She put this well. "A blueprint for the kind of things do when they're put under pressure." She said, I only put stuff in there that people have done. That's important to know when viewing her work.
@@BillyBike416 Yeah, it seems like moral relativism is the quickest and easiest way for a society to spiral downwards. No type of government on earth is automatically immune from people abusing their power and making immoral decisions. To accuse a theocracy of being automatically worse than a democratic republic (as some people do), I think, is missing the point that both of those types of government can work well if people actually follow objective Truth. (and both of these governments can fail if people don't follow objective Truth). Also, if the beliefs that the theocracy is based on are wrong, well, obviously a theocracy based on those beliefs isn't going to help. And thus, we all need to be seeking objective Truth, which moral relativism detrimentally discourages (because objective Truth is Truth for EVERYONE, not just truth for oneself as moral relativists like to emphasize).
This women is brilliant, her words are thoughtfull and rational. How can anyone argue with this. I wish from the bottom of my heart that people wake up. I also wish that by the time the AVERAGE human does it wont be too late.
"The Handmaid`s Tail" is a work of sheer genius. I`m not a femanist nor am I a liberal. Atwood`s novel is one of the great dystopian novels of the 20th century.
If you don’t have time to watch this in it’s entirety, start at 06:30 She answers so many questions that are now more important than when this was filmed, 15 years ago. I’ve got chills!
Two vibrant, expanding souls: Margaret Atwood and Bill Moyers. One translation of Yahweh claims to be "I am becoming that which I am becoming" and over the decades I have received much pleasure, guidance, and spirit from what Atwood and Moyers are becoming. (Down to earth, Part 1/3 has no sound while Part 2/3 and 3/3 are delightfully audible.) Thank you for offering this powerful conversation to us.
Her argument about how people will 'probably have to give up their freedoms in order to preserve them' This happened in Russia after the Russian Revolution. In the early stages there was direct workers control and the Bolsheviks persuaded them 'in order to defend the revolution' to give up their free and voluntary socialism for an authoritarian one. This has happened throughout history.
Totalitarian governments must either destroy religion or attach themselves to it because it represents a authority higher than themselves. Notice in the US the more politicians that openly identify as deeply religious we have the more authoritarian we become. Religion is important but it should be left out of politics, Jimmy Carter was a great example to follow.
I too am amazed how Americans were not in an uproar over the Patriot Act. At least some Americans began to see their liberties being taking away by the time Obama started to really attempt doing so even moreso and got in an uproar then, but now some are blaming Trump who is trying to reinstate them and say instead that he is doing just the opposite.
This horrific and we have to know it is not glorifying God at all. He is against this. His order for family does bring Him glory and abortion is never His idea. And yet we know He loves us with a never ending love and the practice described by Atwood is part of the worship of religion and the devil. God is not religious He is our creator and His Son is our savior and His Holy Spirit is our teacher and comforter. John 3:16
I really enjoyed this video, thank you so much for posting it! I don't know much about her work, however Ms. Atwood sure does say a lot of intelligent things here. I admire both Bill Moyers and Margaret Atwood for discussing such an important and delicate subject such as "faith and reason" here. Personally, I believe in a higher power that is intelligent and good. I am an artist (some might debate me on that one!), and really feel that devoting a large part of one's life to creative endeavor surely is something of a daring sacrifice because there is often no money in it, and the creative person could starve (put simply!) I really have faith and find it reasonable to believe that every person does have some ability to create art, whether it be in the area of painting or drawing or writing or music or something else. I think it's so sad when people are 'beaten down' into believing that they have no artistic, creative talents, which could really enrich their lives, if they wanted to explore such and avenue. Going so deep into oneself, like Ms. Atwood must do as an author, or any good writer or artist for that matter, can often be something of a great risk, particularly when done "right" because the best work, I feel, comes from when we go the deepest within ourselves into unchartered territory. We might 'lose' ourselves a little, or maybe even a lot, but the rewards can be so great, for us, and, especially for those whom we may inspire. Again, thank you very much for posting this. It's so hard to find substantial shows on T.V. or anywhere else these days!
