The Chris Hedges Report: Breaking the cycle of American violence 

This is the kind of interview that needs to be on a show like 60 Minutes. US corporate media is trash.

Out of all the things to admire about Chris Hedges my favourite is when he interweaves life with literature. I could listen to these 2 special men forever. Thank you

No way- you mean to tell me that treating people like they're lesser instills, in them, feelings of being lesser?? Wild.

“Americas Foundation is BUILT on Injustice.” Times UP.

Chris, I have never seen or heard this put so well, and informed so well by real experience. That psychiatrist is a great man.

"The Origins of War in Child Abuse" - Lloyd DeMause.

As a homeless advocate, I was trying to say this for years. Everytown USA has been busy passing more and more anti-homeless laws. I spoke at one town Council explaining to them that the more of these laws you pass, the worse the behavior is going to become because you are not giving any incentive for good behavior. Most people on the streets are trauma victims- the most entrenched cases suffered horrible childhoods. And society just heaps more contempt on their heads. Even the church people who help or social workers supposed to be there as support. This only reinforces everything. I said it time and time again, but this is a sensitive approach that people don't seem to have time for. I will quote my fiance, Greg, who had a horrific childhood and lived on the streets for decades before he passed away from cancer- "Tough love doesn't work."

No one sees the importance of training guards how to deal with inmates as humans.

This show has been absolutely 🔥 lately

This goes back to what I learned from reading Hannah Arendt. People need to feel accepted by the community they live in. People MUST act in the community in order to be judged, and they desire to be judged as a useful member of society. That is the basis of how we form our personality. Unlike what some other psychologists might suggest, you can’t fix this by simply cleaning your room. There must be some place available for you to interact with your community, and that can only come from the community. You cannot generate a public square on an individual basis. That’s why social media is so toxic. People aren’t judged by their actions on social media, they’re judged by the actions that they have curated for others. They don’t get satisfaction from it because they know it’s not an honest representation of who they are. They still aren’t developing a personality, they are crafting one, and it feels hollow. Usually that public square would be your workplace. It’s where you get to most directly demonstrate your usefulness to those around you. If your society belittles people into being an expendable cog who can be replaced at a moment’s notice with little to no impact on society, then they will experience a personality crisis. That personality crisis manifests itself in totalitarian ideology and violence. It forms the foundation for the extremes we are seeing on both sides of the political aisle.

Childhood abuse, from any corner, can easily be determinative in a human life. As to animals not having souls, that's self-serving. If we didn't think so, how could we be so terribly abusive toward them? People used to behave and speak of their human slaves in the same manner and for the same reasons.

I did 3 years inside. James Gilligan is dropping 100% truth here.

Excellent . He is gets right to the point. Violence begetting more Violence and Love, Compassion and Empathy doing the begetting Love, Compassion and Empathy.

Dr.Gilligan's insights are amazing and important, wonderful interview

This is a subject that needs more discussions in the US. I can go anywhere and hear about the violence here, but where can I casually go to hear practical wisdom about how to break the cycle of violence in a style of common wisdom or an educational forum? I think this kind of wisdom would be revolutionary and change the world.

Hurt people truly do hurt people. The solution is simple and always the same: we must love one another.

This was a wonderful discussion, thank u both ❤️

So, we go in circles ending up where we began...that is the price of denial that we are and remain "animals".

This is one of the most important conversations I've watched on all my time on RU-vid. Thoughtful, empathetic, initially challenging but making complete sense. Cheers to everyone involved. Will certainly be looking out for Gilligan's books.

Maybe Mr. Hedges could have Gabor Mate or John Bradshaw on as a guest. These men are acutely aware what childhood trauma does to the soul. And parents--there are a lot of people who should never be allowed to raise children because thet've never dealt with own psychic childhood wounding.

Two great minds right here right now. Great insights brothers.

The child abused today is the abuser of the future....

