The Decline of Morality Amidst the Celebration of the Self with Chris Hedges

Chris Hedges speaks to Renovatio editor Safir Ahmed about what fuels our contemporary narcissism and prevents us from fulfilling our moral obligations to ourselves and to society.
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[@javiermendez6948]

Hi Chris! My name is Javier, I am a small goat farmer in central Spain in a Village called Mijares in Ávila. I write this messege to express my deepest admiration for your work, your sensibility with the most needed and your readyness to be there fighting injustice. You are an example for me and I would like to be more like you. There fore first, I will thank you for all you have teach me. Secondly to tell you that all little I posses is yours and that I would be honored to colaborate in any thing you ask me to. Finally excuse my english. Yours sinserily. Javier. Lots of love.

[@NameRequiredSoHere]

"Radical evil will stop at nothing in order to retain it's power." Frighteningly true.

[@ruthieworldtravels]

People in Power (PiP) prove it every day!

[@standinginthegap7118]

This is so true. We are more and more a society of psychopaths. It's sick and disgusting where we are as a society.

[@averageamerican6727]

It's the system that corrupts. No number of social workers, psychiatrists or law enforcement can turn this around. Through suffering, humility and belonging towards authenticity and integrity. In truth.

[@dchapero6929]

I agree completely. I don’t know how we make more people aware. My own family chose ‘the cult of the self’ over me… merely because I challenge their narratives and justifications. One consolation is the fact that I know my heart is prepared for what is to come… and I accept it. Best wishes to you, my friend.

[@testtest2609]

@@averageamerican6727 Yes, institutions are preservatives for psychopaths' thought patterns.

[@obsoleteelite8258]

It’s everywhere! Even down to my landlord.

[@rayray4192]

@@averageamerican6727 nonsensical word salad. Humans made the system. Humans are inherently selfish. It’s the human who is evil. The system is just a human invention.

[@deejay8ch]

This is top shelf Chris Hedges. There is so much touched on that is food for thought. Takeaways (tainted by my perspectives so forgive me) for me include: - the tragedy of the cult of the self and narcissism - the evil of predatory capitalism - the catastrophic consequences of capitalist forces that run riot until exhaustion or collapse - how self interest needs to be contained or controlled - how corporations are totalitarian - they reduce the cost of production and increase profit - at all costs - the slow motion corporate coup detat that has occurred to take control over society - how there is a deforming of society morally and ethically - how social isolation tempts people into a false communites of initially seductive but ultimately negative ideals and actions - the rupturing of social bonds - pornification, atomisation, addiction to self-gratifying behaviours and illicit substances - how corporations have siloed the media to cater to a particular demographic and tell them what they want to hear Great stuff. Deep thanks

[@zantecarroll4448]

thank you helpfull ❤

[@cheri238]

Thank you , also.❤

[@j.g7238]

Chris hedges is indeed a gift for us all. God bless him❤

[@Nous520]

The quote on the thumbnail needs to be plastered all over every billboard all over the western world

[@theageofgoddess]

💯

[@majdavojnikovic]

Why?

[@cheleftb]

❤ true

[@zeyad45]

Thank you for inviting Mr Hedges to the pod! He holds a very special position in my heart, for being a man of honour, truth and knowledge.

[@brennancarter7721]

He’s the type of man that gives you hope for humanity.

[@radioaminjc80]

Agree!!!

[@PNNYRFACE]

Christopher Hedges is gift for us all to cherish and engage with his thoughts on our collective reality. Thank you for all that you provide.

[@newcoloursmusic1255]

"The cult of the self" can lead very quickly to self-loathing, self-doubt, a constant comparing to others, a constant feeling that we are lacking. This is perfectly normal if we turn our attention inward in a shallow way. It is actually inevitable. The answer is to do the opposite: be more outward focused, reduce social media usage, don't give oxygen / attention to people mired in their own self-obsession. Self-obsession is a kind of sickness that will only provide a sense of lack, and will never satisfy.

[@reefk8876]

Much respect to both of you, Chris is a last of a dead breed. Grateful that he never sold out.. great interview!

[@omalone1169]

We measure peoples worth by the amount of wealth that they attain 30:00

[@badomaji]

Talks like this are desperately needed in this time. Thank you.

