RIP Christopher Hitchens

[Gwylan]

Writer Christopher Hitchens died last night - the world's a poorer place without him.

I'm still mystified by his support for George W but let that a blot on 40 years of superb writing, trenchant comment and sheer bloody-mindedness. Probably the closest we've had to an Orwell in my lifetime.

I was at the Uncaged Monkeys event last night, it's a show that would have been after his heart: intelligent, polemical and deeply atheist. Sad to think of him slipping away while we were laughing.

RIP Hitch

 

[Notters]

Agree with your sentiment. Though how you managed to get a ticket to uncaged monkeys when you only just moved back to Sussex I shall never know

 

[Gwylan]

Agree with your sentiment. Though how you managed to get a ticket to uncaged monkeys when you only just moved back to Sussex I shall never know

Eh? I've been back in Brighton for over 7 years - you must have me confused with someone else

 

[Notters]

Oh hang on, gwylan/glasfryn... It's too early in the morning for me... Do carry on!

 

[00snook]

RIP Hitch.

One of my heroes. The clarity of thought and writing of this man will not be seen again in my lifetime.

If you've not read Hitchens, you should. If you've never heard Hitchens debate, get onto iTunes and download some.

 

[mona]

Oh hang on, gwylan/glasfryn... It's too early in the morning for me... Do carry on!

Understandable confusion! Cymru am byth!
I often get Christopher H and his brother mixed up even though they were opposite ends of the spectrum.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Writer Christopher Hitchens died last night - the world's a poorer place without him.

I'm still mystified by his support for George W but let that a blot on 40 years of superb writing, trenchant comment and sheer bloody-mindedness. Probably the closest we've had to an Orwell in my lifetime.

I was at the Uncaged Monkeys event last night, it's a show that would have been after his heart: intelligent, polemical and deeply atheist. Sad to think of him slipping away while we were laughing.

RIP Hitch

Totally agree, and it was a great show last night. Sadly the enduring memory is the chorus of Tim Michin's final song though

 

[perseus]

Clear View to the Horizon and not Beyond

Christopher Hitchens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

He did not impress me all that much.

 

[catfish]

He was an original thinker, loved a drink or three & didn't let the god squad best him. RIP.

 

[Brovion]

Writer Christopher Hitchens died last night - the world's a poorer place without him.

I'm still mystified by his support for George W but let that a blot on 40 years of superb writing, trenchant comment and sheer bloody-mindedness. Probably the closest we've had to an Orwell in my lifetime.

I was at the Uncaged Monkeys event last night, it's a show that would have been after his heart: intelligent, polemical and deeply atheist. Sad to think of him slipping away while we were laughing.

RIP Hitch

He was wrong, but I 'sort of' followed his logic that in terms of progressive government an Islamic state with its medieval views on women, homosexuals and its belief that things like earthquakes were divine punishments is not something to be encouraged or to be seen as an equal to a Western secular democratic nation. Doesn't mean to say of course that war and forcibly imposing our values is the right path either, whereas he seemed to imply that it was.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

I often get Christopher H and his brother mixed up even though they were opposite ends of the spectrum.

What I liked about him was that he didn't have a spectrum. Was very much a socialist, and yet supported Bush and Thatcher. He took everything at face value and couldn't really be classed as left or right.

His views on religion were brave, and IMO largely correct. Dawkins and Hitchen were/are the two faces of athiesm and the church will be relieved one of them has left the world.

RIP Chris

 

[Fungus]

I'm currently in the middle of "God Is Not Great" (audio book), just wish there were more thinkers like him.

Is "RIP" inappropriate in this case? Perhaps "well played" would be better?

 

[Fungus]

He was wrong, but I 'sort of' followed his logic that in terms of progressive government an Islamic state with its medieval views on women, homosexuals and its belief that things like earthquakes were divine punishments is not something to be encouraged or to be seen as an equal to a Western secular democratic nation. Doesn't mean to say of course that war and forcibly imposing our values is the right path either, whereas he seemed to imply that it was.

That sort of makes sense, except for George W Bush (or Tony Blair) to represent the "Western secular democratic nation"!

 

[Albumen]

I'm currently in the middle of "God Is Not Great" (audio book), just wish there were more thinkers like him.

Is "RIP" inappropriate in this case? Perhaps "well played" would be better?

I'd say it's more appropriate, seeing that you're dead and that's it. No partying in hell for Hitchens.

 

[MattBackHome]

I reckon he was an inspiration. You get to the end of some of his essays and articles, and they are so strident, purposeful, incisive, informed and played with a Maradona-esque level of nonchalance (and very funny at the same time) all you can do is puff out your cheeks and go 'f***ing hell.'

 

[Bakero]

 

[Brian Fantana]

He was an old boy of my school and once came to give a lecture when we were about 15/16. The clarity of his thought, the fierce logic and the way he put his thoughts across were something to behold, even to a teenager who felt like not really being there.

A great loss to the world, regardless of whether or not you agreed with his views.

 

[00snook]

Christopher Hitchens - "The four most over-rated things in life are Champagne, Lobster, Anal Sex and Picnics"

 

[Southwick_Seagull]

Pleasantly suprised this thread hasn't turned into a binfest.

A great thinker and writer. The world is a poorer place without him.

 

[Biscuit]

I'm still mystified by his support for George W

A debate for another time perhaps but I understand he thought the war was a good thing because it removed a tyrant..

There's nothing I can add to this that hasn't already been said. I just felt the need to add my name to the list of people on here who will miss a unique thinker, intellectual, writer, atheist and all round great man. RIP Christopher Hitchens, the world has lost one of its best.