I find it very hard to take your uncritical hagiography seriously. Pilger started out as a serious journalist but quickly descended into the "its all the West's fault" formula. How do you explain his grovelling and apologetics to regimes and dictators like Putin? He was ultimately an activist not a journalist (he was entitled to be of course but not to use the false label). Journalism's crisis is partly caused by people like Pilger. Remember the boy crying wolf - no one will believe you later when you are exposing a true issue once you are perceived as partisan.
I write from Australia and know his background well - he typifies the "white guilt ridden" bourgeois leftist. They are always victims, we are always at fault. I am really surprised you are so uncritical given you are Eastern European.
You're entitled to this view, I just simply don't see how Pilger changed his position throughout his career. To me, he was a member of this rare group of journalists who have been consistent in their views and coverage. Of course it's not ALL the West's fault, but a great deal is. I say this exactly because I'm Eastern European, I've had plenty of chances to observe and experience the West's hypocrisy and imperial domination. When you say Pilger was appeasing dictators like Putin, what are you referring to, what makes you think that? I keep saying this but I criticise the West because it's a false promise. Where's the West's freedom, where is its justice, democracy, appreciation for free speech, or care for the working class? Would I prefer to live in Russia or China? No, I wouldn't. But at least they don't pretend to be the greatest democracy in the world who's here to protect everyone else while their own people are drowning in misery and helplessness.
Re Putin he is on record as trying to justify Russia's narrative about attacking Ukraine as a result of NATO "encirclement". This is Pilger's standard modus operandi - accuse Western nations of some shortcoming but completely ignore the other side is 100x more guilty.
I am also Eastern European, I was born in Poland in 76. Yes capitalist democracy is very imperfect but you answer your own question that you choose to live here instead of there. Do you prefer NATO or WarPac for your native land?
As I conceded - Pilger was perfectly entitled to be as activist as he wanted - that was his and everyone's right. (Noteworthy that this right is only exercisable in the culture he attacked?) He misused label journalist since it falsely implied objectivity where his motive was propagandist. I am much more familiar with Pilger's work because of course I've seen his long term work in Australia. He is a very typical privileged white elitist engaging in self-flagellation - this was clear in his coverage of Aboriginal issues.
Are you familiar with Rob Henderson's concept of "luxury beliefs"? Pilger typifies it. If you are authentically interested in his legacy perhaps you should look into the sources of criticism against him, not just the praise.
What I'm ultimately saying is - we are always lectured to "see the other side of the argument", have you done it before nailing yourself as his acolyte? I invite you to do so.
I said I wouldn't prefer to live in Russia or China but I didn't say I would prefer to live in the US or Britain or Australia, either. Until not too long ago, I thought the West truly stood for what it preached to other countries, I even imagined myself living there. Then I got a chance to spend some time there and have my dealings with those nations, and that experience, coupled with observing the deterioration of the West's supposed values in the last few decades, changed my mind. I would prefer neither NATO not the Warsaw Pact for my country, what I'd prefer is my country having at least some form of political, military, economic, and cultural independence, which aren't trumped over by its membership in international organisations and our "partners". NATO and the Warsaw Pact were supposedly created as a countermeasure to each other, it's a fact, however, that the Warsaw Pact ceased to exist long ago, while NATO is still "defending" everyone on this planet regardless of whether they want its defence or not.
Ok, let's agree Russia didn't invade Ukraine because of NATO's encirclement and influence in Ukraine's political life. Why did it? I hope you agree it wasn't because Putin is a madman who just happened to dream one day about conquering Ukraine, Poland and then the rest of Europe, either.
Pilger, as far as I know, was born in a working class family, he didn't go to Stanford, Yale, Princeton or Harvard, and yet, he managed to find a way to use his work to expose state criminality and fight for justice and truth. Was he perfect? No. Did he make mistakes? Of course! But he wasn't afraid to stand up for what he believed in no matter who he would anger, something most of us are afraid of doing publicly because of the consequences. And I'm truly struggling to see how Pilger typifies Henderson's concept of luxury beliefs. Pilger never embraced the woke credo and the virtue signalling of the privileged class as a means to "demonstrate" his solidarity and compassion for the wretched, he criticised these double standards and exposed their hypocrisy. I have read some of the criticism against Pilger, it just hasn't managed to convince me.
And the thing that baffles me the most is, why shouldn't we try to repair the West and its supposed democracy when we see how it's quickly transforming itself into the very same enemy it claims to be fighting against?
Thank you for laying out your perspective and making me think about my views. You're welcome to reply and I'd be interested to read what you have to say but I don't expect this exchange to be more productive than this so I'll stop here.
Sorry, forgot to address something important in your comments. You seem to be troubled by the fact that Pilger called himself a journalist because you think journalists are/should be by definition objective. I disagree with this, I don't think journalists (or anybody else for that matter), CAN be impartial or objective because we all have our personal convictions and beliefs which imminently shape the way we express and conduct ourselves. Journalists should absolutely be fair and report truthfully, but I don't think it's possible for anyone to be impartial.
