-mask? Cuz that's the only thing I can think of, being a Canadian. I mean that "freedom" convoy *cough* occupation, really divided a small minority from the large majority.

[@purdjack3]

@@KyleRuggles I will leave you to navigate the solutions that were employed by Canada's professional professionals in health care, and their benefits. The professional professionals term has been used by Canada's brilliant babbling Chrystia Freeland.

[@chrisrageNJ]

That's the exact reason why you don't let your government control your Healthcare. After the last few years I've lost most faith in the American medical establishment, and it seems to me that the Canadian system is much more authoritarian

[@user-ip5fu5mi2q]

​​@@KyleRugglesMost people supported the freedom convoy. Vaccine mandates were authoritian and wrong. 75 percent of truckers were fully vaccinated and 85 had one shot so they were not anti Vax. Monoclonals should be offered including ivermectin. But we care more about profits over people

[@mexicanreformist1522]

Norman Finkelstein is someone I admire incredibly not only for his political stances but his unwavering ability to stand strong against opposition. His deep and immense knowledge regarding the Israeli-Palestine conflict has been top notch. Cheers.

[@fabiengerard8142]

Meeting with a most remarkable man (among the usual, legendary cancelled intellectuals of our time)… Deepest respect. 🙏🏻🙏🏽🙏

[@soundcanvas1450]

Finkelstein is an admirable rebel. He has never sold out & always speaks truth.

[@wolfkingsigma2795]

This guy on Curb your enthusiasm would be hilarious! Arguing with Larry! LOL

[@dianagwinn8143]

I never tire or am I ever bored with Dr. Finkelstein.❤

[@raykirkham5357]

Finkelstein has about him a rare integrity among human beings in general. He always surprises me with his absolute devotion to honesty. He should be our President.

[@donpietruk1517]

You never want the prophets out in the wilderness to become your leaders. They serve the function of calling out the sins, either religious or societal, of the systems of power that they inhabit. You would not like the draconian solutions they would inevitably enact to bring about change. Their purity of thought is needed for our self examination and to remind us of the transgressions of our past and present.

[@raykirkham5357]

@@donpietruk1517 "Prophets" are people who mistakenly believe they have God's blessing for whatever they believe. I don't want anything like that around me.

[@Pax2023]

I agree that identity politics has gone to extremes recently. But let’s remember that white voters practice their own brand of identity politics yet never get called on it. There are countless examples of white voters abandoning their party of registration to vote for a white candidate. When they do it, it’s called politics or just individual choice. When Black voters go for a Black candidate suddenly it becomes identity politics. White voters are individuals making a reasonable choice. Black voters are caught up in group think just voting because a candidate is the same race as they are. We have to get past this double standard and recognize that many of these issues are complex and driven by a number of factors.

[@spinningorb]

This is an excellent response.

[@kevinscott9242]

Give me one ex? It is Black ppl who vote for their self-interests & get congratulated for it. Theres no such thing as a mainstream media person who gives the ProWhite viewpoint now that Tucker was cxl'd. Sean Hannity types speak up for Jewish-Zionists, Billionaires, the Pentagon. How does Fox News or any Republican or any media person or any congressmen speak for White working class ppl?

[@Rubin4749]

Norman is a hero of mine. He is a great intellect who searches for truth, against what might be his own "natural" biases. He is like Noam Chomsky, one of the greatest American intellects of the last roughly 120 years.