[@madeleineswords704]

Great to hear from Chris, a deeply knowledgeable, honourable, interesting, and particularly relevant voice for our time.

[@brennancarter7721]

Thank you so much for interviewing such a decent and truthful man; this was the first episode of your podcast that I watched and I enjoyed it very much.

[@cheri238]

Thank you for having Chris Hedges on your programn. Àlways, an honor to listen and learn from a mind with character and integrity.

[@lonelycubicle]

The exasperation at 19:34 is palpable: “… you don’t have to go to Harvard Divinity School as I did for three years to figure out that Jesus didn’t come to make us rich.”

[@gulfette]

Amazing interview. Thank you from Istanbul Turkey

[@blackbeard00]

This is some of the best stuff Chris has ever said. Amen!

[@lucasalexander4722]

Yes, people today are inculcated into the idea that they must be worshiped by others, as they worship themselves. They are their own gods. I've built diddly-squat in this life so this will cheer me up, lol!

[@alexhidel3732]

We live in a clown 🤡 world 🌎

[@BartFlossom]

It's ironic, I think, how the YT algorithm brought me here -- because I'm not religious at all. Yet I've long held that topics about morality are among the most important conversations we can have. I still have the textbooks from my university classes in philosophy, ethical theory, theology, and history. I *love* these kinds of discussions! Thanks for letting me listen in. 👋

[@CG_Hali]

I'm atheist and though Hedges is a believer, I have never felt any preaching coming from him at all. I understand a man so hurt by the war crimes he's seen and so educated and understanding of the true awful nature of men almost cannot allow himself to stop believing in a God. I wouldn't argue him against it at all. He's the proof one can be fully aware, believe in science and ethics and be inclusive of everyone no matter their creed or lack there of.

[@vegancolleen]

And I love that he gets that speciesism is another immoral form of exploitative oppression causing profound suffering and denial of basic rights of the most innocent and vulnerable group on an almost inconceivable scale.

[@Sumuelelinsanito]

Absolutely,Chris. When I hear you speak about these things, I'm proud to call myself a christian. People like you are scarce.

[@maggiehamm365]

This was a very interesting discussion as it covered so much, and it was exploratory rather than a lecture. I found that many people stopped going to church because they could see too much hypocrisy and attacking of other religions and beliefs, as well as certain people in society. Even the religion industry is breaking down like everything else. Talks like this are much needed because so many people are searching for truth and love amid the turmoil.

[@gilbertlopez9097]

such as? I am a practicing Catholic (who left the faith for a time) and I honestly don't know what you are talking about, you are mischaracterizing the nature of the sermons I hear every week.......

[@omalone1169]

9:00 the slow motion coup

[@alvodin6197]

I would say this is not about the self at all, this is about our concept about ourselves, abstractions. Westerners are too caught up in abstractions to realize that even the "personality" is just surface behaviours that we learned early on, ways of thinking of ourselves. We are not abstractions or our thoughts, we are not our jobs or titles, or even our hobbies and skills. That "self" westerners talk about is just an abstraction. If we actually got in touch with our authentic selves, we wouldn't be chasing titles and status,.money and all that horseshit. You would sing, dance, play the piano and play with dogs. You would be present in the moment. We obviously are not taught these things. Maybe when you are 40.or 50, you realize you've been living just to impress other people, and even people who don't care about you.. Unbelievable.

[@room_threeothree]

Quite right the statement of yours is. The self is a smear illusive concept; a reductive preoccupation with that which exists not, dare I suggest. The westerner 'self', the ontology of it, is contradictory in nature once reason and rational introduced into the frame. Mind those who may be intrigued, I speak of not the modern interpretation of reason or rationale but Platonic, ancient translation.

[@siyaindagulag.]

Bingo !

[@jamesburns2524]

Well said Ali Odin

[@fraseredk7433]

Well said.

[@god5535]

Very Vedantic! I agree.

