Christopher Hitchens 1949-2011

[Gwynplaine]

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_a...d_others_.html

http://www.npr.org/2011/12/16/143595...-hitchens-dies

The influential writer and cultural critic Christopher Hitchens died on Thursday at the age of 62 from complications of cancer of the esophagus. Hitchens confronted his disease in part by writing, bringing the same unsparing insight to his mortality that he had directed at so many other subjects.
Over the years, Hitchens' caustic attention was directed at a broad range of subjects, including Henry Kissinger, Prince Charles, Bob Hope, Michael Moore, the Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa.

Known for his hard drinking and smoking, Hitchens "was as vibrant on the page as he was at the bar," Carter said.
Hitchens became a strong voice for atheism and a strident critic of religion, writing a book called "God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything."
As Hitchens went through his public battle with cancer, he went on talk shows and participated in lectures and debates where he defended atheism and vigorously took on religion.
"Humanity has lost a powerful stalwart for atheism," said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association. "Christopher Hitchens changed the discussion about religion and nonbelief by championing public criticism of theology."
Over the years, Hitchens had been solidly on the political left, but his beliefs couldn't be neatly categorized. He became supportive of the war in Iraq because of what he saw as the dangers of radical Islam. As his condition worsened, he kept on producing lucid material.

I didn't always agree with him but he was always interesting to read. He knew his stuff inside and out and was always capable of coming at something from a totally different angle. Whether he was right or wrong you could tell his ideas and conclusions were all his own and that he wasn't another parrot mouthing popular buzzwords. Have a drink for Christopher Hitchens today

[Valisk]

Isn't there a celebrity death thread for this stuff. Sorry, he's no Steve Jobs.

[Gwynplaine]

Some classic Hitchens

[Tyche]

He was the "Steve Jobs" of his field. Agree with his views or not, he was one of the greatest essayists the English language has ever seen, and no, that's not hyperbole.

[Gwynplaine]

Isn't there a celebrity death thread for this stuff. Sorry, he's no Steve Jobs.

He's not a celebrity he's an intellectual.

[Tyche]

Unless someone feels an overwhelming need to overrule me, this thread can sit for a day or so, we can merge it later.

[Kuya]

I don't know of any of his other work besides his views on the US interventionism in the Middle East, therefore my opinion of him is negative.

[chiyio]

Would have loved to watch more debates with him for at least another 20 years, 62 was way too young.

[Elvis]

In the late 80s, he did a lot of work debunking the Israeli narrative of the I-P conflict. Specifically, the claim made by Israel's supporters that the Arab armies radio'd the Palestinians to flee, hence no ethnic cleansing. He was a friend of Edward Said and Noam Chomsky. Ideological allies. I don't know what happened to him. He did a 180 in the last decade with his support for the invasion of Iraq. Slandered Edward Said AFTER the man died. He was an intellectual side-show.

And the Steve Jobs analogy? Fuck no. How? lol

I would have loved to see him debate Chomsky in-person. Chomsky is 80+ years old but still has 'it'. They got into a big argument in the papers, widely-publicized - 10 years ago I think. It was a big deal in their circles.

[quannum]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__lZhex01AA...00/letters.jpg

[Kuya]

In the late 80s, he did a lot of work debunking the Israeli narrative of the I-P conflict. Specifically, the claim made by Israel's supporters that the Arab armies radio'd the Palestinians to flee, hence no ethnic cleansing. He was a friend of Edward Said and Noam Chomsky. Ideological allies. I don't know what happened to him. He did a 180 in the last decade with his support for the invasion of Iraq. Slandered Edward Said AFTER the man died. He was an intellectual side-show.

And the Steve Jobs analogy? Fuck no. How? lol

Maybe it was the cancer?

[Elvis]

oh man, you're going to hell for that one

and for being a gay

[Gwynplaine]

"My own opinion is enough for me, and I claim the right to
have it defended against any consensus, any majority, anywhere,
any place, any time. And anyone who disagrees with this
can pick a number, get in line and kiss my ass.”
- Christopher Hitchens, Free Speech Debate at University of Toronto, 2006

[Elvis]

"i'm too drunk to eat this chicken."
-Col. Sanders

[Cream Soda]

Isn't there a celebrity death thread for this stuff. Sorry, he's no Steve Jobs.

Jobs didn't even deserve his own thread. He shoulda went in there as well

[AidenCarby]

Him calling out the Maher audience was full of so much win.

[Salodin]

Him calling out the Maher audience was full of so much win.

Yeahhh, that was like a bause for sure.

[archibaldcrane]

Meh, he was pretty butthurt that Maher was taking potshots at his favorite warmonger.

[Correction]

Meh, he was pretty butthurt that Maher was taking potshots at his favorite warmonger.

Butthurt or not he's 100% right, Maher's audience will applaud anything he says when he cuts off a guest. Maher is the Jerry Springer of political talk.

[AidenCarby]

They really just go nuts when he mentions George Bush, gets very old after a while. Best one was when George Carlin told some black guy to cut the shit, on the debate over energy costs.