Letter

In response to Chris Hedges – Statement by the National Press Club ( 4 October 2025)

Whom can I believe – the NPC or the journalist?

After reading Chris Hedges’ article in Pearls and Irritations, I was angry and disappointed with the National Press Club. Ready to write an angry letter. Then today I read the response from the NPC. I am now angry and disappointed with Hedges for misrepresenting the situation. I feel like Donald Trump. I end up believing the last person who had my ear.

If this disagreement exists over the facts of a fairly straightforward situation — and both parties are considered honest and trustworthy — where does that leave me in deciding what to believe about more complicated and more important issues? How should I spend my energy? How should I vote? Where should I send my meagre donations and contributions?

And where does that leave the working population, who can barely keep their heads above water, much less try to get to the bottom of every news story before jumping on a particular bandwagon, or deciding no bandwagon is better than the wrong bandwagon?

— Carl Rathus from Brisbane