The Moral Culpability We All Bear

Culpability, moral culpability, is what Judith Butler says we all possess as we stand shocked and numb, watching in horror those who are “leading” this country down the road to hell. We must hold them up for the criminals that they are, she admonishes.

A Conversation of Two Great Minds

The Meeting of Judith Butler and Bill T. Jones

As she sat talking with Bill T. Jones, their discussion focused on finding a way forward. The world is in a strange and uncompromising place right now, with billionaires taking over how we live and our enemies cheering them on—knowing the destruction it will bring and creating a deadly cancer from within. This was a night that brought together two great thinkers and observers, artists and creators: Live Arts’ Artistic Director and dance icon Bill T. Jones and American philosopher and gender studies scholar Judith Butler.

Addressing a Nation in Crisis

Jones and Butler shared the stage for one night only to discuss the insanity they see around them and what must be done. They spoke of a divisiveness that our nation has not only embraced with the vote of 47 but is pushing further and further into all aspects of our daily lives. The discussion touched upon the separation and segregation of the haves and have-nots, pillaging institutions of education, health, home care, elder care, the military, and government departments. This destruction, they warned, will deepen poverty and hardship for all except the billionaire class.

The Need for Unity in the Fight for Rights

Butler suggests that all who are being deprived of their rights must band together as one. She astutely observed:

“There is no transmission of wealth. There’s radical abandonment, and the issues of class and labor are deeply intertwined with race and sexuality. There is no trans person who doesn’t have an issue of class. Being deprived of health care is a class issue.”

This, she warned, is what is happening to trans people and immigrants today—and what will happen to others tomorrow.

The Backward Slide of Progress

Reversing Rights and Marginalization

We are going backward—and that is their point. Women’s reproductive rights are being stripped away, and people of color are once again being marginalized. The forces driving this regression are fully committed to pushing society backward.

Recognizing the Reality Before Us

We must accept that this is happening. We cannot simply search for light in the dark corners. Butler emphasizes that we need to move beyond our constant outrage and focus on ensuring that these actions are not normalized. POTUS’s relentless attack on the Constitution demands our attention, not just our anger. As Butler states, what they are doing is unashamedly sadistic, obscene, evil, and disgusting—and they do not care. They justify their actions under the pretense of “restoring order,” even though their concept of order is deeply singular and oppressive.

The Strategy of Outrage and Manipulation

The President’s Calculated Chaos

Butler goes on to explain that the President is strategically and purposely trying to provoke outrage. He wants people to be up in arms because it prevents his base from questioning him. “If the left is inflamed, I must be doing something good,” is the manipulative logic at play. This chaotic environment—filled with hair-pulling, constant emotional frenzies, and distractions—prevents organization, unity, and forward movement. It keeps people disoriented and ineffective.

A Call for Rational Action

Butler calls for people to pause, breathe, calm down, and stop feeding into this madness. The way forward lies in humanity—seeing and showing our shared humanity. That simple act is a powerful step toward change.

Bill Chats: A Platform for Change

The First of Many Conversations

This night with Butler marked the first installment of the Bill Chats series. In this series, Jones and his guests—playwrights, authors, scholars, and thinkers—engage in open discussions. The setting is simple: two settees, a table with water, and deep conversation.

An Eye-Opening and Hopeful Discussion

The discussion was informative, eye-opening, and unsettling—but also hopeful. It was a conversation for the people and the country.

Watch the Full Discussion

You can watch the entire discussion HERE for free on YouTube. More to come from Mr. Jones.

Event Details

New York Live Arts 219 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011 Running Time: 90 minutes (no intermission)