Chris Hedges interviews Norman Finkelstein (1/3)

[bassammaelborno]

(10)

Throughout history, there has been observed a regularity in which society martyrs the rebel in one generation, only to worship him in the next.

From Rollo May (Existential Psychologist 1909-1994)

[bassammaelborno]

(9)

The authentic Rebel knows that the silencing of his adversaries, is the last thing he wishes.

Their extermination would deprive him, and whomever else, from the uniqueness, the originality, and the capacity for insight, that these enemies, who being Human, also have, and could share with him.

If we wish the death of our enemies, we cannot talk about the Community of Man.

In our losing of a chance to dialogue with our enemy, we are the poorer.

[bassammaelborno]

(8)

This is a tale representing the agony of the creative individual, whose nightly rest only resuscitates him so that he can endure his agonies the next day.

[bassammaelborno]

(7)

In Greek mythology, Prometheus, one of the Titans, steals fire from the Gods on Mount Olympus and then brings it as a gift to Man, marking the birth of Human Civilization.

For this rebellion, Zeus sentences him to be chained to Mount Caucasus, where vultures consume his liver during the day, only to have it grow back every night, so that it can be eaten away once again the following day.

[bassammaelborno]

(6)

The function of the Rebel is to shake the fixated mores of the rigid order of Civilization, and it is this shaking, though painful, which he believes is necessary, if the society is to be saved from boredom and apathy.

Civilization begins with a rebellion .... it gets its first Flower from the Rebel.

[bassammaelborno]

(5)

The Rebel fights not only for the relief of his fellow Man, but also for his Personal Integrity.

For him, these are but two sides of the same coin.

[bassammaelborno]

(4)

True to the meaning of the Rebel, as one who renounces authority, he seeks primarily not the substitution of one political system for another.

He may favor such a political change, however it is not his chief goal.

He rebels for the sake of a Vision of Life and Society, which he is convinced, is critically important for himself and all others.

[bassammaelborno]

(3)

No matter how much the Rebel gives the appearance of being egocentric, or of being on an ego trip, this is but an Illusion.

Inwardly, the authentic Rebel is anything but brash.

[bassammaelborno]

(2)

He kicks against the pricks, and when one frontier is conquered, he soon becomes ill-at-ease, pushing on to the new frontier. He is drawn to the unquiet minds and spirits, for he shares their everlasting inability to accept stultifying Control.

He may, as Socrates did, refer to himself as the Gadfly for the State, the one who keeps the state from settling down into a Complacency, which is the first step towards Decadence.

[RPenta]

I am sorry that Hitchens was not buried so that some day, some time, an Iraqi widower or orphan could go and urinate on his grave.

[theodpliske]

Htchens never had anything interesting to say, ever.

[conantdog]

To bad his great mind was finally corrupted by fear and hate of so called terrorists. He I missed.

[bfoaliali]

Finkelstein, Chomsky, and Hedges would all wish to have the charisma that Hitchens had. What a tragic loss. I still miss him. Hitchens would have so much to add to this discussion.

[AndrewMann552]

@bfoaliali He would have added paranoid, neocon rants mixed with bizarre statements about Muslims.

[ronrutherford]

Two intellectual heavy weights for sure. Would love to hear them with Hitchens and Chomsky (if Hitch were still with us) all together discuss Middle Eastern policy.

[missysummertime]

I don't want to speak ill of the dead but I don't think Hitchens would add anything to the discussion.

[Uncle99B]

@missysummertime . Hitch would have brought his usual condescending manner and shallow opinions to the debate. We could have heard his usual Zionist talking points

[NaBjE11]

@ronrutherford hitchens wouldnt add anything usefull

[ohsfhacker]

@ronrutherford Hitchens would be a heavyweight at defending power against the powerless when it comes to Zionism. Hitchens would bravely rush to the aid of the wealthy and heavily armed.

[normalkuriboh]

@ohsfhacker I am as big of a fan of Chomsky as anybody but don't you dare imply that Hitchens was anything but intellectually honest, and a free thinker. This world is worse off without him. You are misguided and misinformed, sir, and I would ask you to retract your statement.

[MenOfLetters]

@normalkuriboh For a perceptive view of Hitch I would invite you to see Norman Finkelstein's video on him below and to consult his fine essay in CounterPunch examining his politics called "Hitchens as Model Apostate":

watch?v=mgB20YmqN6A

[znikacz]

Brave, intelligent, humble and witty.

[phellenic]

he truly is a man that cares about humanity