Brett Maine and neo-nazi pride is at an all time high. Blacks, latinos and all other non-white people are in real trouble from Trump's supporters. You people are crazy and dangerous!
If you liked Oryx & Crake, you should go out and grab her new book, The Year of the Flood, which is a successor to Oryx & Crake (well, same setting but it's told through a parallel perspective).
You didn't listen to the part where she says the problem with society is labelling others as the problem and thinking you'd have peace and prosperity if only you got rid of THAT group?
What a book! I really have to remember to breathe; I realize then that it's Offred who's not breathing, I get a slight glimpse as to the mental terror of being in a room with nothing to do... Gives one a new perspective on what we have and what we may not have should Atwood, in this video, be right; that this country can easily be turned into a theocracy
Most people will give up their freedoms for security. But in her book, this is why the constitution is such an important document. It gives every one in this country rights. These rights and ideas have been bought and paid for by blood. Some rights have taken longer to pass. The constitution is more important that the president of the united states. People do take some rights for granted. But don't let any one take them from you.
Watching this 15 years after this was posted. She practically prophesied the arrival of Trumpism and the extreme right that has a choke-hold on US politics today. Truly shocking, and to quote her statement from The Handmaid's Tale, "History doesn't repeat, but it rhymes." This interview alone tells us why we should listen to women concerning the war in the religious right have against women. A basic fact, the right, health, and warefare of women dicate the health of any government. The 2022 Republican party has American not just in downfall, but in freefall.
@lollerskates77777 She says in this video at about 7:40 that the theocracy she's put in The Handmaid's Tale never calls itself Christian. She then goes on to say: "It's slogans etcetera, etcetera all from the Old Testament". (Presumably that the novel uses slogans from the Old Testament, but the new form of government itself does not call itself Christian)
When Margaret talks about atheism being a rigid believe in the non-existence of gods, I am reminded of Christopher Hitchens response to Sean Hannity blathering on with "gotcha" atheist criticisms. "One gets the impression you have never read the works of the people that oppose your position"
As a writer though, she just intimidates me, and makes my lay down my pen in despair. I can't write anything worthy of comparison with her work, or intellect. So why bother? I'm depressed by my inadequacies.
Hey I love cute kittens as much as the next guy, but I don't know if that constitutes the greatest communications revolution in history ;-) P.S.: Kittens!
The Handsmaid tale is already true, alive and real. It's in the Middle East. People won't believe how Arab women are treated. If you're interested read 'Headscarfs and Hymens" by Mona Eltahawey.
Writing isn't a competition - I know what you mean, it's hard to see others' stylistic abilities and avoid measuring yourself up to them. You will never write an Atwood book, and she will never write a book the way you would. Ideas about quality comparison aside, just keep exploring notions - philosophical, political, et cetera - that drive you. Figure out what aspect or form of storytelling you like the most and develop! Just keep writing!
4:13 - 4:40 At the end she scoffs after mentioning people scapegoating "them liberals" before saying "whatever it may be". I think she does this to downplay the potential implication in her statement that no one else could be scapegoated -- and she brushes it under the rug somewhat; but please never forget, even if you feel the current "climate" is turning against you, NEVER FORGET that those in power have done this (scapegoated others, brutally and successfully) almost without fail throughout history. But if you remain wary of the hypocrisy inherent in blame, you can stop it -- just never forget.
She talks about how a society like this can come about when cultures and societies come under stress, and people look for others to blame ... and then she herself blames. A lot of what she says here is spot on EXCEPT it is deceiving or misleading by way of omission and palter, and some are saying the cult in the series is Christian merely because of the use of some bible scripture taken out of context and the use of crosses, etc. There is nothing Christian about this cult in the series however. True Christianity believes in free will and individual choice, not totalitarianism. People can call themselves whatever they want but it doesn't mean that they are actually what they say there are (like the crusaders might of called themselves Christian but were they?). The term "Christian" seems to be a term used very loosely these days. Christian simply means follower of Christ. A mark of a true Christian is Love, and nothing like what is portrayed in the cult in this series that same refer to as Christianity.