[@evangel1737]

I love 💗 listening to Chris and how he introduces us to other greats. Integrity, accountability, being principled and having traditional values is what I relate best to. Chris is the only other individual I’ve heard call this social gospel a cult and I myself have said so to “close friends” who throw around all kinds of scriptures and yet Won’t dare to look At Trump and the obvious. The more I hear Chris the more I appreciate him 👍

[@boondoggle4820]

I actually agree with his thoughtful description of “morality”. I’m only a few minutes into the podcast so far but one thought that I have immediately is that America’s duplicity is finally catching up to it with the decline of morality (as Hedges described morality and not how most people think of morality) amidst the celebration of the self. This country has a history of speaking with a forked tongue, saying one thing and doing another, and having one set of rules apply to thee but not to me. This country’s dishonesty and duplicity which leads to duplicitous, incongruous laws and rules is finally catching up to it. On another note, I think that a lot of the political rancor in this country is the result of the fact that it is absolutely legal for politicians and media personalities to lie as long as they’re not under oath in a legal proceeding. That’s ultimately why the two sides occupy two entirely different realities, and it’s finally starting to catch up with us with the partisan gridlock in the country.

[@zantecarroll4448]

What i love about Chris Hedges is his moral intelligence, courage and most importantly his moral consistentency , he applies social justice and moral principles to all vulnerable groups including other species... however unpopular veganism is.. it is morally consistent to protect and care for the children of all species not just our own. Jesus loved the lambs not as a metaphor but in truth.

[@vegancolleen]

Absolutely. Speciesism is another immoral form of exploitative oppression causing profound suffering and denial of basic rights of the most innocent and vulnerable group on an almost inconceivable scale.

[@kwamebushman606]

"Too bad there are sweatshops, but I still want my iphone" that is brilliant I get what you're saying. The people in this country honestly live such a hypothetical lifestyle that is counter intuitive to all the "movements" they then try to shove in the world's faces.

[@lonelycubicle]

It’s brilliant and wish what one should do was included. Is there an ethical smart phone that can be purchased? Is there a way to contribute to a fund that benefits the workers who made the phone?

[@kwamebushman606]

@@lonelycubicle There's no such thing as an "ethical" smart phone. Just use the old one you have until it breaks and stop getting a new phone every. Such a wasteful, hypocritical culture here it's honestly disgusting

[@jpaqon]

​@@lonelycubicle the Fairphone series is probably the closest you can get

[@Cheyne4Chelsea]

@@kwamebushman606 great advice! Same with almost all goods. I see so many "environmentalists" rushing to buy the newest hybrid/electric. Driving whatever car you have into the ground is almost always better for the environment than buying a new car

[@dchapero6929]

Excellent interview. Thank you both.

[@eekiane1921]

Thank you for this talk.

[@gracewright7938]

I loved this video. Sometimes one gets tongue tied trying to explain how things are wrong and they are so sharp to defy you and at times agressive; just like you said will do anything to prove you wrong, kill the truth. Thank you for this video.

[@Juan-ud3if]

Alway's great Chris Hedges. Salute.🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋

[@rifaatrafiq9994]

Such a wonderful deep conversation! We need to have public and personal, what we do personally impacts the public vice versa!!

[@quiche78]

Thank you 🙏

[@odzychris7996]

What an amazing conversation. I just recently discovered your channel and im so glad i did!

[@RenovatioJournal]

Welcome aboard!

[@andreaboggan9540]

Luke 4:11 "All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” ~Jesus

[@justcomp1]

Great talk Chris.

[@tovareznicek2059]

Amazing. Inspiring. Thank you both from Jerusalem:

[@lonelycubicle]

36:54 “We can’t underestimate the power of the good.”

[@basedtrees]

- prioritizing personal morality over social morality does not transform society in any meaningful way - if you don't know how to ask the question, you won't get an answer (regarding the deterioration of the humanities) - it is difficult to ask these questions, and it cannot be done alone - referring to Arendt's The Origin's of Totalitarianism, the prerequisite for the mass man is not brutality, but social isolation - atomization of man leads to death cults - there is a false community in the ideology of hatred; it is not a "real" community, but more like a cult in which there is a right-wing leader, often white, who cannot be doubted. this is SPOT ON, especially referring to christian or alt-right communities, which are the loudest contrarian voices. Hedges is a breath of fresh air. - referring to Fred Stein's Politics of Cultural Despair, and Durkheim's idea of anomie, or rupturing of social bonds, this is what leads to totalitarianism and terrorism - regarding prejudice against other groups, Hedges refers to Plato's thoughts on Socrates's trial. the language spoken is not intelligible to the wider public, so Plato thought that a meaningful defense would be futile, if the deeper morality cannot be conveyed. it is akin to someone who has stolen bread, arguing with the baker. -cannot teach morality, but have to show... (Gorgias?) - lastly, Hedges talks about independence, and that the good draws to it the good. truly taking on evil is a difficult task, for evil will stop at nothing. radical evil, that is. - if one's sole occupation is to take on radical evil, that will result in spiritual destruction of the soul - Hedges recommends time for personal morality and time for reflection and remorse Thank you so much, many wonderful references, Daniel Berrigan is an inspiration and what faith ought to look like.