[@ldaniel888]

As an Indigenous person I absolutely represent my culture. It is the basis of my cultural values and responsibilities. Those values and responsibilities predate whatever TRNN or Norm Finkelstein or the Maga cranks call woke or identity politics. Those terms have been used to silence and dismiss as we assert and live our sovereignty. And those first generation students in NF's classes who applaud one another I would suspect are there, too, because of similar responsibilities to family and community. I'm sure many of their families and communities supported their academic achievements. Yes, we are all individuals, just like all the anti woke, whether "left" or "right", who pound their dear American hearts as righteous individuals. We just have cultural order beyond Democrats or GOP or radical left or radical right. Our identities/existence are/is not based on our political alliances or union membership. For hundreds of years academic freedom meant the academy could lie and be used to oppress and dismantle our governments and cultural practices, from language to ceremony to economies. Anthropologists calling us extinct. Lawyers using the Doctrine of Discovery to dismantle and destroy. Politicians setting up North America's ethnic cleansing institutes aka Residential schools. Little old ladies and old men teachers in small town and big city schools preached about our dirtiness and ignorance and savagery to many generations of future good citizens who would then make decisions about our lives based on what they learned. Something as simple as expecting us to all have lice if we showed up at a public school, or that our parents drank or that they didn't work. When I went back to school, after dropping out at age 13, I could not have gone except that the college I applied to allowed students over 18 who hadn't finished high school (in my case had never gone) to attend if they could pass a composition course. Now, that requirement likely left out those who's first language wasn't English, but because colonization had basically frightened my grandparents/father and aunties and uncles from sharing our traditional language (except in hushed tones.in backyards away from the ears of white people), I am an ok user of the English language. So I got in. Was this a form of affirmative action? Is there more affirmative action now giving people like me (and yes there are many generations of us still grappling with yes, genocide) a chance to find professional opportunities? Dam right. And everyone of us graduates and future graduates are the doctors and nurses and surgeons and dentists and professors and architects and engineers and mechanics and computer scientists and business owners who give back. Yup, we give back because our communities need us. So get over yourself and your fear of a little word called woke. Most of us are more radical than any of you will ever be. Sure I like Obama but I'm not a fool. I know where those drones were sent and who they kiiled. Clinton put more poor people in jail with his 3 strikes, especially poor people who are Black and Indigenous and Latino. Would Bernie have not sent the drones? Bernie hasn't even called for a cease fire in Gaza. Look what happened to Jimmy Carter. He stood by and let Indonesia invade East Timor and kill thousands of people, because of their identity.

[@rjwalker1726]

Well said 👏

[@hailoweenhailoween5264]

Indigenous people are at the bottom of the bottom so they know how the system truly works. And the problem with the American system is that it's brand of Capitalism or Class base is rooted and maintained by right wing white male christian conservative ideology. Which explains why the masses of the white working class in the western countries have always leaned extremely towards right wing politics.

[@hailoweenhailoween5264]

Very true. Indigenous people are ignored and not really embraced by the masses of america. What progressive intellectuals fail to realize is that American capitalism is rooted and maintained by extreme right wing racist, sexist, religious ideology. That's why identity politics exists so much in America. Sorry but class consciousness or class struggle is not going to solve America's social issues.

[@gilbrandoacevedo]

The most down to earth intellectual and the greatest teacher I have ever had in my academic studies during my college years is Norman Finkelstein. Always pellucid and compelling, thought provoking with a depth of feeling and insight that captivates my entire being and makes me aspire to embrace and decipher the broadest abstractions with the most sensitive capaciousness. What an honor. Thank you, Gilbrando Acevedo

[@madeleineswords704]

Two intellectual and principled giants what an honour ❤

[@mikenuzzo3323]

Frediceric Douglass was half white and 2 out of 3 of his wife's were White

[@maxheadrom3088]

@@mikenuzzo3323 So, you think that's important? The pigmentation of human skin is related to ultraviolet ligh and vitamin D production - nothing else.

[@yolandekenward1639]

Are you deluded?

[@Scoring57]

@@maxheadrom3088 Yet people have been killed and dehumanized over it. You think the race you're associated with or have proximity to has no effect in a racist world, which we're still in? You sound so self satisfied as if you actually made a point. What else doesn't have an explanation like the one you gave for race? Btw you forgot to mention all the other aspects of race like facial morphology, hair textures and sometimes body proportions.

[@tasoskou5527]

dr. finkelstein didn't know that one month from the time he gave this interview, he would start doing overtime appearing in shows. fortunately he is strong and articulate and helped to set things straight! long love dr finkelstein!