You cannot deny that religions, Christianity included, have been vehicles for wretched things in history. I'm not personally religious (somewhere on the line betweem atheism - agnosticism) and I believe that it's not a personal belief in a higher power that is the problem, it's the belief in scripture that is the problem. Moreover, the people who believe that those stories must apply to all of society. For instance, the people who say "We are all god's children" or believe that others should convert to a religion, then that's where the authoritarianism peeks through. Those are dangerous people. Of course belief in a higher power is not a bad thing. It's people who want to control others with religion that is the bad thing.
The Tanakh IS the old testament and Judaism has a strong emphasis on following the religious laws within them. Like going through a grocery list everyday. Jesus informed the heracies to get away from consuming oneself with the details of the laws in the old testament but to focus on ones faith in God because not believing in him and his son is the only unforgivable sin.
"Wanna bet?"
Chilling...
Watching this in late 2021 is revelatory. Ms Atwood speaks of things changing "rapidly". She hits the nail squarely on the head.
She put this well. "A blueprint for the kind of things do when they're put under pressure." She said, I only put stuff in there that people have done. That's important to know when viewing her work.
Margaret Atwood a true Canadian treasure. We definitely are living in scary times currently.
"In order to preserve our freedoms we have to give them up for now." NSA anyone?
Agree
She is so inspiring, when she speaks you want to listen.
"What is needed for a really good tyranny is an unquestionable idea or authority." Truer words were never written.
What is needed for a really good tyranny is a society without absolutes so that Truth can be made up as we go along.
@@BillyBike416 Yeah, it seems like moral relativism is the quickest and easiest way for a society to spiral downwards. No type of government on earth is automatically immune from people abusing their power and making immoral decisions. To accuse a theocracy of being automatically worse than a democratic republic (as some people do), I think, is missing the point that both of those types of government can work well if people actually follow objective Truth. (and both of these governments can fail if people don't follow objective Truth).
Also, if the beliefs that the theocracy is based on are wrong, well, obviously a theocracy based on those beliefs isn't going to help. And thus, we all need to be seeking objective Truth, which moral relativism detrimentally discourages (because objective Truth is Truth for EVERYONE, not just truth for oneself as moral relativists like to emphasize).
And that happened with the Trump movement…as well as the QAnon movement. America is doomed if these people control and influence all policy.
This women is brilliant, her words are thoughtfull and rational. How can anyone argue with this. I wish from the bottom of my heart that people wake up. I also wish that by the time the AVERAGE human does it wont be too late.
"The Handmaid`s Tail" is a work of sheer genius. I`m not a femanist nor am I a liberal. Atwood`s novel is one of the great dystopian novels of the 20th century.
AGREED! as a woman she portrays the gender inequality ever presentits not about religion its about deep seeded beliefs of men rising to power ie trump
It’s a bunch of bull
If you don’t have time to watch this in it’s entirety, start at 06:30
She answers so many questions that are now more important than when this was filmed, 15 years ago. I’ve got chills!
This is spooky. I forgot how brilliant she is.
Absolutely love Margaret Atwood; infact my dissertation was mainly focused on her novels and themes. Also, her voice is really soothing!
Two vibrant, expanding souls: Margaret Atwood and Bill Moyers. One translation of Yahweh claims to be "I am becoming that which I am becoming" and over the decades I have received much pleasure, guidance, and spirit from what Atwood and Moyers are becoming. (Down to earth, Part 1/3 has no sound while Part 2/3 and 3/3 are delightfully audible.) Thank you for offering this powerful conversation to us.
