Christopher Hedges, the former NY Times reporter infamously booed off a college commencement stage in the middle of an anti-war rant in May 2003 , has a new book out with the hauntingly ambivalent title, "American Fascists -- The Christian Right and the War on America."
Contributor Rick Perlstein reviews it in the Times' Sunday book section and finds it unconvincing (although Perlstein seems to share some of Hedges' paranoia regarding conservative Christians):
"Hedges was a longtime foreign correspondent, for The New York Times and other publications. But he writes on this subject as a neophyte, and pads out his dispatches with ungrounded theorizing, unconvincing speculation and examples that fall far short of bearing out his thesis."
That's as far as the review goes about Hedges' 15-year-history at the Times.
By not quoting from Hedges' book, Perlstein was kind. The Los Angeles Times assigned its review to professor Jon Wiener, who delves deeper into Hedges' text and unearths disturbing quotations suggesting the "liberal" Hedges has an authoritarian intolerance for opinions he disagrees with.
Here's an excerpt from Wiener's unfavorable review of "American Fascists."
"Nevertheless, Hedges concludes that the Christian right 'should no longer be tolerated,' because it 'would destroy the tolerance that makes an open society possible.' What does he think should be done? He endorses the view that 'any movement preaching intolerance places itself outside the law,' and therefore we should treat 'incitement to intolerance and persecution as criminal.' Thus he rejects the 1st Amendment protections for freedom of speech and religion, and court rulings that permit prosecution for speech only if there is an imminent threat to particular individuals.
"Hedges advocates passage of federal hate-crimes legislation prohibiting intolerance, but he doesn't really explain how it would work. Many countries do prohibit 'hate speech.' Holocaust denial, for example, is a crime in Germany, Austria and several other European countries. But does this mean that Hedges favors prosecuting Christian fundamentalists for declaring, for example, that abortion providers are murderers or that secular humanists are agents of Satan? He doesn't say."
For more New York Times bias, visit TimesWatch.
—Clay Waters is the director of Times Watch, an MRC project tracking the New York Times.
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Pictures are worth a thousand
January 9, 2007 - 15:52 ET by bigtimerPictures are worth a thousand words....and this picture of Hedges says all you need to know regarding this story.
Picture perfect!
Four letter word for this guy....
Evil.
"If we ever forget that we are a Nation Under God....then we will be a Nation Gone Under." Ronald Reagan
I don't know exactly what the
January 10, 2007 - 06:17 ET by Dave RI don't know exactly what the spawn of Satan would look like, but something tells me it would resemble this guy.
As far as I know, aside from the 7th Century barbarians who have declared war on us, the only other "War on America" that I can see is the one currently being waged by our friends on the left.
This is just further evidence that some of the "tolerant" liberals true aim is to outlaw Christianity.
He does appear like a vision
January 10, 2007 - 06:21 ET by Andrew H.He does appear like a vision from central casting--the mad nazi doctor or executioner or something like that.
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
Hedges
January 10, 2007 - 07:55 ET by PShannonThree letter word -- fag.
"Nevertheless, Hedges co
January 9, 2007 - 16:00 ET by Conservative in the Arts"Nevertheless, Hedges concludes that the Christian right 'should no longer be tolerated,' because it 'would destroy the tolerance that makes an open society possible.'
yep....this makes sence. We need to promote tolerance by being intolerant.
Can one of our lib friends explain this to me?
I can explain the conservative condrums that the libs don't get: being pro-life while supporting capital punishment, think we can have peace by threating violence
I'd like to have a good hard core lib try to explain this oxy-moron to me.
Its perfectly absurd. Hedge
January 9, 2007 - 16:19 ET by Ten7sIts perfectly absurd. Hedges is the one engaging in "hate-speech" and showing his evil bigotry in this book. But he's not unique. Liberalism (really Cultural Marxism) is totalitarian in its very nature as one can easily see from Political Correctness, perhaps the most common representation of Liberalism.
"Hedges concludes that
January 9, 2007 - 16:03 ET by MightyMouth"Hedges concludes that the Christian right 'should no longer be
tolerated,' because it 'would destroy the tolerance that makes an open
society possible"
This guy wrote a book with logic like that? Don't tolerate Christians, to preserve tolerance? I thought I had seen stupidity, but this takes the cake folks!
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
With the following statement
January 9, 2007 - 16:25 ET by FastEdWith the following statement - " He endorses the view that 'any movement preaching intolerance places itself outside the law,' and therefore we should treat 'incitement to intolerance and persecution as criminal.' " we should join with him and endorse what he's saying. Think it through, slowly, slow down . . .
What does the msm (Lsm) preach every day? Bush is Bad, we can't stand what he stands for, he mean, etc., IS this not intolerance being preached? Hence, unintended consequences - msm, criminalized! (but would get suspended sentence from lib judges)
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad
Intolerance of intolerance is
January 9, 2007 - 16:48 ET by mattmIntolerance of intolerance is intolerance.
These Leftists have been mis-using the term "fascist" for over 4 decades now. They don't even understand the word. If they did, they'd be against tyrants like Saddamned, Ah-mad-insane-jihad, Castro, Chavez, Jong iLL etc.
But, instead, they side with the fascist/communist/tyrannical totalitarians and line up against America and those, like Bush and the falsely named "Christian Right" and others they include on the "right", who are the ones defending the very freedoms that allow them to dissent even if they don't know what the hell they're talking about.
