I would like to start out by saying I’ve been a fan of Chris Hedges for awhile. I’ve generally considered him to be a brave journalist, a fantastic researcher and someone more than willing to call our situation what it is: the rise of fascism in the 21st Century. But, there were issues in America: the Farewell Tour that trouble me, most particularly his views on anti-fascists.

While reading the book, I noticed he did a lot of interviews with cryptofascists and Christian Nationalists, as he usually does. He nails them with their own words as he usually does, but I also noticed hints of sympathy for them? Attempts at empathy that I found rather troubling. It’s here that it should be mentioned, his desire to find peaceful solutions with those that want to kill billions of people, is not one that many people find comforting.

He also remarks, again a few times, that at many of the protests and marches he goes to, most of the conservatives in attendance are out of town, while most of the counter protestors and antifascists are local. Which leads me to my next question: his concern about optics, which is baffling at a time that conservative protestors are totally comfortable with wearing Camp Auschwitz sweatshirts to events. He mentions that antifascist action against Nazis alienated them with many middle-class Germans, and I have to ask, why should anyone care what those who could sympathize with pure evil thinks about anything? When, considering optics and all, should those whose lives and safety are in danger be able to defend themselves, from his point of view? Since most antifascist protestors are from the area they’re seen in, when can we defend our own neighborhoods from outside agents?

On top of that, I just found his lack of research into antifascism to be incredibly disappointing. While he interviews numerous fascists, he noticeably interviews less than five of those opposed and one of those was paraphrased. He barely mentions any history, nor does he mention how many times direct action against fascists have worked.

I am NOT calling him an OP or anything like that. I’m just genuinely curious what his issues are, especially in an age where fascists endanger children’s lives at libraries and through official government action.