September 2019 and even more worth listening to.
Her argument about how people will 'probably have to give up their freedoms in order to preserve them' This happened in Russia after the Russian Revolution. In the early stages there was direct workers control and the Bolsheviks persuaded them 'in order to defend the revolution' to give up their free and voluntary socialism for an authoritarian one. This has happened throughout history.
Totalitarian governments must either destroy religion or attach themselves to it because it represents a authority higher than themselves. Notice in the US the more politicians that openly identify as deeply religious we have the more authoritarian we become. Religion is important but it should be left out of politics, Jimmy Carter was a great example to follow.
I too am amazed how Americans were not in an uproar over the Patriot Act. At least some Americans began to see their liberties being taking away by the time Obama started to really attempt doing so even moreso and got in an uproar then, but now some are blaming Trump who is trying to reinstate them and say instead that he is doing just the opposite.
seth h - How's he doing that exactly? Has he overturned the Patriot Act? He's never mentioned it.
I am a Christian and a conservative and I think The Handmaids Tale should be read by everyone there are lessons for people on the left and the right!
Well said!
This horrific and we have to know it is not glorifying God at all. He is against this. His order for family does bring Him glory and abortion is never His idea. And yet we know He loves us with a never ending love and the practice described by Atwood is part of the worship of religion and the devil. God is not religious He is our creator and His Son is our savior and His Holy Spirit is our teacher and comforter. John 3:16
@@celestehofer6830Nobody cares about your imaginary and its inane need for humans to worship and adore it. What a pathetic idea.
@@celestehofer6830are you serious? The deity of the bible would love this kind of tyranny. He lives and kills for it.
Welcome, I'm glad that I had the ability and opportunity to share it with everyone.
I really enjoyed this video, thank you so much for posting it! I don't know much about her work, however Ms. Atwood sure does say a lot of intelligent things here. I admire both Bill Moyers and Margaret Atwood for discussing such an important and delicate subject such as "faith and reason" here. Personally, I believe in a higher power that is intelligent and good. I am an artist (some might debate me on that one!), and really feel that devoting a large part of one's life to creative endeavor surely is something of a daring sacrifice because there is often no money in it, and the creative person could starve (put simply!) I really have faith and find it reasonable to believe that every person does have some ability to create art, whether it be in the area of painting or drawing or writing or music or something else. I think it's so sad when people are 'beaten down' into believing that they have no artistic, creative talents, which could really enrich their lives, if they wanted to explore such and avenue. Going so deep into oneself, like Ms. Atwood must do as an author, or any good writer or artist for that matter, can often be something of a great risk, particularly when done "right" because the best work, I feel, comes from when we go the deepest within ourselves into unchartered territory. We might 'lose' ourselves a little, or maybe even a lot, but the rewards can be so great, for us, and, especially for those whom we may inspire. Again, thank you very much for posting this. It's so hard to find substantial shows on T.V. or anywhere else these days!
Ms Atwood must of seen into the future because it sounds like right now 2021. She is very interesting to listen to.
she just spoke at my school! It was amazing. She is absolutely brilliant and very charming as well.
so relevant on politics today
June 24,2022 is a date that has changed me forever. Religion, power of the state, and hypocritical ways of the self Righteous. It's eerie.
With this election, we are swiftly headed towards the time she speaks of here.
No we (our country) is not
slade tuner, you are in denial...
Whatever
Lol you hardcore paranoid liberals are hilarious. Look out he’s lowering unemployment, increasing wages and cutting taxes ahhhh, resist resist! He’s hitler! it’s so entertaining. #trumpderangementsyndrome
Brett Maine and neo-nazi pride is at an all time high. Blacks, latinos and all other non-white people are in real trouble from Trump's supporters. You people are crazy and dangerous!
Thank you very much for posting this entire interview! Gracias!
her book is extremely powerful. and she is a very intelligent women
wish she was my grandma
Same
Thank you so much Margaret Atwood!!