[@garymensurati1631]

Thank you for posting this video. Chris Hedges rocks, in my view.

[@larrypetersen427]

A great analysis that anyone should get.

[@batsnackattack]

Interesting discussion. Recently there was a massive social thing about 'sexual identity' including flags that need individual stripes, pronoun rules and public presentations of what sexual identity the person was. It occurred to me this is everything about "Self" including a lot of talk of pride, proud to be self, pride to show off self, its about each person being 'themselves'. This really is 'anti-Christian' in that its just about the opposite of what Christianity which ought to always be 'the other'. Lose yourself, die to the 'self' but live for the others around you. (which is not to say, you shouldn't take care of yourself BUT you do that SO THAT you take care of others).

[@rberliner6680]

Because these are the generations that didn’t know war and suffering as we did as a society after WWII. The psyche longs to explore psychopathy and the soul seeks to test itself in violence. If you haven’t been to war, you can do it vicariously on tv or other media.

[@ChrisW-cn7pb]

Very Good Interview

[@robertmacdonnell258]

The Roman, Livy, was an historian who maintained at one time that Rome had become powerful and great not because they were gifted with natural resources, but because of their virtue. To paraphrase Livy for our purposes, America, when it was poor and small, was a unique example of austere virtue. In time it became corrupted ; it spoiled and rotted itself by all the vices. Thus, little by little we have been brought into the current condition in which we are able NEITHER to endure the evils from which we suffer nor the remedies we need to cure them. And as Twain said, history does not necessarily repeat itself, but it surely rhymes. We have become divided by design. Fundamentalist religions and creeds promulgated everywhere in speech, books and the press are the reason that the rot of our republic goes to the core and REMAINS virulent and untouchable until the majority of the citizenry is ready to root them out stem and branch. That's why America has already been destroyed, as Cormac MacCarthy likes to remind us. What we have done in the past is unchangeable in the present. A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.

[@johnbolger2625]

Thank you for this great interview

[@maryloulongenbaugh7069]

Galatians 2:20 for the Christian we die to self and live in Christ. The transforming power of the Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead lives in me. I have been bought with a price-Jesus sanctifies us through his holy word. (John 17:17)

[@mathieuguillet4036]

Great conversation.

[@TheIlias333]

Excellent!!! Thank You!!!

[@thinkneothink3055]

3:14. Didn’t he just describe virtually every politician in the US?

[@andyshelly3473]

love these lectures there so on point .

[@jamesayres1225]

Thankyou so much, brilliant

[@zainmudassir2964]

Good talk sir

[@alexanderclaylavin]

A leader

[@david9920]

Thank you Chris hedges the cult of the self it is very much time for change. With statistical numbers say that40 precinct of the population having attachments issues probably much higher. How long before just shear loneliness social breakdown and people feel lost bewildered. Not long before technology will make a village life possible again solar battery e car's robotics for food production. But will it be dangerous for people to isolate in smell groups?

[@j3kfd9j]

In most corporations in the US, votes derive from share ownership. There are mechanisms for pseudo-democratic governance, see e.g. activist investors - these provide a check on the leadership. The best corporations stake their workers in by paying compensating with shares. There are other approaches such as used in Germany where workers are directly represented on the board. It may also be a fallacy that CEOs are obliged to maximize profit. This may be more practice than policy, and there's a strong movement away from it in recent years. Much as psychopaths do worse in life on average, so do short-sighted corporations that screw the community. Those who wish to maximize their profits would do better to act with greater benevolence.

[@patrickbradley7360]

Mr Hedges a modern day saint.

[@tombradburn3935]

I think of him as coming out of the prophetic tradition.

