Author Topic: RIP Christopher Hitchens  (Read 43913 times)

Offline MHLC

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #40 on: December 17, 2012, 12:16:02 pm »
His books and the internet mean he's still with us,

Indeed. I shamefully have to admit to not knowing of Hitchens until his death. It was this topic that introduced me to him. From what I've learnt he seemed a fiercely intelligent man, with impeccable logic and a wonderfully dry sense of humour.

His debate with Tony Blair on religion is compelling viewing. The question of "is religion a force for good in the world?" does not have a definitive answer, but the two of them had a good go at trying to provide one!

Offline Benimar Col

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #41 on: December 24, 2012, 07:04:20 pm »
He interview in the above thread regarding the Reverand is top not, totally correct in his belief with that as far as I'm concerned

Offline vicgill

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #42 on: December 25, 2012, 01:31:52 pm »
More like him needed.


Yes I agree with that
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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #43 on: June 20, 2013, 11:21:51 am »
A bump for both those familiar and those unfamiliar with Hitchens' work - I'm currently reading through Hitch-22, his memoir.  If anybody approaches this thread with fresh intrigue...pick up the book :wave

Offline electricghost

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #44 on: June 20, 2013, 03:53:37 pm »
If you want to be awe inspired....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFNRLpsAqyg
“With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.”
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Offline electricghost

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #45 on: December 16, 2013, 12:06:00 pm »
2 years ago today he sadly passed away

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/iR0GyYaeI-k" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/iR0GyYaeI-k</a>
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Offline Tom_B

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #46 on: December 16, 2013, 11:58:17 pm »
His brother was on Newsnight this evening talking some utter bollocks.
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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #47 on: December 17, 2013, 12:05:51 am »
Great writing, great politics. I miss his stuff badly.
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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #48 on: December 17, 2013, 01:17:45 am »
Top man. Everything in that video was spot on. It would be amazingly difficult to argue against anything he said without being intellectually disingenuous.

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #49 on: December 17, 2013, 09:13:14 pm »
His brother was on Newsnight this evening talking some utter bollocks.
Must have been some laugh around the Hitchens's at Christmas.

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #50 on: December 17, 2013, 09:20:07 pm »
Must have been some laugh around the Hitchens's at Christmas.

That's one family do I'd crash. I'd say it was spectacular entertainment.

Offline Jules01

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #51 on: December 17, 2013, 09:24:14 pm »
Love Christophers work,seen Peter get roasted many a time on debates but cant recall that happening to Christopher.Saw this thread yesterday and popped to the library and picked up 'hitch22'.Will start on that come the weekend.

Offline zebenzui

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #52 on: December 17, 2013, 10:33:52 pm »
Must have been some laugh around the Hitchens's at Christmas.

If Peter Hitchens was my son I'd disown him.

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #53 on: December 19, 2013, 02:43:39 am »
Miss him a lot.

Offline Mutton Geoff

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #54 on: January 7, 2014, 03:10:08 pm »
in youtube there is a Christopher Hitchens channel, excellent interviews  throughout his life.
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Offline greenkomodo

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #55 on: January 19, 2014, 08:28:52 pm »
These Hitchslap videos are so good. Miss him, RIP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQorzOS-F6w
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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #56 on: January 19, 2014, 08:29:37 pm »
in youtube there is a Christopher Hitchens channel, excellent interviews  throughout his life.
Have you got a link for that channel?
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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #57 on: January 27, 2014, 12:33:47 am »
"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you never know if they are genuine." - Bill Shankly

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metkovi%C4%87

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Offline electricghost

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #58 on: May 28, 2014, 03:46:34 pm »
<a href="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=94776807" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=94776807</a>
“With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.”
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Offline Mutton Geoff

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #59 on: May 28, 2014, 04:31:59 pm »
http://www.youtube.com/user/hitchenschannel

Thanks only just seen this request. How did they end up with two very different brothers, Chris was a intelligent icon  in my opinion, and his brother isn't.
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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #60 on: May 28, 2014, 05:22:41 pm »
I still find myself astonished than such an intelligent guy supported Bush and the War in Iraq. For a chap so clued up and generally right about everything else, I find it remarkable he held such a position.

Offline Mutton Geoff

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #61 on: May 28, 2014, 05:58:51 pm »
I still find myself astonished than such an intelligent guy supported Bush and the War in Iraq. For a chap so clued up and generally right about everything else, I find it remarkable he held such a position.

i think in my opinion its fairly clear he didn't like the Democrats and for sure Kissinger,this probably coloured his view on Bush as for the war if you believed as he did that Saddam had to go,  then the war would be just  a tool to achieve this remembering that regime change was not the major stumbling block in the US as it was here in the UK
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Offline vicgill

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #62 on: May 28, 2014, 11:00:56 pm »
If Peter Hitchens was my son I'd disown him.

perhaps if you had been his father he may have disowned you
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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #63 on: May 29, 2014, 04:56:10 pm »
I haven't been on here in ages, and I seen me aul mate Vic's name so popped in. This probably won't go down to well, but... I just read his book, Hitch 22. I'd been meaning to read it for some time. I lashed it after struggling through about two thirds of it. Maybe I'm missing something. But you see these eggheads, I don't get it. I've heard more sense in Giro corner, in the local.