She's brilliant.
Like her i'm an agnostic and secular humanist.
If you liked Oryx & Crake, you should go out and grab her new book, The Year of the Flood, which is a successor to Oryx & Crake (well, same setting but it's told through a parallel perspective).
What an incredibly insightful person.
"the trains will run on time..."
how many of us just want that comfort and security over the truth?
Margaret Atwood is so on point!
These things are happening here in southern Oregon I'm in Medford these things happened here it's the twenties almost too
This is so relevan right now!
You would say, “Report your neighbor if they have more than X # of ppl over for Thanksgiving.”
Nobadaddy. Lol. She's so good.
She's coming to my book fair friday im so excited. XDXD shes a genius
I know it's 9 years later, but how was it? :)
Wow, freaky listening to this in the age of trump. 6:51
You didn't listen to the part where she says the problem with society is labelling others as the problem and thinking you'd have peace and prosperity if only you got rid of THAT group?
alhumdulillah 🤲 thank you
Thanks for uploading this, I'm such an Atwood fan. She IS a little intimidating though, not sure I could hold my own in a conversation with her.
O my God, I love it "you want to bet "
Thanks Margaret for your insights into Islam!!! What a fine canard to couch it in terms of Christianity.
I would love to see (or hear) this interview in its entirety. Anyone have a link they could share or something?
This woman is fascinating!
Cheers!
What a book! I really have to remember to breathe; I realize then that it's Offred who's not breathing, I get a slight glimpse as to the mental terror of being in a room with nothing to do...
Gives one a new perspective on what we have and what we may not have should Atwood, in this video, be right; that this country can easily be turned into a theocracy
Ms. Atwood writes for the "sophisticated" mind, the intellect, the thinkers of society. Her books are too bookish for me, if you get my drift.
Most people will give up their freedoms for security. But in her book, this is why the constitution is such an important document. It gives every one in this country rights. These rights and ideas have been bought and paid for by blood. Some rights have taken longer to pass. The constitution is more important that the president of the united states. People do take some rights for granted. But don't let any one take them from you.
this is gold
That's in the movie. You should read the book!
Watching this 15 years after this was posted. She practically prophesied the arrival of Trumpism and the extreme right that has a choke-hold on US politics today. Truly shocking, and to quote her statement from The Handmaid's Tale, "History doesn't repeat, but it rhymes." This interview alone tells us why we should listen to women concerning the war in the religious right have against women. A basic fact, the right, health, and warefare of women dicate the health of any government. The 2022 Republican party has American not just in downfall, but in freefall.
This is frighteningly prescient.
Does anyone know the name of the interview'r?
brilliant mind
Audio works fine for me... Idk if iPod makes a difference for that.
shes so amazing
Is she though ?
Margaret Atwood is Noam Chomsky's female counter-ego
Phenominal author and can't say more about her. What happened to the sound?
Canadian insight!
@lollerskates77777 She says in this video at about 7:40 that the theocracy she's put in The Handmaid's Tale never calls itself Christian. She then goes on to say: "It's slogans etcetera, etcetera all from the Old Testament". (Presumably that the novel uses slogans from the Old Testament, but the new form of government itself does not call itself Christian)
Genius
very true.
When Margaret talks about atheism being a rigid believe in the non-existence of gods, I am reminded of Christopher Hitchens response to Sean Hannity blathering on with "gotcha" atheist criticisms.
"One gets the impression you have never read the works of the people that oppose your position"
Audio doesn't work on my computer
@VincentBrooke1 Thanks.
as anyone seen, Heaven on Earth?? It's a movie she wrote--but I can't find it on here anywhere!!! Can someone please post it???
This has no audio. Is there a mirror video somewhere?
anyone know where this is originally from?
please give more info...Date of interview? and program? Interviewer name? Thankyou
July 28, 2006 broadcast of Bill Moyers: On Faith and Reason on PBS. The interviewer claims to be Bill Moyers but may in fact be Lou Ferrigno.
plautusbrassus LOL...
