Censorship Quote by Chris Hedges
““If we really saw war, what war does to young minds and bodies, it would be impossible to embrace the myth of war. If we had to stand over the mangled corpses of schoolchildren killed in Afghanistan and listen to the wails of their parents, we would not be able to repeat clichés we use to justify war. This is why war is carefully sanitized. This is why we are given war's perverse and dark thrill but are spared from seeing war's consequences. The mythic visions of war keep it heroic and entertaining… The wounded, the crippled, and the dead are, in this great charade, swiftly carted offstage. They are war's refuse. We do not see them. We do not hear them. They are doomed, like wandering spirits, to float around the edges of our consciousness, ignored, even reviled. The message they tell is too painful for us to hear. We prefer to celebrate ourselves and our nation by imbibing the myths of glory, honor, patriotism, and heroism, words that in combat become empty and meaningless.””
About This Quote
Source Book: War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, Chris Hedges, 2002
War is glorified by hiding its brutal reality, making it seem heroic while the suffering of victims is ignored.
In simple terms: War myths hide true horror, keeping people blind to its cost.
Recognize and confront the hidden costs of war.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- education curricula
- media reporting
- public memorials
- peace activism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does media shape our perception of war?
- What responsibilities do citizens have to uncover war’s truth?
The quote may overlook that some societies view war as necessary for defense, complicating a purely anti‑war stance.