[@ruthdelroy6004]

This discussion could be used to argue against the Australian Government's call for a referendum on 14th October to change the Australian Constitution to "incorporate" an elitist group of indigenous representatives that will "speak for" all of 152 diverse nations of Indigenous people within Australia. Calling their campaign "The Voice", Government is pouring millions of dollars into a "Yes" vote, that appeals to people's view of themselves as "kind and considerate". In actuality, it reverses a 1967 referendum that successfully outlawed racist behaviors. This "Voice" is foolish idea that will create division not harmony. One could ask "but why?"

[@safanamakhdoomable]

I love Professor Finkelstein: he has definitely become surly with time and now not only is he a great intellectual but also hilariously grumpy

[@leftykeys6944]

I saw the warning signs about Obama the first time... but voted for him anyway because I believed his Republican opponent was worse. I saw the Obama's true colors the SECOND time... but voted for him anyway because I believed his Republican opponent was worse. Done with that game! Obama was the last neoliberal candidate to ever have my vote.

[@LawrenceCarroll1234]

This interview was enormously informative for me. I saw an interview with Dr. Finkelstein on The Gray Zone a few years ago and enjoyed it immensely. Prior to that I saw a documentary on Link TV on him at least 15 - 20 years ago that also was excellent. Anyway, I was especially fascinated in this interview with the way he explained the “woke” movement’s role in sabotaging Bernie Sanders’ last presidential campaign. While I was obviously very aware of the role Clinton’s supporters were involved in that (how could anyone miss that?), I had not realized at all this new (for me) info. In fact I have been still trying to ascertain just what the term, “woke” actually means - if anything. Kudos to Hedges and Dr. Finkelstein.

[@thecitizen49]

Thank you, Chris Hedges, for all that you do.

[@minorthreat5276]

Norman always talking good sense.

[@michaelschiffmann]

Simply brilliant. This conversation is radicalism at its best.

[@philipangelo595]

I was searching for a way to describe how I felt and you described it perfectly, "Radicalism at its best".

[@matthedlund502]

Wish Finkelstein wasn't interrupted and truncated in this interview. It's a podcast format - why impose a unnecessary time constraint?

[@Andromeda_M31]

He was great on the Jimmy Dore Show. It would be great to see more interviews or his own channel.

[@latequilera22]

what happned to Jimmy Dore?

[@DimmackFan]

He on holyday@@latequilera22

[@loninappleton]

The August 21st issue of the Nation magazine column called Class Notes by Adolph Reed Jr. is particularly on point. The title is 'Trickle Down Diversity." Recommended. Also recommended is my personal favorite Christian Lander, a white man who has written a couple of books on the theme "Stuff White People Like". Lander has been on public radio in the past. He's not way out there. But in reading SWPL what is exposed is class hypocrisy and above all pretentiousness that has given us today's divide.

[@anomalek]

This interview was too short - please have norman back for hours on end, perhaps even on a regular basis. Despite his bland monotone delivery, he always has such a unqieuly stimulating effect on me - he leaves me feeling like these matters he's discussing really MATTER and that there is a profound value to engaging with ideas like these. He's so inspiring! I love the way he wanders academically to the strangest characters, and his enormous respect for erudition, intelligence, complexity of thought.

[@davidschlessinger9945]

I don't think "defund the police" is unpopular in the black community where is Norman Finkelstein getting his information?!

[@thegreatergood8081]

Is it popular now in 2024? The BLM protests have backfired. Stores in black communities are closing because of rampant looting.

[@charlierodriguez8489]

Would love to see Adolph Reed included as a guest

[@gfarrell80]

Agreed!

[@SvalbardSleeperDistrict]

Finkelstein has a great number of good analyses and opinions on a range of topics, but his take on affirmative action in student selections if weak here: the students are chosen not because they represent what their group in society _believes_ on certain issues, but because the _visibility of existence_ of that group in society in educational environments is beneficial. Young people sit in classes, they see classmates from different ethnic groups, and see that the society they are growing up in - and taking political positions in - is a diverse selection encompassing different backgrounds, ethnic experiences, etc.

