Last year, Chris Hedges advocated self-immolation as a way to protest the Gaza genocide. In his latest demoralized screed, he transfers blame for the crimes of the Israeli-Zionist state and capitalist imperialism to the entire human race. Gaza, he proclaims, proves the futility of any belief in the possibility of human progress.
I don’t blame anyone for being depressed but this reminds me why I so, so hate the liberal notion of “shared human guilt” which just lends itself to misanthropy (and also indirectly absolves the actual bad actors). It’s only natural if you subscribe to “naturalistic” explanations for why the world is the way it is, I suppose.
Shared guilt is erasure of class antagonism, as proven in the united states and germany in this day and age. It forces consolidation and class collaboration between the working class and bourgeoisie elements. Frankly too many leftists are blinded by it, because it sounds radical and has the trappings of “taking accountability”
It’s especially annoying when talking about imperialism, labor aristocracy and settler-colonialism. Many “leftists” have a hard time with nuance and understanding what “contradiction” means, I found.
The empire is not above using revolutionary/leftist sounding words and thoughts to lead people back into the fold and defang them.
A Palestinian gave me a lecture about this and quite shamed me that my narrative is shifting blame on them, instead on the occupiers, but I think that I am too depressed not to blame everyone, including Palestinans. On the other hand, I was always a misanthrope and my political stances aren’t consistent and developed, so fuck my feelings.
What no theory does to a mfer. Poor guy. He’s been dooming so hard.
Chris Hedges is the perfect example of idealist thinking and a lack of class analysis, strains of his thought are even widespread on this very website.
Chris Hedges:
The People:
The World Order:
I know his name but IDK what his appeal is to get him a sizeable leftist platform, the little bit I’ve actually seen of him has seemed pretty reactionary