I read the other fellas book, The God Delusion, I lashed that an all after wading through about a third of it. When I asked me aul fella about God, he said, it's a load of aul bollocks, lad. That was enough and me Da didn't get a bean for saying it.

And while I'm at it, that Stephen Fry, what a c*nt. Mohab is my tosspot. Bullshit, is my fortune more likes. Our Alfie makes more sense. He's only 3. And I can fuck him off home when he starts getting on my wick, but I can't turn me telly on without one of these Quite Interesting bastards earning a fortune for something that isn't funny or one bit enlightening.

I know a mentalist like meself could read Shakespeare for the rest of me life, and never understand it. But the fact is, I do understand old Billy. This gang of geniuses, well, I suppose if you talk posh and your face fits. But I'd honestly rather listen to the aul fellas in Giro corner all day long, and I'd not only learn a bit, I'd get a laugh out of it an all.
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Offline armchair-fan

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #64 on: May 29, 2014, 08:47:02 pm »
<a href="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=94776807" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=94776807</a>


Cheers for that, electricghost.  I've trawled youtube for Hitchens lectures, debates, etc, but I've never seen that show before.

I still find myself astonished than such an intelligent guy supported Bush and the War in Iraq. For a chap so clued up and generally right about everything else, I find it remarkable he held such a position.

There are countless articles and video clips where he explains his position, indeed the video above from about 25 and a half minutes onwards explains it to some extent.  But I think, in short, his contempt for brutal, sadistic totalitarian regimes would be his number one reason for supporting the removal of Saddam.

I haven't been on here in ages, and I seen me aul mate Vic's name so popped in. This probably won't go down to well, but... I just read his book, Hitch 22. I'd been meaning to read it for some time. I lashed it after struggling through about two thirds of it. Maybe I'm missing something. But you see these eggheads, I don't get it. I've heard more sense in Giro corner, in the local.

I read the other fellas book, The God Delusion, I lashed that an all after wading through about a third of it. When I asked me aul fella about God, he said, it's a load of aul bollocks, lad. That was enough and me Da didn't get a bean for saying it.


Fat Scouser, I must say I'm a little disappointed and surprised.  As an eloquent advocate of various fringe causes and movements yourself on here, and someone who seems like they enjoy a debate, I would have thought Hitchens might be to your taste.  I think your Dad was right on the mark with his summing up of religion by the way, but don't you sometimes find just saying something is 'bollocks', even if that's true, just sometimes isn't enough?

Offline Fat Scouser

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #65 on: May 29, 2014, 09:32:29 pm »
My point was these fellas get paid a fortune for stating, what to me is usually, the blindingly obvious. But because they went to the right schools and don't roll their ars it's held up as genius from up on high. Whereas the likes of me Da and the garglers in giro corner said it with a wit and wisdom and usually in a nut shell.

If you haven't already read it, try Hitch 22. If you aren't tired of the name dropping before you get through the preamble, you're a far more patient man than me.

Genius... Einstein, Hawkins and the likes, without doubt. Hitchins, Dawkins and the likes, well, if people find them entertaining, fair enough. But I'd far rather sit in the local with a few wise aul arses, than read about Mr Hitchens enjoying tea and buns with Coco Chanel or Coco the Clown.

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Offline Fat Scouser

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #66 on: May 30, 2014, 08:37:19 am »
Joey Barton was on Question Time last night.  Nigel Frottage is just a decent stand up lad who's a great laugh in the alehouse.  David Cameron cares for hard working people. Ed Miliband is a socialist. Doleite scroungers are the root of all evil. Putin is as bad as Hitler. Commoner Kate shops at Top Shop. Christopher Hitchins is a genius. And Bush and Blair were right to invade Iraq. Yeah. I suppose, in a room full of ugly girls, Hitchens is the one you'd want to shag.
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Offline Fat Scouser

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #67 on: May 31, 2014, 10:48:16 pm »
I'm of to my bed. Hittchens would agree with me. Or maybe he wouln't or maybe would, or maybe.... night, night.
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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #68 on: June 1, 2014, 12:44:08 am »
Is the streaming on that documentary awful for everybody or is that just at my end?

Offline Livo.85

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #69 on: June 1, 2014, 06:20:33 am »
Is the streaming on that documentary awful for everybody or is that just at my end?
Fine for me.