[@zombiedeathrays8862]

The options in the 2008 election were Obama, H. Clinton or McCain/Palin disaster. The framing of this as a referendum on the voters character completely ignores what options were actually available. Obama certainly did not deliver on his promises and presented himself as more progressive than he was. But look at the other options. Finkelstein’s framing is misleading imo.

[@rjwalker1726]

Agreed. On tumblr (the wokest of all woke platforms apparently) I saw nothing but praise for Sanders for example. And OK, maybe that's just my corner of tumblr and there was support for Obama too but the outrage at the side-lining of Sanders was immense amongst the most definitely 'woke'. Sure, some of the establishment media co-opted the message but it does not make the message wrong. I feel like the ONE point I could agree on is that there is no point in this message if it is not also connected to class and genuine change. There was no point electing Obama because he was black or Clinton because she was a woman because they were parts of the system and would do nothing to change it. But I think what I was disappointed in was that there was no suggestion of how else we can get the diverse classroom he wants. Wait? Well, we tried that and it didn't bloody happen.

[@thomashall6211]

I always appreciate Norman's frank messaging. A true scholar.

[@user-di8hm2jl2u]

I love Mr. Finklestein’s passion and resolve despite all of the opposition.

[@thepepperlanders]

Norm Finkelstein should have tenure. He's a GREAT professor.

[@daffidkane8350]

I went to university in the US. I hated how Democrat professors and students always wanted to put me in a “box”!

[@jlaroche0]

Finkelstein does the same thing he did during his discussion about this with Jared Ball on BPM.... he doesn't cite the source material he is attacking. Instead, he just hand-waves away all the foundational work of the Combahee River Collective calling it "stupid" "non-arguments". Thanks for your dismissive, unintellectual, and wholly un-serious dissection Norman. Never defines "diversity". Never gets down to the problem of how capitalism has co-opted "diversity" and "identity". So much wanting from this examination...

[@rjwalker1726]

Yeah, I spent most of this confused about what he was trying to say. And also waiting for him to suggest a solution. How exactly is he going to help make this 'diverse' classroom? Waiting and hoping for fair admissions didn't get us very far.

[@user-uv9lt8qm6j]

Finkelstein is a very educated person who is interested in complicated ideas and careful thinking!

[@hassanal-mosawi4235]

Well said!

[@Eteremlo]

I'm instantly glad everytime i see Finkelstein's face on my screen, absolutely love him❤️

[@tylermcconnell]

Finkelstein needs daily streams on his own channel. 🔥

[@CollinsBlessings-rj2fz]

Thank you Dr pius on KZbin for all you do in my life and My family. I went for test today after taking the medication I ordered from Dr Pius and I tested chronic Hepatitis B virus negative. Thank doctors I will keep letting the world know about your good work sir.

[@l.w.paradis2108]

Omg, my two favorites. What a perfect start to the weekend.

[@mauriziomoretti5392]

We should have hours dedicated to this topics, with this lecturers, on a daily basisi, from elementary schools. And then human race will maybe gain some chance to survive.

[@KindaLikeWater]