I know I won't change your view but I would be happy if I could convince you at least to look at the criticism against him.
I agree - let's not argue about Pilger & Assange (who I went to Uni with! - no we weren't friends) I'm actually very curious about your views on Russia (not necessarily personally Putin) as a fellow Slav. I have read your other articles. I know that Bulgarians have some warmth toward Russia for historically being on their side vs Ottoman Empire whereas Poles very much the opposite. I don't view Putin as a unique monster nor some evil genius, just another wasted historical opportunity to normalise their nation and fall back into authoritarianism. Pls let me know if you're willing to have that conversation - I don't want to wear out your welcome. I'm seeking information not an argument.
I'm open to changing my mind and I do try to expose myself to views that don't align with what I believe in, sometimes I'm convinced, other times, I'm not or I just get even more confused about what the truth is.
About Russia, you're correct, the majority of Bulgarians have a positive stance towards Russia because Russians fought for our liberation from five centuries of Turkish rule. Of course they didn't do it just out of the goodness of their hearts but they still did it and it was the Russian-Turkish war from 1877-78 that put our country back on the map and catalysed its political and cultural revival. It wasn't a happy time by any means and both Russia and the other powers of the day like Germany and Britain pursued their own interests in the years that followed. Some Bulgarians argue that Russia had "liberated us only to occupy us after that" and it is true that after WW2 Bulgaria fell under the influence of the Soviet Union but historically, we don't have reasons to hate Russia unlike countries like Estonia, Poland, Finland, for example, and Bulgarians and Russians have a similar mentality, and a shared religion, language and worldview.
The answer you get to these questions very much depends on whom you're asking and what they've been raised to believe. I think it's important not to idealise any country or period of time and try to be fair about how things were before and how they are today although this isn't always an easy task - like I wrote earlier, I do think we all have biases and leanings which condition our thinking.
Arguably, most (powerful) nations have been monsters towards one people and saviours for another people so it's rarely black and white. And sadly, ordinary, normal people are always the victims of both their own rulers and the rulers of powerful foreign nations so the popular dichotomy us vs. them (one country against another) should in fact be us, ordinary people globally against them, the powerful elites.
Great... A marvelous man
Indeed he was. An example to live by. Hope he's found peace. So many of us owe this brilliant man a lot.
Will you be in London on February 20 and 21?
I'm planning to be there, yes! Are you going?
yes !!
Awesome, maybe we'll see each other. (I realise I don't even know your name, though 😄)
Sophie
I find it very hard to take your uncritical hagiography seriously. Pilger started out as a serious journalist but quickly descended into the "its all the West's fault" formula. How do you explain his grovelling and apologetics to regimes and dictators like Putin? He was ultimately an activist not a journalist (he was entitled to be of course but not to use the false label). Journalism's crisis is partly caused by people like Pilger. Remember the boy crying wolf - no one will believe you later when you are exposing a true issue once you are perceived as partisan.
I write from Australia and know his background well - he typifies the "white guilt ridden" bourgeois leftist. They are always victims, we are always at fault. I am really surprised you are so uncritical given you are Eastern European.
You're entitled to this view, I just simply don't see how Pilger changed his position throughout his career. To me, he was a member of this rare group of journalists who have been consistent in their views and coverage. Of course it's not ALL the West's fault, but a great deal is. I say this exactly because I'm Eastern European, I've had plenty of chances to observe and experience the West's hypocrisy and imperial domination. When you say Pilger was appeasing dictators like Putin, what are you referring to, what makes you think that? I keep saying this but I criticise the West because it's a false promise. Where's the West's freedom, where is its justice, democracy, appreciation for free speech, or care for the working class? Would I prefer to live in Russia or China? No, I wouldn't. But at least they don't pretend to be the greatest democracy in the world who's here to protect everyone else while their own people are drowning in misery and helplessness.
Thank you for taking time to reply.
Re Putin he is on record as trying to justify Russia's narrative about attacking Ukraine as a result of NATO "encirclement". This is Pilger's standard modus operandi - accuse Western nations of some shortcoming but completely ignore the other side is 100x more guilty.
I am also Eastern European, I was born in Poland in 76. Yes capitalist democracy is very imperfect but you answer your own question that you choose to live here instead of there. Do you prefer NATO or WarPac for your native land?
As I conceded - Pilger was perfectly entitled to be as activist as he wanted - that was his and everyone's right. (Noteworthy that this right is only exercisable in the culture he attacked?) He misused label journalist since it falsely implied objectivity where his motive was propagandist. I am much more familiar with Pilger's work because of course I've seen his long term work in Australia. He is a very typical privileged white elitist engaging in self-flagellation - this was clear in his coverage of Aboriginal issues.
