Chris Hedges will visit Pullman in September and give two talks.

Thursday, 7:00 p.m. September 24, 2009, WSU, CUB Auditorium

Chris will discuss topics explored in his newest book, "Empire of Illusion". There will be a question and answer session afterwards as well as a book signing with Book People from Moscow providing books for those that want to purchase them.

CUB Auditorium information: Link to CUB webpage. There is quite a bit of free parking on campus after 5:00, but there is also a parking garage close by.

Friday, 7:00 p.m. September 25, 2009, Community Congregational United Church of Christ in Pullman

The topic will be issues and ideas from his book, "I don't Believe in Atheists". This book has just been released as a paperback with the title, "When Atheism Becomes Religion: America's New Fundamentalists". There will be a question and answer session, a book signing and refreshments.

Map to church: see link here. Church website can be found here.

Background

Chris' varied career has taken him from Divinity School at Harvard, through many years as a New York Times war correspondent to his current career of writing and lectures. A short biographical sketch can be found here. The biosketch also has links to all of the many truthdig.com columns he has written.

I first encountered Chris and his writings quite recently, in an interview in the December 2008 issue of the Sun Magazine. My wife, Beata, was soon reading his books and discussing his ideas with me. I was drawn in by the authenticity and deep clarity that he projected. I was also fascinated by the resonance I found with his views even though our paths were so different. Even when I had significant disagreements with his positions, they were the kind of disagreements I have with my best friends, not the kind that make me draw lines in the sand.

Chris was eloquently expressing ideas whose time is now and urgently so. And he was doing this with insights that went deeper than usual. Eventually, this motivated me to see if we could arrange a visit to Pullman for Chris.

I highly recommend investing the time it will take to hear Chris talk when he visits the Palouse. Irrespective of agreement or disagreement on specific issues, I believe thoughtful, independent-minded listeners will be compelled to acknowledge that Chris' is a voice that should not be ignored.

Sponsors

Chris visit is sponsored by a varied collection of people and organizations including the Foley Institute at WSU, the Common Ministry at WSU, Community Congregational United Church of Christ in Pullman and Book People of Moscow.