Although I thought Finkelstein shared some very valuable information and made some good points in the final 1/3 of this interview, I thought it was tragically flawed in too many ways. The worst flaw, for me, was his use of the word "woke". Even from so-called leftists, liberals, progressives, or anyone claiming to be against corruption and hate, it still comes off as undefined and a bit of a dog whistle. Most attempts at remedies are flawed. Some flaws are mistakes, and some have been designed into them over time. Affirmative Action is flawed, but so is the ill that most proponents of it seek to treat. What I ultimately find most disturbing about Finkelstein is that his arguments come off as "Black people bad. Black people bad. Black people bad." The way he lays out his biased arguments, you'd think Obama ran against Sanders, and America chose "the Black guy". A corrupt political system got behind "the Black guy", because he was wildly more popular than the corrupt White woman they had planned to support. Finkelstein makes it sound like Obama and Black people defeated Bernie Sanders. That's ridiculous and inaccurate. It was the corrupt political system - financed in part by their corrupt White woman - who conspired to steal the nominations from Bernie Sanders. Twice. Finkelstein left a lot of speciousness to address in this 30 minutes of speciousness. Ultimately - though my politics may be similar to his in some ways - we differ in that while he's armed with enough "facts" to try and discredit Black historical figures, and any kind of "Black identity", he clearly ignores the necessities involved in navigating and surviving the racist minefield of America, for People of Color. In different ways, Finkelstein is yet another fake ally supposedly on the left, like the Clintons. Deadly forked tongue. But he doesn't stab us in the back with it. He clearly and smoothly stabs us right in our faces.

[@kennethg9277]

One would really have to have a warped, malfunctioning brain in order to interpret anything Finkelstein said in this interview (or elsewhere) as "black people bad". Shocking ignorance on your part.

[@RepublicKiller]

Finkelstein is one of few intellectuals who goes against the current intellectual currents and remain true to his believes and a tireless defender of the Palestinian people against the apartheid of Israel

[@ivicabartolovic818]

Respect and the gratitude where they belong, this was one of the most beautiful segments that I have watched in the long time!!!

[@richardlandini8024]

Identity politics is not 'woke'. Woke used to mean getting your mind blown or raising your consciousness and not settling for anything inside you but peace, love and understanding. Identity politics is just a further smudge to conceal the endless machinations of power. I found this interview a gaseous orb needing definition. Love these two guys anyway.

[@user-ip5fu5mi2q]

Identity politics has destroyed the democratic party. Instead of using class to fight for working class .we demonize whites for being born.white which we have no control.of. People are on your team.already and want to help but hearing racism every five seconds. Norman speaks this a lot better then I could

[@teslastellar]

Two of my heros in the same video 👍😃💕

[@kapa1611]

god i love Finkelstein and always have. from when he debated Dershowitz on DN to when he attacked sewer rat (TM) Medhi Hasan

[@NathanielRises606]

So refreshing to have a proper lefty acknowledging this corrosive religious nonsense.

[@cupajoy8498]

What about Jimmy Dore telling Cornel West he should not speak or focus on racism and white supremacy? Is this different? It was shocking and insulting to hear Dore speak down to Dr. West l Iike that.

[@kennethg9277]

Telling a presidential candidate to focus on class rather than identity politics isn't "talking down" to them. It's correct.

[@S_a_n_y_c_h]

Love it - just when Finkelstein was talking about Angela Davis' demand for $35K to speak at Harvard's Palestine Solidarity event - Hedges ends the interview. Kinda shows you who is the boss...

[@ZootSuitSanta]

Finkelstein is brave and fearless like Adolph Reed and Nell Painter and few others today.

[@JacobAnawalt]

I voted for Obama the first time because he was a good orator and I believed him, not because I was virtue signaling. I did not vote for him the next time because his policies made a bad situation worse. Then he went off the rails and went back on everything he pretended to be in the first term and in the first and second campaigns during his second term.

[@chrisullman7285]

The full story on Du Bois when it came to African-American civil rights was more about Du Bois than he was about black success, black, achievement, or black boot strapping. The black college deans and presidents didn’t send him 80th birthday cards because he condescendingly ridiculed them frequently. People that criticized Du Bois were such people as Booker T. Washington, the founder of Tuskegee. Du Bois railed against all of the African-American college administrators because they were providing a platform for young African- Americans to be equal. Obviously they had 2 to 3 generations to go before that was accomplished. Du Bois was ideologue and one of the founders of the NAACP, but even with that it’s important to remember a quote from Washington about DuBois “I am afraid that there is a certain class of race-problem solvers who don’t want the patient to get well, because as long as the disease holds out they have not only an easy means of making a living, but also an easy medium to make themselves prominent before the public.” From Washington’s “My Larger Education.” We still have Du Bois today in DEI departments making things worse rather than better. It doesn’t surprise me that Finkelstein sees an ideological brother in Du Bois.

