Civil Disobedience and the Enduring Relevance
of Auden’s “Ironic Point of Light”
The power of resistance, particularly through civil disobedience, has a profound moral force that transcends historical and cultural contexts. This is vividly illustrated in the legacies of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, who advocated for nonviolent resistance against social injustices. Their methods and philosophies resonate deeply with the sentiments expressed by Chris Hedges in his speech “The Collapse of the American Empire.” Hedges’ reflection on the moral imperatives of resistance against radical evil aligns closely with the enduring principles of King’s and Gandhi’s movements, as well as with W.H. Auden’s evocative imagery in his poem “September 1, 1939.”
Civil Disobedience as Moral Resistance
Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi both championed civil disobedience as a means to confront and dismantle unjust systems. King’s philosophy, rooted in Christian theology and the teachings of Gandhi, emphasized love and nonviolence as the most potent tools in the struggle for civil rights. In his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” King argued that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” and that individuals have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws and accept the consequences peacefully.
Similarly, Gandhi’s concept of Satyagraha, or “truth force,” was a cornerstone of his resistance against British colonial rule in India. Gandhi believed that nonviolent resistance was not only a tactic but a way of life, which required an unwavering commitment to truth and moral integrity. Both leaders understood that their actions were not merely political maneuvers but profound moral statements intended to awaken the conscience of the oppressor and the world at large.
Chris Hedges and the Contemporary Relevance of Resistance
In his lecture “The Collapse of the American Empire,” Chris Hedges addresses the rise of demagoguery and the erosion of democratic norms in the United States, drawing a parallel between contemporary struggles and the timeless principles of resistance espoused by King and Gandhi. Hedges asserts that “resistance against radical evil is an act of faith” and underscores the importance of maintaining a narrative of hope and justice, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Hedges’ invocation of Daniel Berrigan’s belief that “the good draws to it the good” echoes the ethical foundations of King’s and Gandhi’s movements. Despite empirical evidence of widespread societal decay—such as the opioid crisis, corporate corruption, and systemic violence—Hedges argues that the moral force of resistance lies in its ability to inspire and mobilize individuals towards collective action and positive change.
The “Ironic Point of Light” in Auden’s Poetry
W.H. Auden’s line from “September 1, 1939″—”that ironic point of light that flashes out wherever the just exchange their messages”—captures the essence of the moral clarity and resilience that underpin acts of civil disobedience. Auden wrote this poem at the onset of World War II, reflecting on the chaos and moral darkness of the time. Yet, even amidst despair, he recognized moments of justice and truth as beacons of hope.
This “ironic point of light” symbolizes the enduring power of righteous resistance, a theme resonant in both King’s and Gandhi’s philosophies. Their messages, like Auden’s point of light, served as moral compasses guiding humanity through turbulent times. Just as Auden saw these exchanges of justice as essential to preserving hope, so too did King and Gandhi believe that their nonviolent actions could ignite widespread moral awakening and societal transformation.
Auden’s poem carries a sense of irony rooted in the juxtaposition of darkness and light, despair and hope. The irony lies in the contrast between the prevailing darkness and turmoil of the world, symbolized by the outbreak of World War II and the moral decay surrounding it, and the small yet powerful points of light that emerge from acts of justice and righteousness.
In the midst of widespread injustice, violence, and chaos, Auden observes that these moments of moral clarity and integrity, represented by the “just,” create fleeting but profound flashes of light. This irony arises from the fact that such beacons of hope and goodness shine brightest precisely when surrounded by darkness and adversity. The unexpected emergence of light in the face of overwhelming darkness underscores the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of moral courage.
Furthermore, the irony may also stem from the fragile and transient nature of these points of light. They flicker and flash momentarily, often in clandestine exchanges among the righteous, hinting at both the fragility of hope in times of crisis and the tenacity required to keep it alive. Auden’s use of irony highlights the paradoxical nature of finding moments of illumination and inspiration in the bleakest of circumstances, underscoring the complexity of human experience and the capacity for light to pierce through the shadows of despair.