This was heart breaking

Compassionate People like Chris Hedges are a gift to Humanity. God Bless them.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

THANK-YOU CHRIS HEDGES FOR THIS PROFOUND INTERVIEW , THANK- YOU Dr. James Gilligan

Childhood trauma followed by criminal justice trauma creates monsters

Thank you Chris Hedge and RNN for producing work like this. You guys are invaluable.

This was fantastic and brought up some deep perennial philosophical themes. Love you, Chris! I don’t have many heroes, and you are one of them.

Very important discussion. Dr. Gilligan is a sage of kindness, as is Chris

In my culture we use Huayuhuaska or mushrooms to open up the realm of consciousness where spirituality and Souls reside. This allows a person to understand and therefore be able to negotiate their way that which is unknown. Today's scientists are just beginning to understand how hallucinogens can be a form of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Enjoyed the podcast, I'm glad this made it over to RU-vid as well.

Can we please use this knowledge to support parents?! Proper parenting could prevent so much, but we provide almost zero supports to parents.

This is top notch! 👌

Holy shit. I should have taken psychology. I've long believed that some violent criminals could be reached, if shown/given the opportunity to see, their own value/humanity. Good stuff. 👍🏼

Another reason why listening to Black ppl in the U.S. is critical, bc we've been saying what OG is saying for years. It's not criminal justice it's criminal punishment that we have here. And it's not accidental that they use punitive methods here rather than rehabilitative ones, antiBlackness and white supremacy are fundamental to all policies in the U.S.

Let's grant for a moment the reasonable premise that violent childhood abuse and subsequent adult violence, are closely linked. What, then, is so appallingly wrong with US childrearing practices that leads such outcomes on a society -wide scale? It's really for very many, an essentially puritanical, shaming, and punitive (itself abusive) set of practices. This is a mindset operating at all levels of the US right up into its foreign policy. 'Gentle Jesus meek and mild' has received an extremely scornful welcome on these shores. A saccharine-sweet proclaimed view of children and childhood masks a grotesque and very disturbing reality. I see no chance of this changing - somehow, violence in upbringing their children, suits too many adults too well. One might ask why.

That was very illuminating and educational. Thanks!

I love your show Chris. Nobody else broaches these subjects with the same intellect and insight.

Excellent interview, excellent guest.

There will always be exceptions to this. There are people who posses the highest empathy, who have survived multiple traumas and abusive experiences, that develop PTSD and Depersonalization, experiencing total numbness for years yet NEVER behave violently, commit a crime, nor inflict any harm on another. I know there are indeed good people. Just like there are truly altruistic people. They are very rare, but they do exist here and now.

But, you're so good at violence. Even better, you sell it as benevolence. Priceless.

In a word, narcissism, is ruining life for humanity and therefore all life on this planet. Childhood trauma and narcissism is the real pandemic. Edit: All animals have souls, not only humans.

Amazing interviewee - true compassion in practice.

One of the most insightful interviews I've seen on RU-vid

With only 3k views eight hours after posting, I can only surmise that Chris Hedges' audience have yet to find him on this channel. That is a pity.

so many fine interviews on this channel, listening to these on a long drive cuts the time in half

Great video Chris hedges

Human being have to be treated as human being . This is basic human right as well as freedom and freedom of choice in life .

Real News Indeed. Thank you!

My PTSD manifests itself in never being able to relax , as if though I was responsable for a piece of of trench!!! Have I put sentries ? Are they Awake !!!??? When do I dare sleep ? WHAT HAVE I FORGOT NOW !!! And who will that forgetfulness kill?? Over and over and over and over and over again!!! I am now 70...was sexually abused as a child....

Awesome interview - thank you for the hard work

It’s not just a chemical imbalance. The soul has been destroyed. Soul destruction is the root of trauma and psychosis but the medical establishment is only catching up with this reality now.

These are fantastic listening, Chris. Thank you for creating this content.

This conversation affected me more than I expected.

I learned SO MUCH in this segment. Gratitude

There’s a difference between punishment from a parent and abuse from a parent……two distinctly different things.

