Hitchens, 1949-2011

[Psychedelic Rhino]

Sorry to see him go.

For those who don't know Hitchens, he will seem to be an insatiable debauchee in the brief compilation below. For those that know him well. . .will understand the sour note he used to draw attention to himself to provide the tough love he felt the world needed to know. . . of course between shots of 18 year single malt scotch

http://www.vanityfair.com/video/2011/12/1329955421001

[RubiconAlpha]

He will be missed by those of us that felt the world needed his form of "tough love" to get the conversation started about topics so many dared not talk about.

[Red Devil]

he sounds like he was a real idiot

[Psychedelic Rhino]

he sounds like he was a real idiot

Exactly as planned. . .draw you in as an intellectual bore, then have you bewildered by his keen insight.

The simple fact that he was one of the most requested debaters at both liberal universities and evangelical universities should be a clear indicator something was special about the man. When academia wanted the extreme view on the subject of religion or the fight against Islamic fundamentalism, he was the go-to guy.

If you read enough of Hitchens or watch one of his full debates, and an open mind is kept, you will discover he is thinking on a level most of us only hope for. The dichotomy is he is neither a liberal or conservative. I think that is what many people find confusing.

[Ded10c]

A genius.

[Red Devil]

bah, just another prima donna devil's advocate

boor

[Red Spot]

I'm not seeing him as a -special- individual. I do think it is special that his method got accepted so often.
It is easy to make a very shocking statement and in such way get peoples attention, it is however a lot harder to keep these shocked people to stay focussed on what you have to say without going into a discussion were people already have closed themselves for your opinion.

Eg: when you make claims about religion you generally get a lot of people on your back, not because they have a valid argument why yours is not, but just because they find a need to defend what is important to them. Hitchens in a way was able to make you shut up and listen to what he had to say.

Never have known much about the man, but I do feel sorry the world has to do without him. Not only was he very keen but he had a sence of humor you dont find in many people.

Requiescat In Pace.

[Psychedelic Rhino]

Cheers