[@jeremyreagan9085]

I love how well-read Dr. Finkelstein truly is as an author in US history he never sugarcoats and sticks to the facts. Exactly what a true scholar no matter their opinion should be stick to truth and the facts only not feelings. As a blind man I admire his constant standing in the gap for those who either do not have a voice or the platform to defend themselves.

[@turningtofacethecollapse3479]

We need part 2!😂

[@mytmouse57]

Criticisms of wokeness on the left and right are starting to echo each other.

[@miophx8283]

I love counter narrative that brings forth the Truth and calls out the actors and liars amongst us.

[@theresabarzee1463]

Precious interview. Sweetest calm gentle erudition coming through. Thank you both so much! Very lovely.

[@marquetparsons8410]

He doesn't answer the question of how African Americans, who are always under the threat of genocide here in the U.S. The White working class still organizes against Black people in the building trades. The white working class supports the rabid racism of the Republican Party. African Americans constitute a domestic colony in the United States with Black politicians and entertainers playing the same role as the neo-colonial leaders in the global south. Until the White working class becomes anti-imperialist, it can't have solidarity with the colonized working class. What Finkelstein is describing is Neo-Colonialism, not Black Liberation politics. The white working class is like the French Communist Party, when it went against the Algerian Liberation struggle. The burden should be on the White left to educate the White working class for solidarity with the non-white global working class. To ask Black people to suppress their own struggle for self-determination to unite with a people who dismiss their struggles against structural racism and some of whom are willing to commit genocide against. Coates and Davis, like Obama were imposed on the African American community. Remember it was the white left, who lifted their profile. Why didn't Finkelstein talk about Dhoruba Ibn Wahad, Sekou Odinga or any of the Black Revolutionaries. He only spoke of the neo-colonialist puppets who are in place to place the Black Liberation Movement under the control of the Democratic Party. Finkelstein is trying to put that control under the white left.

[@tap_water872]

Norm can't answer: why are white voters against class politics then?

[@latequilera22]

Black struggles isn’t his strong suit.

[@user-ip5fu5mi2q]

The rich NIMBY white left liberals and PMC 19:56 not the working class left. Using class issues should get people to have empathy not the other way around

[@user-fl1zi7bu9c]

Absolutely riveting. Thank you both.

[@tap_water872]

Douglas is more brave and noble than these petty critiques Finkelstein will ever be. How dare he?

[@leechong5335]

Thank you very much Chris Edges for a very good interview with olivier, which I do not understand why the American people do not revolt against oppression by the oligarchy who hold the powers thank you for your intervention at Elucid 💮🌼🌺👍🏾🕊️

[@harrypalmer3481]

It seemed Norm Finkelstein was just getting warmed up when it ended there! I'm going to find out more. Thank you.

[@vinfreeman1602]

It's racist to think you don't have diversity without different skin colour. Everyone is an individual and unique and different.

[@angusyates828]

'I'll Burn That Bridge When I get to it'. I like that.

[@stillraven9415]

Steal from the poor and give to the rich. Land of the free with purchase.

[@anthonykennedy5324]

Norman Finkelstein's point-of-view is always refreshing because it is closely reasoned. You may disagree, he may be wrong, you may be wrong but his opinion has an evidence base. Norman Finkelstein, before he is anything else, is well-read. He is scrupulous with fact. He marries scholarship with moral courage. Few people, including me, possess both.

[@TerranceWalker]

the "intellectual" part of the conversation fell flat without a working definition of "woke""

[@TerranceWalker]

it's nonsensical musings. I would expect more from Finkelstein. Apparently he's drank the koolaid

[@myprincess0875]

I would love to see you and Middle Nation have discourse . Thank you for such a wonderful insightful video with one of my favorite people Mr. Norman Finkelstein .