Christopher Hitchens 1949 — 2011

A man with a lot of good opinions -- based on his having lived as an adult, read the vast majority of the books which matter, and being well-aware who's truly worth hating and despising.

We should all do so well.

 

www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/dec/16/christopher-hitchens-appreciation-by-ian-mcewan

 

I wonder what good things he could have done if he not wasted so much time attacking religion?

 

...unless, of course, you consider his good deeds involved attacking religion, and in particular the frauds who profited from it.

 

What did Hitchens have against Borders Books?

 

“Many religions now come before us with ingratiating smirks and outspread hands, like an unctuous merchant in a bazaar. They offer consolation and solidarity and uplift, competing as they do in a marketplace. But we have a right to remember how barbarically they behaved when they were strong and were making an offer that people could not refuse.”

 

I thought many of his greatest moments were "Hitch-slaps" of religious pundits. He was a superb communicator, and it felt like there was no issue he was more passionate about.

 

Donald Rumsfeld @RumsfeldOffice

So Rumsfeld was a fan of Hitchens. I know it probably bothers many on this board but I'm guessing Hitch was also a fan of Rummy.

 

I don't think he was a fan of any man. He seemed to judge each opinion on its own merit. On many neo conservative opinions they were of one mind.

Torture was not one of them. After Hitchens was water boarded, he said: "Let me waterboard Donald Rumsfeld and we'll see if he says it's torture or not."

 

He LOVED Rumsfeld

 

I'm not hungry for cheese today.