Conclusion
The moral force of resistance, as articulated by Chris Hedges, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mahatma Gandhi, finds a poetic resonance in W.H. Auden’s depiction of the “ironic point of light.” This metaphor encapsulates the enduring impact of those who, through civil disobedience and unwavering faith in justice, challenge oppressive systems and inspire others to join the struggle for a more inclusive and equitable world. By keeping this narrative alive, we uphold the belief that “the good draws to it the good,” fostering hope and paving the way for future generations to continue the fight against radical evil.
The Resistance to Project 2025
During World War II, the Resistance (“La Résistance”) encompassed a diverse network of underground movements, nonpartisan altruistic endeavors supporting the Forces of Light, and individuals across occupied Europe who opposed and actively fought against the Axis powers, particularly Nazi Germany and the collaborationist Vichy regime. The Resistance played a crucial role in espionage, sabotage, intelligence gathering, and acts of defiance to support the Allied forces and undermine the enemy’s war efforts. These brave men and women, often operating at great personal risk, symbolized the spirit of courage, patriotism, and resistance against tyranny during one of the darkest periods in modern history.
Seed Thoughts: Ponder on This
Second Ray Preventative Technique: “Your major job at this time is not to wrestle with the powers of evil and the forces of darkness, but to awaken an interest in and mobilise the forces of light and the resources of men of good will, and of right inclination in the world today. Resist not evil, but so organise and mobilise the good, and so strengthen the hands of the workers on the side of righteousness and love, that evil will find less opportunity.” -Esoteric Psychology, Vol II, by the Tibetan Master through Alice A. Bailey, p. 691.
First Ray Fighting Technique: “This is the dominant emerging fact to which all that I have said bears testimony: world conditions today—precipitated as they are by human greed and ignorance—are nevertheless basically conditioned by the will-to-good which is the primary quality of the energies and forces coming forth from the great Lives in which all that exist live and move and have their being. The Law of the Universe (and what is law but the working out of the purposes of these all-embracing Lives, of Their impulses and Their plans?) is to all eternity the good of the whole and naught can arrest this happening; for who can arrest the impact of these energies which play upon and through our planet. When I say this, I would at the same time point out that the attitude of many students, inevitably participants in world events, that “such is the Law and such is the Karma of people and nations and such is the pre-determined destiny” [Page 444] is far from right. They believe—sometimes sincerely—that all that should be done is simply to wait for results to appear and for karma and destiny to fulfil itself. Then and not till then, all will be well. But they forget that karma fulfils itself in relation to the form nature upon which it expends its energy and that where there is a static condition and a quiescent attitude, the process moves but slowly; the life then within the form fails to experience the needed, forceful awakening; inevitably then there lies ahead a repetition of the process until the time comes when activity and response is evoked. This then leads to resistance to the apparent karmic necessity and this brings about liberation. Only through resistance to evil (and in this world period and in this kali-yuga, as the Eastern teachers call it, it is an essential basic attitude) can karma be brought to an end. The law of matter still governs in the three worlds of human experience and “fire by friction” must burn up that which veils the steadily increasing brilliance of solar fire. It is the recognition of “solar fire”—as it shows itself in a transcendental idealism and radiance—by the unintelligent idealist, and his simultaneous refusal to cooperate in this period of karmic necessity, that is prolonging the difficult and cruel situation and leading him individually to sink deep into glamour. The simplification of the world’s problem in terms of matter comes through a recognition of the essential dualism underlying events. I commend this thought to all students, suggesting that they base optimism on the long range vision, endorsed by the Heavens and corroborated by the activity of the stars, and thus feel sure of the ending of this immediate tragic situation.” -Esoteric Astrology by the Tibetan Master through Alice A. Bailey.
“There is only one way in which this focused evil will which is responsive to the Shamballa force can be overcome, and that is by the opposition of an equally focused spiritual Will, displayed by responsive men and women of goodwill who can train themselves to be sensitive to this type of new incoming energy and can learn how to invoke and evoke it.” -The Tibetan Master through Alice A. Bailey
“The Hierarchy is a great fighting body today, fighting for the souls of men, fighting all that blocks the expansion of the human consciousness, fighting all that limits human freedom (I said not license) and fighting to remove those factors and barriers which militate against the return of [Page 551] the Christ and the emergence of the Hierarchy as a fully functioning body on earth. There is nothing weak, vacillating, sentimental or neutral in the attitude of the Hierarchy; this must be grasped by humanity, and the strength and insight as well as the love of the Hierarchy must be counted upon.” -The Externalization of the Hierarchy by the Tibetan Master through Alice A. Bailey (April-May 1946).