Offline Fat Scouser

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #70 on: June 1, 2014, 09:01:16 am »
Am I being a tit?
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Offline Mutton Geoff

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #71 on: June 17, 2014, 02:05:16 pm »


No FS not a tit  Christopher would champion your right to say what you think in this world, he would also agree with your dad about religion well up until the last couple of months of his life.

If you read his Biog his family were quite interesting especially his Mother it seems, who died in tragic circumstances.
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Offline jooneyisdagod

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #72 on: June 18, 2014, 02:18:55 am »

No FS not a tit  Christopher would champion your right to say what you think in this world, he would also agree with your dad about religion well up until the last couple of months of his life.

If you read his Biog his family were quite interesting especially his Mother it seems, who died in tragic circumstances.

I thought Hitchens continued to think religion was bollocks right until the last minute of his life ?
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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #73 on: June 18, 2014, 02:53:24 am »
The idea that Hitchens in any way turned to religion in the moments before his death is a load of bollocks.
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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #74 on: June 18, 2014, 05:12:18 am »
I only really knew who Hitchens was because of RAWK. But since I discovered him I've consumed as much of him as I can.

I agree with most of what he says and thinks apart from the Iraq war. However he does seem to make a better case for the invasion than those c*nts Bush and Blair.

My other bug bear was his almost fundamentalist views.  I don't believe in God and I hate religion, So in that way Hitchens is right up my street, but he seemed to make up certain bits of bullshit about against religion that it became similar to a religious teaching itself. I dont think Atheists should preach, or it kinda ruins the point.  He tried to claim the Khmer Rouge were following religions Dogma for the soul purpose of blaming the atrocities in Cambodia on something religious. I was really disappointed with that.

Wish I knew him years ago though. Would love to have got pissed with him.
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Offline electricghost

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #75 on: June 18, 2014, 10:26:34 am »

He tried to claim the Khmer Rouge were following religions Dogma for the soul purpose of blaming the atrocities in Cambodia on something religious. I was really disappointed with that.


Do you have the exact quotes on this, I haven't come across it yet ? 

Or at least what book/video he said it in ?
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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #76 on: June 18, 2014, 11:22:25 am »
My other bug bear was his almost fundamentalist views.  I don't believe in God and I hate religion, So in that way Hitchens is right up my street, but he seemed to make up certain bits of bullshit about against religion that it became similar to a religious teaching itself. I dont think Atheists should preach, or it kinda ruins the point.  He tried to claim the Khmer Rouge were following religions Dogma for the soul purpose of blaming the atrocities in Cambodia on something religious. I was really disappointed with that.


I don't think he quite said that. What he has said - on several occasions - is that it was a classic religious mindset that created and sustained Khmer Rouge (and the current regime in North Korea). 'Religious' in the sense that the follower was meant to surrender his will entirely to the great leader, not to question the wisdom he dispensed, to be obedient regardless of what you were asked to do, and to receive as your reward the keys to heaven. The difference being, of course, that Heaven was going to be built on Earth not in the sky.

One thinks of the images of those North Koreans wailing and hollering in their thousands on the streets of Pyongyang when Kim Jong Il ('The Great Father') died a few years ago.  And how they credited him with the ability to control the weather through his changes of mood when he was alive. Hitchens would say - did say - that there was a classic religious impulse at work here.  One based on superstition, submission and the cult of personality. 
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Offline electricghost

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #77 on: June 18, 2014, 11:50:55 am »
That is what I imagined it would be along the lines of
“With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.”
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Offline AnyGivenSunday

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #78 on: June 18, 2014, 01:24:13 pm »
I'm a big fan Hitchens and his work - watching some of his debates and reading his books and backlog of articles. I wish he was still around to get his take on the current situations in Ukraine, Syria and Iraq.

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Re: RIP Christopher Hitchens
« Reply #79 on: June 18, 2014, 03:12:14 pm »
I don't think he quite said that. What he has said - on several occasions - is that it was a classic religious mindset that created and sustained Khmer Rouge (and the current regime in North Korea). 'Religious' in the sense that the follower was meant to surrender his will entirely to the great leader, not to question the wisdom he dispensed, to be obedient regardless of what you were asked to do, and to receive as your reward the keys to heaven. The difference being, of course, that Heaven was going to be built on Earth not in the sky.

One thinks of the images of those North Koreans wailing and hollering in their thousands on the streets of Pyongyang when Kim Jong Il ('The Great Father') died a few years ago.  And how they credited him with the ability to control the weather through his changes of mood when he was alive. Hitchens would say - did say - that there was a classic religious impulse at work here.  One based on superstition, submission and the cult of personality.

That would make more sense. The case about Khmer Rouge was in a debate he has with a clergyman of some description on You tube.
Ill try and find it.
As I've said before, the Full English is just the base upon which the Scots/Welsh/NI have improved upon. Sorry but the Full English is the worst of the British breakfasts.