Mr Christopher Hitchens

If you're here I'll assume you know who this guy is, I've had a few drinks this evening so I hope you do, saves me explaining.

Okay! Hitch was a personal hero of mine, I wish I had even a fraction of his charisma and drive. Even when facing his inevitable death he stuck to his guns. I don't agree with everything he said, like his stance on Iraq, but everyone is allowed mistakes and I think his heart was in the right place. I truly believe he spent the latter years of his life fighting against what he believed to be real evil in our world. Even if you don't agree with him I think his intent was genuine.

This was about 2 months before he died I believe, in what I think was his last public appearance. Couldn't find it without the music, probably because I didn't look.

When I see a man like this I often wonder if I'm intelligent or if I'm just interested in intelligent subjects and people. This thread really wasn't supposed to be about my adulation or even our opinions though so I'll end it here.

With that all said, I'll raise a whiskey to your name and memory because today is April 13th.

Happy Birthday Christopher Hitchens.

And another whiskey I guess, wouldn't wanna disappoint you.

I miss you man, didn't even know ya.

Thank you.

a reply to: BelowLowAnnouncement

That was really touching!

originally posted by: Quantum12
a reply to: BelowLowAnnouncement

That was really touching!

Whiskey gives me the feels!

Thanks for dropping in

a reply to: BelowLowAnnouncement

I love the guy, and he is very much missed, minds like his do not often occur in humanity and we need more like him, some of his later videos while sick bring tears to my eyes. What a great idea of tribute thread thank you.

a reply to: BelowLowAnnouncement

With so much going on these days, I would give my writing hand just to hear what Hitch has to say about it.

a reply to: BelowLowAnnouncement
Although I disagreed with him often, I never found him disagreeable (if that makes any sense).

a reply to: TechniXcality

I couldn't agree more man, he swam against the tide and pulled no punches. An atheist, pretty much on his death bed, trying to make the world a better place. It speaks volumes about his character. He had nothing to gain, that's why I'll never doubt his sincerity.

originally posted by: LesMisanthrope
a reply to: BelowLowAnnouncement

With so much going on these days, I would give my writing hand just to hear what Hitch has to say about it.

I was thinking that myself just the other night, he pretty much called ISIS and their caliphate back in 2005 or so.

About 5:20 in this vid actually

a reply to: LesMisanthrope

In one of his videos (while sick) debating the notion of an afterlife, he says," I'm dying, well we're all dying" and for some reason the humility and humor of that moment brought tears to my eyes, but he's right. I sure do wish there is an afterlife where people like him may reside so that I can at least thank for the contribution to humanity, anyway enough flights of fancy, I imagine mr. Hitchens would rather us pick up the torch instead of remembering and dwelling on the spark, but ritual is a very human trait and I think if there is anyone worth remembering and paying tribute to he certainly qualifies, it's the saddest thing that his life was taken so early but many could learn a good lesson just by watching his debates and with that I encourage anyone who doesn't know about him to research and listen, it well worth your time.

Mr. Hitchen's may be the most well known atheist of our time, but he was so much more than that. He was a humanitarian, teacher, activist, journalist, philosopher, writer, and more. He was not afraid of pointing out the elephant in the room, or saying the emperor had no clothes. He had as many detractors as he had fans, but certainly few were on the fence about him. I've learned a fair amount from watching his videos, and reading some of the things he wrote. He left a legacy, and others have picked up the mantle. RIP sir.

A short Bio, in case anyone is interested.

a reply to: Klassified

So right!

a reply to: Klassified

Couldn't agree more, I hope this thread didn't come across in any way like it was promoting atheism over his other traits otherwise I've done an injustice. It's not how I had him labelled in my head, it is how you said so well in your post. He was the man who pointed out the elephant in the room. There's no better way to describe him. He removed the filter.

a reply to: BelowLowAnnouncement

Cheers to a great debator!

originally posted by: LesMisanthrope
a reply to: BelowLowAnnouncement

With so much going on these days, I would give my writing hand just to hear what Hitch has to say about it.

You can hear Sam Harris talk about this. He and Majid Newaz have some real brilliance when it comes to the topic of terror.

No disrespect to Chris but I think Sam is by far the best academic philosophers out of the four horseman. Sam was the only one I think the majority of philosophers believed destroyed Craig.

Chris brought so much else regarding history though to the table. He was like a data base of historical information.

a reply to: luthier

Cheers

originally posted by: BelowLowAnnouncement
a reply to: luthier

Cheers

Thanks for making me think of Chris on his bday.

Will be doing some podcasting in his honor.

a reply to: luthier
Sam Harris is awesome. He's one of the best out there right now. I do think we have some younger folks coming up that are beginning to make a real difference. They don't have the exposure Sam or Richard does, nor the education, but they have heart and sincerity. Jaclyn Glenn is one off the top of my head...


This one is also good...

There's a quote by Chris at the end.

a reply to: BelowLowAnnouncement

For someone that called himself an atheist he did not mind taking side on what religion he backed, he had plunty to say about the catholic church and plenty to say about the Muslims but very little to say against the jews, perhaps because his family were jewish. On Iraq you say everyone is entitled to a mistake' really a mistake, i'm a bricklayer and i could see the evidence was false like the million who marched in London, but this educated man made a mistake. He chose his side like everyone else only he was worse because he said he did not believe in God so he never chose on what God he chose on who he hated more. 1million dead Iraq's many woman and children and honest mistake.

originally posted by: Klassified
a reply to: luthier
Sam Harris is awesome. He's one of the best out there right now. I do think we have some younger folks coming up that are beginning to make a real difference. They don't have the exposure Sam or Richard does, nor the education, but they have heart and sincerity. Jaclyn Glenn is one off the top of my head...

This one is also good...

There's a quote by Chris at the end.

Yeah man Glenn is a thinker for sure.

I like a lot of philosophers theybsont have to be Atheists. Almost 20 years ago I got a useless peace of paper from a university that said I had a degree in philosophy.

I never liked Dawkins. He is too emotional to be a good philosophers and makes a lot of silly mistakes. He is a brilliant scientist though.

Harris and Hitchins and Darnett were good philosophers. They crossed their T's if you will. They also admitted when they made logical errors in debates and made far fewer than many Atheists do when they argue with apologists (who are masters at setting traps).

Sometimes Harris almost comes across as a Diest.

Anyway I haven't seen those videos I will check them out. Thanks klass. Always appreciate your input.

originally posted by: pavmas
a reply to: BelowLowAnnouncement

For someone that called himself an atheist he did not mind taking side on what religion he backed, he had plunty to say about the catholic church and plenty to say about the Muslims but very little to say against the jews, perhaps because his family were jewish. On Iraq you say everyone is entitled to a mistake' really a mistake, i'm a bricklayer and i could see the evidence was false like the million who marched in London, but this educated man made a mistake. He chose his side like everyone else only he was worse because he said he did not believe in God so he never chose on what God he chose on who he hated more. 1million dead Iraq's many woman and children and honest mistake.

Well Harris and Hitchins admitted a stepped tier of lunacy regarding religion. Muslims being at the top with Christian scientists and Mormons. Chris had objections to the Catholic Church because of what he percieved as injustice by them and subliminal messages while tending to the desperate and hopeless.