Q&A on American Sadism
The great 20th-century Irish poet William Butler Yeats wrote, “We had fed the heart on fantasies, The heart’s grown brutal from the fare.” The United States has long fed its heart with fairy tales about itself. Hardly a day goes by without some new story being spun about our noble intentions, benevolence and devotion to international law. Sadism is not something new. Just ask indigenous peoples and Blacks or the Vietnamese and Iraqis. Chris Hedges warns, “The violence and exploitation, which has long defined imperial projects, now defines existence at home. For empires, in the end, cannibalize themselves. The tyranny we long imposed on others, we now impose on ourselves. The dark pleasure derived from exploiting others is all that is left.”
Recorded at the Sanctuary for Independent Media.
Speaker

Chris Hedges
Chris Hedges is an award-winning journalist who has reported from war zones around the world. Cornel West calls him, “The greatest radical writer and journalist of our generation.” He writes a weekly column for scheerpost.com. He is the host of The Chris Hedges Report. He is the author of many books including War Is a Force that Gives Us Meaning, Empire of Illusion, Death of the Liberal Class, Wages of Rebellion, Our Class, and The Greatest Evil is War.
Marie Mahler –
I’m not an American and I have experienced the pushback of the community.
Thank you for bringing the subject on the air.
Judi Manthou –
Really fantastic-fills in so many holes and makes so much sense. Should be required information for anyone truly interested in strengthening democracy.
Ellen Carey –
Outstanding! Should be on all media outlets.