I have always described and characterized part of my personality as guilty one. I have a guilty conscious. And I always realized that that was intrinsic to my empathetic nature. I am no efen saint but I do not deny I am a kind and understanding person. “No one is more guilty than the saints”. That just really hit home. Something I don’t hear often (or at all other than my own mind) is how understanding this almost creates a bitterness to oneself. I very often feel HATE that part of myself because it feels it causes me so much distress, a distress that I don’t find in people with little to no empathy. I wouldn’t want myself to change for the world but it is undeniable there is a pull there. I can’t remember the quote or who said it but there is a price to pay to lead a moral life. Great stuff. A fantastic network indeed. Well done to Chris and all the hard workers of this channel and the superb guests

Having a purpose is what gives us a meaning to live!!! We shouldn't have to be a Psychiatrist to understand this. We all need to ask ourselves this question and seek the answer honestly to understand others!!!

Glad you're back!

Your work proves that the environment we are raised in does affect how we view things as normal behavior and don't know how to act differently!!!

Great conversation thank you

There are Corruption in every level of Government 1. World 2. Federal 3. State 4. County 5. City 6. Community in all Branches and Agencies..

I couldn't agree with Dr. Gilligan's thesis more as I suffered bullying at school and was yelled at and belittled at home by a mother with monstrous Postpartum Depression, and a classic 1950s oilfield toolpush dad. It made me gentle, in contrast to the murderers Hedges and Gilligan describe here.

Dr. James Gilligan gave us some powerful insights.

This guy is strikingly articulate even for a Hedges guest.

Thank you✌️❤️

Fascinating. presentation and content. Well done!

Incredible interview 🙏

Another great one, awesome vlog

Excellent

Glad to see he finally got off that Island.

So blatantly simple and obvious to a discerning eye. Cause and Effect. Period!

Is this what has happened to the souls of the neocons that take us to war?

My Siamese cat told that other animals like humans have minds, but only cats have a soul that makes them uniquely feline.

Love that, thanks.

Read the book - amazing!! Thank you Dr. Gilligan for your insights and desire to find a solution. As always Chris your work is so important thank you.

Wonderful interview 🥰

Glad to see Chris Hedges finding outlets for his brilliant analysis of world events and his ability to uncover the truth! In my perspective, this report clearly shows how religious concepts and beliefs are often the root cause of violent psychotic episodes. The concept of a "soul" is a deeply rooted religious concept. The notion that religious concepts exist is proof of how powerful the human mind is. Religion came about as a way to explain existence. Throughout history, more effort has been put forth in efforts to preserve the myths it contains than to disprove those myths. Therefore we get "suicide bombers" and other actions of mentally ill people "saving their soul" at the expense of other people's lives. For me, human happiness is NOT rooted in religious beliefs. I believe one can have a wonderfully fulfilling life without being saddled with religious bondage. To me, a devout Christian is a person who has resigned themselves to being controlled by others. I prefer to take a purely scientific approach to "how we came to be". It may be beyond the capability of the human brain to understand the origin of the universe. But throughout human history people have devised explanations from currently known concepts (witches). It's unfortunate that humans fall prey to "fantastical thinking" instead of following strict scientific concepts.

Thankyou for contact

Will we ever find the peace of mind every citizen of the world deserves? Life’s short , really short now . Where is the justice?

This is the first time I’ve heard a professional describe what I’ve known to be true. Thanks for having him on. 🙏🏼

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Hell on Earth

Punishment is not a deterrent to violence. Louder for those in the back! America and it's culture is one of retribution.

Reflecting on the statement ' Violence doesn't occur at random ', in relation to the statistic in Australia that one woman a day is killed by male partner violence. If actions are extensions of thoughts, this body count of wives and girlfriends makes me wonder about the state of not only the mind, but the heart of the perpetrators of such violence.

Write in Chris Hedges for president 2024. He's smarter than all of them put together

I will vote for you as president if Richard Wolfe runs as your Vice.

When Dr. Gilligan said animals have no soul I turned him off. I am a dog and I have a soul.