They are either misguided, insane, ignorant or deliberately deceitful-with a malevolent agenda, or a combination thereof. It is the Left who is preaching intolerance. Christians and other "conservatives" have a set of moral and ethical standards, but that's not the same as intolerance. People like Hedges would outlaw Christianity if they could - so who's the intolerant one???
TOLERANCE = INTOLERANCEFREE S
January 9, 2007 - 16:34 ET by richflanjTOLERANCE = INTOLERANCE
FREE SPEECH = ONLY SPEECH LIBERALS AGREE WITH
George Orwell anyone?
"The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously." --Hubert Humphrey
We love George:)!"IF GOD
January 9, 2007 - 16:39 ET by TruthMongerWe love George:)!
"IF GOD BE FOR US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?"
ROMANS 8:31
Terrorists are not Muslims, Nazi's were not Christians, etc, etc...
Delighfully Orwellian sir!
January 9, 2007 - 16:40 ET by Rupert CadellDelighfully Orwellian sir! Four legs good!
Michael Moore = Ann Coulter = Rosie O'Donnell = Sean Hannity. Idiocy is not partisan.
Well, this takes the cake. A
January 9, 2007 - 16:35 ET by bassndudeWell, this takes the cake. A moron can write, and a book at that. Ignore the fact that it cant be reasoned out and uses rants and raves instead of facts. Lies instead of truth.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
A moron can write, and a
January 9, 2007 - 16:38 ET by Rupert CadellA moron can write, and a book at that. Ignore the fact that it cant be reasoned out and uses rants and raves instead of facts.
Let's not drag Ann Coulter into this!
Couldn't resist. Seriously though, seems like something one should read in order to form such a strong opinion about.
Michael Moore = Ann Coulter = Rosie O'Donnell = Sean Hannity. Idiocy is not partisan.
Sometimes you CAN judge a book by its title
January 10, 2007 - 07:35 ET by UnsaneWhat is there to read? From the title alone I can detect that this author fears his own citizens far more than those who actually killed 3000 people in his home city five years ago, and altered thousands of families just as clearly as they altered the New York skyline.
That's one book I cross off of my list. Just as all I needed to do with Jimmy Carter's latest is to read the title of the book.
On occasion, you CAN judge a book by its title.
"HAV3 TH3 BRIDG3S OF INSANITY B33N CROSS3D AND FOR3V3R R3TRACT3D???." - Meshuggah, "3ntrapm3nt", from Catch Thirty Thr33 (2005)
We're not engaged in a conspi
January 9, 2007 - 16:43 ET by Andrew H.We're not engaged in a conspiracy to turn America into a fascist state--we're engaged in the idea that there is a God--and that He has delivered to us a blueprint for salvation. In no way are we to force anyone to accept this divine treasure. Some do and will, some don't and won't.
What the author seems to be is a hateful lefty who desires to legislate a morality that in his view is correct. So much hate embodied here he loses any credibilty he may enjoy--what a waste of print and cover material. Those who buy the book are largely those who hate the notion of God--perhaps it is fear that drives them--fear of being wrong. And they are wrong.
In our country, it seems it is the left that borders on totalitarianism--many would have the rest of us who do not share their ideas in a dangerous position. Is it not the left after all that would take away our freedoms? This book proves part of it.
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
It isn't God the left rejects
January 9, 2007 - 17:58 ET by msh1973It isn't God the left rejects, it is Jesus. They would all, Hedges included, like to see Christianity outlawed in America.
If I were casting a WWII movi
January 9, 2007 - 18:05 ET by RackieIf I were casting a WWII movie, I'd certainly want Chris as the Nazi antagonist.
Is he creepy looking or what?
This guy looks like he got hi
January 9, 2007 - 20:09 ET by MivvisThis guy looks like he got his a** kicked one too many times in school. Probably took his lunch money too, those evil Christian kids.
Nazi Philosophy rehash?
January 10, 2007 - 06:48 ET by Mr. TerryI remember hearing a speech by one of the nazis where they demanded all protestant and catholic churches be done away with. School children were forced to proclaim Hitler as their "savior". Is this guy like the pot calling the kettle black? He said Christians are "facists". If you repeat a lie often enough people will believe it.
His statement that, "the 'Christian right' should no longer be tolerated because it would destroy the tolerance that makes an open society possible" is a misnomer. The lefties need to switch to decaf...they are not thinking clearly!
His statement that "incitement to intolerance and persecution [is] criminal" is fearsome. Since when is tolerance a virtue? Not only do the lefties want us to "tolerate" their behavior, they want us to ACCEPT it. That is their definition of tolerance.
I think not Mr. Hedges.
Throw-back
January 10, 2007 - 07:25 ET by Mr. TerryThis guy is a throw-back to the totalitarianism of Europe. Maybe he should team up with Elton John and they could sing about it when they outlaw freedom of religion in America.
If you don't like the 1st Amendment then move, we don't like you either.
All in all Hedges is another Liberal Reporter reaching for brain
January 10, 2007 - 07:29 ET by acaiguanaAll in all Hedges is another Liberal Reporter reaching for brains.
This is his intellectual debut? Or has he done something else to contribute to Wester Civilized thought?
ACA
...
Acaiguana says: "Which city is next?"