[@youtuber5305]

The 2022 article "Movies Which Explore the Consequences Borne by People Removed From Traditional Group Norms" includes the following quotes: - For too long in this society, we have celebrated unrestrained individualism over common community. (Joe Biden) - Unrestricted individualism is the law of the beast of the jungle. (Gandhi)

[@timothygrayson]

The greatest threat to morality is social media. Film and television kicked it off and media is the final nail in the coffin of basic human and animal decency. I could have a cuppa with this man. He nails the desecration accurately. I'm a Christian who obeys every commandment.

[@testtest2609]

Social media is a neutral tool. It also democratizes/brings great information to the masses. Also allows the people to communicate to each other instead of being at the mercy of mainstream media which fosters terror and among hate citizens.

[@rowdy3837]

You don’t covet? Just curious how one can go about their lives not wanting… anything? By the way, social media isn’t a threat, it’s a mirror.

[@vegancolleen]

Glad to see another vegan here who takes "thou shalt not kill" seriously.

[@christopherbettridge]

Incredible! "Christian fascists"; that's a the exact term I've been using for the "Christian" right for a few years now. And although I'm a recent convert from a Weltanschauung of a kind of atheism which still accepted the concept of divinity (intelligent design without an intelligent designer is a very simplistic way of explaining how my beliefs about spirituality worked) to Christianity in order to know God, and the true nature of morality and the reasons why it's more important than anything else I and not because of any kind of experience of spiritual immediacy which suddenly converted me. I chose this path; and I chose to be a Catholic - and this is what I was getting at with this seemingly ironically hypocritical self-description- not to extoll myself but to explain that someone whom has such a different way of experiencing the path to faith and then even doesn't have the same type of denominated Christianity (I am NOT a Roman Catholic or Orthodox either; I am still a novitiate of a Liberal Apostolic Catholic faith) but I am very excited and surprised, because I have heard Mr. Hedges speak about other more temporal rather than metaphysical subjects and I have had a quite polarized view of his perspectives and opinions, but in this exposition I find myself watching and being incredibly impressed with the brilliant way he has expressed to us so much of my own ideas and beliefs about morality and corporate mentality among so many other things as well. Thank you for your time and experience which you have shared with us today; whenever today was for you when you had this discussion and the video was made, it doesn't matter. I never thought I would have so much in common with a person who comes from a Calvinistic background. It gives me that rarest of commodities for me and so many others - hope. Thank you for your time. Be well. Peace

[@2serve4Christ]

32:09 "You reach a point where the very language you speak is not even intelligible to the wider society. It doesn't even make sense to them anymore. Plato writes about this, of course, and in The Republic. Where Socrates goes to trial and he said, "It's useless for me to carry out a defense." Because it's like somebody who stole a piece of bread going before the baker. They don't even speak the language to understand that deeper morality that exists. And I think that you know that is now within the society, it has become almost impossible to speak in this language."

[@Cheyne4Chelsea]

I half remember a great quote about what happens when technological development outpaces moral development. That is clearly the case in the world today, and if not reversed it WILL destroy humanity. The only question is how soon

[@theprisonerofzenda2862]

Well, some people we love idolatry, love icons, paintings, sculptures, and any kind of Art that depicts the human body and soul as the holy picture and spirit of God.

[@2serve4Christ]

35:20 "That every cause you fought for, the situation is more dire, but that doesn't invalidate what you do. And I think that the #good does draw to it the good. I saw that in war zones but I think that's what it is intangible. Which is what #faith is. So we don't know where it goes, but faith is the belief that it goes somewhere. That it's not futile. That it exists even after our own lifetime."

[@BobJohnson648]

Social media can be a source for learning and good

[@Juan-ud3if]

Salute Chris Hedges.🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋

[@jeannedouglas9912]

Excellent

[@inuwooddog3027]

We aren't guided by morality. We are guided by self-created values. A value called Democracy. All sins committed in the name of it, and the end justify the means.

[@matthewkopp2391]

Democracy is not self created values it is governance by the will of the people. We don’t have democracy. We never had democracy and the creators of the constitution never intended to create democracy.

[@guozijian]

Thank yiou

[@testtest2609]

Corporatism is fascism. - Mussolini (who coined the word fascism)

[@Dave183]

Many people are trying to recovery from the after-effects of trauma, while trying to gain a healthy sense of self...

[@geoffreynhill2833]

Him speak without forked tongue. (Greets from UK)

[@ChickpeatheTortie]

My favourite man.

[@mikeoglen6848]

Some very interesting ideas here...