“The cup of sorrow and the agony of the Cross are well-nigh finished. Joy and strength will take their place. Instead of sorrow we shall have a joy which will work out in happiness and lead eventually to bliss. We shall have a strength which will know naught but victory and will not recognise disaster. Even the Black Lodge knew of this change in the mode of salvation, and hastily founded its groups of youths, banded together by the motto “joy through strength and strength through joy.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strength_Through_Joy
“It seems to be a law for group development to receive recognition from the side of evil, prior to that recognition coming from the good. But “after weeping cometh joy, and that joy cometh in the morning.” Only the dawn is with us as yet—the dawn of the Aquarian Age. The full tide of light is inevitably moving upon its way towards us.” –The Rays and the Initiations by the Tibetan Master through Alice A. Bailey.
The Collapse of the American Empire:
Lecture Featuring Chris Hedges
[transcript @ 1:29:29] The power of resistance has a moral force. It is, as Daniel Berrigan once told me when I asked him, to find faith, it is the belief that the good draws to it the good. And empirically everything around us may say otherwise, but I believe that that’s right in the end.
Resistance against radical evil is an act of faith; it is the belief that the good draws to it the good, it is what Auden called that ironic point of light that flashes out wherever the just exchanged their messages, that our job, even however lonely it may be at that moment, is to keep that narrative alive, and if we can keep that narrative alive then we can use the word hope.
[The quote “that ironic point of light that flashes out wherever the just exchanged their messages” is from W.H. Auden’s poem “September 1, 1939.” In this poem, Auden reflects on the outbreak of World War II and explores themes of war, morality, and the search for light and hope in dark times. The line encapsulates a sense of resilience and defiance in the face of adversity, resonating with the broader context of the war and its impact on humanity.]
August 29, 2018: Chris Hedges, a globally-renowned Pulitzer Prize-winning author, gives us an entirely new view of a nation in crisis in his recently released book, America: The Farewell Tour, which holds both liberals and conservatives to account — as is rousingly pertinent for Canada as for the disoriented US. Beautifully written, it clarifies vividly and unforgettably the forces at play in our times.
In astonishing, tough, first-hand reportage, Chris Hedges draws on stories from inside communities across America and reveals how the hurricanes of change have allowed an array of pathologies to arise: the opioid crisis, the retreat into gambling, the corporate coup d’état of government, the pornification of culture, the rise of magical thinking, the emboldening of violence and hate, the plagues of suicides, and the global upheaval caused by catastrophic climate change. These are just some of the physical manifestations of a society unravelling. Such ills presage a frightening reconfiguration of our lives–particularly in the face of our neighbour’s degeneration as a world power.
Donald Trump rode this disenchantment to power. Hedges – who was unsurprised by Trump’s victory – shows how neither the left nor the right are addressing the systemic problems. Until the corporate coup d’état is reversed, these diseases will grow and ravage the country. A humane cry for a decent future, this remarkable book is our wake-up call to reality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csI8JLJ15Ak
Also see:
- https://hierarchicaldemocracy.wordpress.com/2019/10/25/enlightened-resistance/
- https://hierarchicaldemocracy.wordpress.com/2024/01/16/breaking-the-maga-cult/
- https://hierarchicaldemocracy.wordpress.com/2024/07/02/project-2025/
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These Revelatory linkages, past to present, supported by Hierarchical principles, give purposeful insights in how to think and respond effectively in our current crisis.
The good that draws to itself the Good becomes a force for the unconquerable nature of Goodness. As growing numbers respond to The Good, we become unified in strength, power and direction. Will informs the “feeling heart consciousness” to function as one momentous movement that does not deviate from the goal. This too is part of the fight leading to victory. Evil separates, and eventually fights against itself. The Good never does, it’s nature is Unity. We must see to it now that we build an undeviating momentum, unified in goal, purpose and direction.