How can that dude know that animals don't have souls? Never seen any science around humans having one vs other animals not.

Isn't this the same as saying that we have a lot of people who never matured and maybe we should also focus on how to create confident adults, rather than wait until they're broken child-adults?

I do not believe, that ONLY humans, have a "soul". I believe all living creatures, have a soul. If you can feel love, and feel despair, if you can feel empathy and loneliness, you possess a soul. ✌🏼❤️🌱🇵🇸

Lloyd Demause always knew this and also believed all wars have their origins in child abuse. I happen to agree, especially when I hear ordinary men with more power than they deserve, like policemen and politicians. Well brought up people don't strive for power, they express power in all kinds of nonviolent ways

Chris Hedge is a true humanbeing a man with integrity, morals, ethics and values. Something that is lacking in the political leaders in USA . It's all about money and power. Not knowing that power belongs to The Most High God, The Creator of Heaven and Earth. USA judgement is assured just a matter of time.

Gilligan early on, says the problem of violence is central to religion. The problem of contradiction is also central to religion, and is certainly central, to what this society, in the U.S., has become. Gilligan says America has the most punitive justice system, in the developed world, but mankind in itself, is not as punitive as the Judeo/Christian/Islamic God, that is worshiped by so many around the world. No human being or existing thing, was given a choice in being here, yet we are said to be subjected to the most severest punishment, for not living up to the expectation or standards, our creator set for us. We supposedly get a reward for passing this test or meeting this requirement, but what of the other living/conscious beings of creation? What did they do, to deserve being subjected to the same harshness of life, that humans are? At least we get a chance of a reward. This scenario makes humans more merciful than God. Hedges brought the idea of love into the discussion at the end, but this talk certainly did not end as a happy love story. It did not present a solution, of having love be the most valued ideal that people aspire to. Since there are different kinds of love, is it by nature, too problematic a concept, to possibly be a solution to the problem, or certainly 'thee' solution? Is it more true, that we generally as a specie, don't value life enough, and that too many don't value it much at all, and some even none at all? Did the ancient Egyptians understand and appreciate the delicate balancing act, that humanity needed to achieve, in order to just survive each other? Does their concept of Maat need to be revisited? Do the concepts of fairness, justice, etc., need to be re-elevated, to a position of reverence? Have we stopped emphasizing the reasons why laws exist, and too often focused, almost exclusively, on people simply obeying laws? Do people just not care, or just can't comprehend, the consequences of unlawful acts, on the overall society? Of course this applies to those at the very top, as well as those at the very bottom. Most if not all problems involving humans, have internal and external causes, of varying proportions. I hope people like these two, who work with inmates, focus on both aspects of their problems. It is a question of individuality and personal responsibility. Many inmates are the sole exception in their family. Their siblings were raised in the same household and same broader environment. This fundamental reality, should never be discounted. Society and thus we all, suffer the consequences, to some degree, when this happens.

Mr. Hedges, are you familiar with the work of physician and author Dr. Gabor Mate? He recently published his fifth book, "The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Health in Toxic Culture," and is a brilliant writer and speaker on the topics of trauma, child development, addiction and stress, among others. He was interviewed by Amy Goodman on Democracy Now! a couple of weeks ago and you may find him interesting as well.

Wave, after wave, of clarity. I am at once frightened and baptized by the call to rebel, to demand accountability, within the withering context of consumer complacency, in the face of impending depletion of breathable oxygen.

I wholeheartedly agree about death penalty not being a punishment. We should rename it from a penalty to what it is: As a society, we can't afford your continued existence.

“Pride, dignity, self esteem...will k*ll for it.” The only rule and solution is respect for life.

Chris should interview Gabor Maté!

Fascinating.. I agree. I've been around the world a few times and have visited other cultures. Sure, exceptions exist.. But after meeting the children in these other cultures, you return here and can come to only one conclusion. Something has gone terribly wrong here.

Interesting discussion. One random point that struck me, why would you think human animals have a soul but nonhuman animals don't?