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Journalist describes addiction to war
By Hillary Wundrow
Daily News staff writer
“We have destabilized the Middle East and are the best thing that ever happened to Al-Qaeda.”
Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges, a veteran war correspondent, spoke about the nations' attraction to war and the danger of that courtship. Hedges shared his views in a lecture at Beloit College Monday.
Part of a series on moral values, sponsored by the college's Spiritual Life Program, Hedges' lecture ranged from commentary on current events to philosophic debate on the inner workings of human nature. Hedges is known is this area for his 2003 Commencement Address at Rockford College. Audience members booed Hedges off stage after he spoke out against the current war in Iraq.
In his speech at Beloit College, Hedges highlighted his 15 years of experience covering wars in El Salvador, Africa, Yemen, Bosnia, Israel and Iraq. After graduating from Harvard Divinity School, Hedges started his international reporting career.
“I couldn't ever say I was happy in war, but I had a sense of purpose,” admitted Hedges.
Hedges went on to explain how war can intoxicate people and nations and provide them with an incentive and justification for gross cruelty to other people. Hedges called war the most potent narcotic in the human mind and the most addictive behavior in history. The War in Iraq, Hedges said, was fed to the American public by feel good stories.
“The enemy was always painted as uncivilized and barbaric,” Hedges said.
Once Hedges arrived in his first war zone in El Salvador, he discovered the ugly underside of war.
“It was horrifying, confusing, numbing and nothing like the myth I'd been peddled,” Hedges said.
Soon Hedges said he, like other reporters, became cloaked in war. He later developed a nervous twitch in his face. After his first assignment was finished, however, Hedges wasn't ready to give up on war.
“I would have rather died like this than go back to the dull routine,” Hedges said.
While Hedges hurled shocking accusations against the government, the military and the general media, much of Hedges message reflected his own personal attraction to war time and his career stemming from it.
“Many correspondents couldn't break free from the dance of death. They were always seeking one more hit,” Hedges said.
Hedges said that many peoples' quest for meaning and a collective identity led them to become more accepting of war. During war times countries were more united and patriotism was high.
Those serving fell into the illusion that their service had a higher meaning. Hedges said some even felt a ‘warm glow' after 9-11.
“We felt alive. We connected with others. We never felt alienated,” Hedges said.
Once war goers were seduced by the rush of patriotism and the contagion of the crowd, they found meaning in the comradeship of war. Hedges emphasized, however, how comradeship is different from true friendship, what he called an emotional and intellectual affinity.
“Ecstatic bliss comes with belonging to the crowd in war time. Once war ends, however, comrades become strangers,” Hedges said.
Hedges went on to describe the underbelly of war. All who participate in war, Hedges said, are ultimately devastated by the experience. Hedges described bodies hung on barns in Bosnia and the other gruesome after effects of war.
Hedges said war allowed people to engage in lust and passions in their fantasy life.
Although some people in war are against it, the actual killers, Hedges said, aren't anti-war. Hedges said he knew many soldiers carrying identification cards of those they killed. Many of those who started out with a clean psyche often became psychologically damaged with continuous exposure to war. After living in the enticement of death for so long, Hedges said some would become killers or suicide bombers.
Hedges offered no solutions to the current situation in Iraq and advised against an immediate withdrawal without safeguarding the country against a civil war.
“If we pack up and leave overnight, it will be bloody and horrible,” Hedges said.
Daily News staff writer
“We have destabilized the Middle East and are the best thing that ever happened to Al-Qaeda.”
Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges, a veteran war correspondent, spoke about the nations' attraction to war and the danger of that courtship. Hedges shared his views in a lecture at Beloit College Monday.
Part of a series on moral values, sponsored by the college's Spiritual Life Program, Hedges' lecture ranged from commentary on current events to philosophic debate on the inner workings of human nature. Hedges is known is this area for his 2003 Commencement Address at Rockford College. Audience members booed Hedges off stage after he spoke out against the current war in Iraq.
In his speech at Beloit College, Hedges highlighted his 15 years of experience covering wars in El Salvador, Africa, Yemen, Bosnia, Israel and Iraq. After graduating from Harvard Divinity School, Hedges started his international reporting career.
“I couldn't ever say I was happy in war, but I had a sense of purpose,” admitted Hedges.
Hedges went on to explain how war can intoxicate people and nations and provide them with an incentive and justification for gross cruelty to other people. Hedges called war the most potent narcotic in the human mind and the most addictive behavior in history. The War in Iraq, Hedges said, was fed to the American public by feel good stories.
“The enemy was always painted as uncivilized and barbaric,” Hedges said.
Once Hedges arrived in his first war zone in El Salvador, he discovered the ugly underside of war.
“It was horrifying, confusing, numbing and nothing like the myth I'd been peddled,” Hedges said.
Soon Hedges said he, like other reporters, became cloaked in war. He later developed a nervous twitch in his face. After his first assignment was finished, however, Hedges wasn't ready to give up on war.
“I would have rather died like this than go back to the dull routine,” Hedges said.
While Hedges hurled shocking accusations against the government, the military and the general media, much of Hedges message reflected his own personal attraction to war time and his career stemming from it.
“Many correspondents couldn't break free from the dance of death. They were always seeking one more hit,” Hedges said.
Hedges said that many peoples' quest for meaning and a collective identity led them to become more accepting of war. During war times countries were more united and patriotism was high.
Those serving fell into the illusion that their service had a higher meaning. Hedges said some even felt a ‘warm glow' after 9-11.
“We felt alive. We connected with others. We never felt alienated,” Hedges said.
Once war goers were seduced by the rush of patriotism and the contagion of the crowd, they found meaning in the comradeship of war. Hedges emphasized, however, how comradeship is different from true friendship, what he called an emotional and intellectual affinity.
“Ecstatic bliss comes with belonging to the crowd in war time. Once war ends, however, comrades become strangers,” Hedges said.
Hedges went on to describe the underbelly of war. All who participate in war, Hedges said, are ultimately devastated by the experience. Hedges described bodies hung on barns in Bosnia and the other gruesome after effects of war.
Hedges said war allowed people to engage in lust and passions in their fantasy life.
Although some people in war are against it, the actual killers, Hedges said, aren't anti-war. Hedges said he knew many soldiers carrying identification cards of those they killed. Many of those who started out with a clean psyche often became psychologically damaged with continuous exposure to war. After living in the enticement of death for so long, Hedges said some would become killers or suicide bombers.
Hedges offered no solutions to the current situation in Iraq and advised against an immediate withdrawal without safeguarding the country against a civil war.
“If we pack up and leave overnight, it will be bloody and horrible,” Hedges said.
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