I love her.
The sound isn't working for me either.
Give up the freedom... 2020
why is the sound not working?
As a writer though, she just intimidates me, and makes my lay down my pen in despair. I can't write anything worthy of comparison with her work, or intellect. So why bother? I'm depressed by my inadequacies.
I'm not getting any sound when I watch this!
Was this interview conducted in 2006?
What's the name of the interviewer ?
Hey I love cute kittens as much as the next guy, but I don't know if that constitutes the greatest communications revolution in history ;-)
P.S.: Kittens!
Where's the sound? I can't hear anything!
Why did PBS disable comments for the original of this video? Freakin' PBS!
The Handsmaid tale is already true, alive and real. It's in the Middle East. People won't believe how Arab women are treated. If you're interested read 'Headscarfs and Hymens" by Mona Eltahawey.
She is cashing in on that bet.
Writing isn't a competition - I know what you mean, it's hard to see others' stylistic abilities and avoid measuring yourself up to them. You will never write an Atwood book, and she will never write a book the way you would. Ideas about quality comparison aside, just keep exploring notions - philosophical, political, et cetera - that drive you. Figure out what aspect or form of storytelling you like the most and develop!
Just keep writing!
Alles komt terug ? Ik
yep
UGH! i hated the ending i wish she'd told us what really happend to offred instead of leaving us on a cliff hanging there >:(
I thank it happen now but behind close doors it can ki
When she talks about this, this is what I see happening among the liberals and globalists.
You confused liberals and globalists with religious bigots and nazis kiddo
@GirlWithBlondeHair I thought her name was Kate?
4:13 - 4:40 At the end she scoffs after mentioning people scapegoating "them liberals" before saying "whatever it may be". I think she does this to downplay the potential implication in her statement that no one else could be scapegoated -- and she brushes it under the rug somewhat; but please never forget, even if you feel the current "climate" is turning against you, NEVER FORGET that those in power have done this (scapegoated others, brutally and successfully) almost without fail throughout history. But if you remain wary of the hypocrisy inherent in blame, you can stop it -- just never forget.
is it just me or is there NO sound?
View in 240p for the audio. Meow.
She talks about how a society like this can come about when cultures and societies come under stress, and people look for others to blame ... and then she herself blames.
A lot of what she says here is spot on EXCEPT it is deceiving or misleading by way of omission and palter, and some are saying the cult in the series is Christian merely because of the use of some bible scripture taken out of context and the use of crosses, etc. There is nothing Christian about this cult in the series however. True Christianity believes in free will and individual choice, not totalitarianism. People can call themselves whatever they want but it doesn't mean that they are actually what they say there are (like the crusaders might of called themselves Christian but were they?). The term "Christian" seems to be a term used very loosely these days. Christian simply means follower of Christ. A mark of a true Christian is Love, and nothing like what is portrayed in the cult in this series that same refer to as Christianity.
You cannot deny that religions, Christianity included, have been vehicles for wretched things in history.
I'm not personally religious (somewhere on the line betweem atheism - agnosticism) and I believe that it's not a personal belief in a higher power that is the problem, it's the belief in scripture that is the problem. Moreover, the people who believe that those stories must apply to all of society. For instance, the people who say "We are all god's children" or believe that others should convert to a religion, then that's where the authoritarianism peeks through. Those are dangerous people.
Of course belief in a higher power is not a bad thing. It's people who want to control others with religion that is the bad thing.
The Tanakh IS the old testament and Judaism has a strong emphasis on following the religious laws within them. Like going through a grocery list everyday. Jesus informed the heracies to get away from consuming oneself with the details of the laws in the old testament but to focus on ones faith in God because not believing in him and his son is the only unforgivable sin.
ok, try video.pbs.org/video/1383772819/ for the entire segment
Hmm wow.
alhumdulillah.