[@SlackKeyPaddy]

Celebration Not of THE SELF but of a personality with no individuality just superficial appearance!

[@AnAngelineer]

I gave up career opportunities in artificial intelligence and/or software to outsource jobs. But it's not like it changed anything. But I also have, to be in honesty, to recognize that was in a privileged economic position when I did that choice. Unlike many, refusing an higher pay at a less ethical job didn't put me in economic danger. So I'm far from being a hero. But the fact I was called stupid by almost everyone around me pretty much everyone, just because I made this small sacrifice for the sake of morality, factually demonstrated how screwed we are : for most people. Morality is equated to stupidity. "Intelligence" now meaning being a selfish, shrewd capitalist. And nothing else.

[@Lynn-ce8rr]

It's definitely large corporations !!!!

[@OlafsonN]

Uncle Chris 🤗

[@odzychris7996]

Chris Hedges, just to your point, from a Catholic view. The once great Catholic nation, Ireland, now, according to one report, has only 20 seminarians in the whole contry. Once they had so many priests they were among the leading missionary producing countries in the world.

[@deanhedges-sf7tw]

I am a Hedges too! how fun to make a video together, we can call it "between the Hedges"!

[@smjbr79]

Chris hedges is one of my heroes, but this is the issue. Firstly, morality has a lot to do with how you were raised...genetics...society...etc...so if you are to be judged in this lifetime or the next due to so many factors that you had no control over...how exactly does that make sense at all. For example, Chis himself was raised by a priest father which is rare in itself and obviously had certain advantages over many other...so morality to me is more of about luck and opportunity and less about choice. You see these factors the more you work on your own issues. You have to work on yourself firstly. Just like your religious proclivities have almost 100% correlation to the society you grew up in.

[@juliablom3461]

The way I think about what you have described is that those that have received and blessed by God to be born into a family that promotes a relationship with God will have more that is expected from then compared to some one who has been born into a morally corrupt family.

[@Cheyne4Chelsea]

If there is a just Gd then that Gd would take all those factors into account when bestowing any judgment Regardless, we should be forgiving in our judgments of the morality of other individuals and encourage them to just get better and better. It's certainly not realistic for someone to go from a monster to a saint overnight. Likewise for larger groups or whole nations

[@AndreaFilippoLongo]

The state should care about the mental health of its people. Leaving kids free to access without restrictions, those dopamine factories (social networks), for example, is a huge mistake. The state should promote social behaviours instead of this narcissistic culture that markets seem to love very much.

[@sndspderbytes]

It's when you become a person of power wealth and influence that being a greedy stupid brut and liar that there becomes a serious problem. Americans should find exceptional people and make them run for office.. We need reluctant leaders that we know are better people than we are. It's ok to be trash as long as you vote for people better than you are. That is more important than you becoming a better person while not voting or voting for monsters.

[@naturalfreeness322]

What we claim we want to see and want to be, but we don't act on it, nice, Mass complicity.

[@clumsydad7158]

the cult of the self, the abnegation of the species = future toxicity

[@madebutante]

Also maslow before he died wanted to change The pinnacle of his pyramid From self realization to self transcendence so instead of self absorption we would have Is selfless care 4others

[@SkullyTheHypnoSkull]

Chris Hedges also wrote comics! He's a comicbook writer.

[@paulkesler1744]

To my knowledge, the only "comicbook" under the Hedges byline was DAYS OF DESTRUCTION, DAYS OF REVOLT, in collaboration with the cartoonist Joe Sacco. However, Hedges only wrote the text. The "comic" drawings were by Sacco. Hedges has a good sense of humor -- he's shown that in past interviews -- but he's not a "comicbook writer." I'm only guessing, but in this book Hedges may have drawn inspiration from MAUS, A SURVIVOR'S TALE by Art Spiegelman (cartoonist). That book was about the Holocaust, and it showed that a comicbook format could still convey a powerful social message.

[@timrichardson518]

The culture of self undermines the rule of law by promoting self-aggrandizement by any means necessary. As long as I follow the law, to the letter, then whatever I need to do to get a head is justified. This is why lawyers are in such demand in American society, especially the corporate world. The glorification the self promotes legalism and a fine parsing of the letter of the law. I would argue that it completely avoids the intent of the law.