Are you familiar with Rob Henderson's concept of "luxury beliefs"? Pilger typifies it. If you are authentically interested in his legacy perhaps you should look into the sources of criticism against him, not just the praise.
What I'm ultimately saying is - we are always lectured to "see the other side of the argument", have you done it before nailing yourself as his acolyte? I invite you to do so.
I said I wouldn't prefer to live in Russia or China but I didn't say I would prefer to live in the US or Britain or Australia, either. Until not too long ago, I thought the West truly stood for what it preached to other countries, I even imagined myself living there. Then I got a chance to spend some time there and have my dealings with those nations, and that experience, coupled with observing the deterioration of the West's supposed values in the last few decades, changed my mind. I would prefer neither NATO not the Warsaw Pact for my country, what I'd prefer is my country having at least some form of political, military, economic, and cultural independence, which aren't trumped over by its membership in international organisations and our "partners". NATO and the Warsaw Pact were supposedly created as a countermeasure to each other, it's a fact, however, that the Warsaw Pact ceased to exist long ago, while NATO is still "defending" everyone on this planet regardless of whether they want its defence or not.
Ok, let's agree Russia didn't invade Ukraine because of NATO's encirclement and influence in Ukraine's political life. Why did it? I hope you agree it wasn't because Putin is a madman who just happened to dream one day about conquering Ukraine, Poland and then the rest of Europe, either.
Pilger, as far as I know, was born in a working class family, he didn't go to Stanford, Yale, Princeton or Harvard, and yet, he managed to find a way to use his work to expose state criminality and fight for justice and truth. Was he perfect? No. Did he make mistakes? Of course! But he wasn't afraid to stand up for what he believed in no matter who he would anger, something most of us are afraid of doing publicly because of the consequences. And I'm truly struggling to see how Pilger typifies Henderson's concept of luxury beliefs. Pilger never embraced the woke credo and the virtue signalling of the privileged class as a means to "demonstrate" his solidarity and compassion for the wretched, he criticised these double standards and exposed their hypocrisy. I have read some of the criticism against Pilger, it just hasn't managed to convince me.
And the thing that baffles me the most is, why shouldn't we try to repair the West and its supposed democracy when we see how it's quickly transforming itself into the very same enemy it claims to be fighting against?
Thank you for laying out your perspective and making me think about my views. You're welcome to reply and I'd be interested to read what you have to say but I don't expect this exchange to be more productive than this so I'll stop here.
Sorry, forgot to address something important in your comments. You seem to be troubled by the fact that Pilger called himself a journalist because you think journalists are/should be by definition objective. I disagree with this, I don't think journalists (or anybody else for that matter), CAN be impartial or objective because we all have our personal convictions and beliefs which imminently shape the way we express and conduct ourselves. Journalists should absolutely be fair and report truthfully, but I don't think it's possible for anyone to be impartial.
I know I won't change your view but I would be happy if I could convince you at least to look at the criticism against him.
I agree - let's not argue about Pilger & Assange (who I went to Uni with! - no we weren't friends) I'm actually very curious about your views on Russia (not necessarily personally Putin) as a fellow Slav. I have read your other articles. I know that Bulgarians have some warmth toward Russia for historically being on their side vs Ottoman Empire whereas Poles very much the opposite. I don't view Putin as a unique monster nor some evil genius, just another wasted historical opportunity to normalise their nation and fall back into authoritarianism. Pls let me know if you're willing to have that conversation - I don't want to wear out your welcome. I'm seeking information not an argument.
I'm open to changing my mind and I do try to expose myself to views that don't align with what I believe in, sometimes I'm convinced, other times, I'm not or I just get even more confused about what the truth is.
About Russia, you're correct, the majority of Bulgarians have a positive stance towards Russia because Russians fought for our liberation from five centuries of Turkish rule. Of course they didn't do it just out of the goodness of their hearts but they still did it and it was the Russian-Turkish war from 1877-78 that put our country back on the map and catalysed its political and cultural revival. It wasn't a happy time by any means and both Russia and the other powers of the day like Germany and Britain pursued their own interests in the years that followed. Some Bulgarians argue that Russia had "liberated us only to occupy us after that" and it is true that after WW2 Bulgaria fell under the influence of the Soviet Union but historically, we don't have reasons to hate Russia unlike countries like Estonia, Poland, Finland, for example, and Bulgarians and Russians have a similar mentality, and a shared religion, language and worldview.
The answer you get to these questions very much depends on whom you're asking and what they've been raised to believe. I think it's important not to idealise any country or period of time and try to be fair about how things were before and how they are today although this isn't always an easy task - like I wrote earlier, I do think we all have biases and leanings which condition our thinking.
Arguably, most (powerful) nations have been monsters towards one people and saviours for another people so it's rarely black and white. And sadly, ordinary, normal people are always the victims of both their own rulers and the rulers of powerful foreign nations so the popular dichotomy us vs. them (one country against another) should in fact be us, ordinary people globally against them, the powerful elites.