[@spiritualpolitics8205]

We have the worst of both worlds, people who reverse the intent of the law (Title IX) by executive order, and have a coven of lawyers ready to jesuitically parse the law from only one side of the political debate...

[@patrickconnolly2654]

Written into the constitution is our "GOD GIVEN RIGHT" to the pursuit of happiness 😢 ---the pursuit of peace is not anywhere in sight. (The rearview mirror is 20-20 ) blindness must be easier than clarity. I'm assuming the pursuit of peace was our mission at one time. 🤔

[@timothygrayson]

The original mission was the sanctity of life and its preservation.

[@NickDanger0001]

god given? Sheesh.

[@matthewkopp2391]

That’s the Declaration of Independence not the constitution.

[@Tamales21]

Oh Man can't wait to see clips of this on Chris Hedge Fan Club

[@marilynmelzian7370]

I am in the humanities in the academic world, and that part of the university is now dominated not by corporate desires, but by Marxist-based ideologies and postmodernism. It is no longer possible to have a good discussion because religious and non-leftist viewpoints are no longer allowed. Corporations and governments may dominate the STEM programs, but not the humanities. Also, you are behind the times in regard to corporations. They are now becoming increasingly political and ideological.

[@robertlevy2420]

The relationship between the "I" and the "we" and morality can be so contradictory!! In military training they try to erase "i" to inculcate "we" thinking. This can lead to atrocities of just following orders! Here individual moral resistance is key! Our are choices just anarchy or being lemmings???!!!

[@thisperfectworld]

What date did this take place? Thank you.

[@saf3152]

It was recorded in February of this year.

[@jwclau1]

The 'Rockstar' attitude

[@ruthieworldtravels]

Hedges describes current politicians and other PiP to a tee!

[@khalilcanady2012]

Mr. Hedges, great topic!!!! Just make the word " Self" have a lower case " self".... self- ego/ Self - God.

[@janetwebb1507]

MATERIALSM & CONSUMERISM

[@paulgibbons2320]

If your idol is money then you are also condemned. You cannot have two masters. Balaam's works are a recipe to condemn anyone. Idol is something you worship as a God. If you still know yourself to be mortal then your fine. It's celebrities who might fall foul of this one.

[@2serve4Christ]

19:32 "You don't have to go to Harvard Divinity School, as I did for three years, to figure out that Jesus didn't come to make us rich. Or that somehow, Jesus might bless the dropping of iron fragmentation bombs all over the Middle East, or that our neighbor is somehow satanic."

[@paxwallace8324]

Well as James Burke pointed out in "The Day the Universe Changed" the most salient distinguishing characteristic of Western thought is the "Preeminence of the Individual" which brings with it the importance of the Hero or brilliant lone individual (this is why Faust is a central Allegory of Western Civilization), this is why one can only through a list of names completely reference an entire field of study in the West; ie Capernicus, Galileo, Newton , Maxwell, Einstein, Bohr, But in lets say Chinese history nobody knows the names of so many important innovators because the only individual recognized was the Emperor. Sure that's a gross over simplification but it's true enough. Now What used to accompany the preeminence of the Individual was a deep reverence for all things academic as well as the very idea of Democracy. Ah but there's the rub. Another truth this time from the East☯️states that the closer you get to maximizeing yin or yang then the more crucial the stableizing effect of the opposite charteristic becomes. So if Democracy is the ultimate expression of the preeminence of the individual then suddenly adherence to selfless philosophical principles outide of personal gain become paramount or Democracy becomes distorted into Cleptocracy and Oligarchy.

[@nolawnnate5934]

Growing up in Houston showed me the geologists, chemists, and inner workings of oil corporations; there was also the coup d'etat-style social license oil and gas gained in the city. The death instinct lurks beneath the false community built around oil and natural resource extraction. There is an imminent flood positioned so close to the Gulf of Mexico. Educated class work for oil money and raise nice families on high ground. The oil money sponsors much of what makes the city remotely cultural: events, art, including Kinder Morgan. Houstonians rely on oil money so there is an investment bias in pulling out of a suicide pact that is fossil fuel dependency, goes for most of the US

[@beepbeep1213]

Celebration of the self independently is Stoic. Celebration of the self in an aggregate, communal, societal sense is idolatry.

[@JSwift-jq3wn]

"So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water." Matthew 8:34