Not a bad summary of Hitch by the SMH, for those who have no idea who he was.

www.smh.com.au/world/the-hitchens-ethos--provocative-militant--and-always-humanist-20111217-1ozqe.html

Personally, I feel Hitchens is up there with Attenborough as somebody this world can least afford to loose..

His grasp of language, spoken and written also created a very interesting chronicle of his premature demise, with some very good perspectives that the average cancer sufferer just cannot provide. With no delusion of an afterlife he faced oblivion with courage, honesty, and dignity..

There is a collection of obituaries over at; http://richarddawkins.net/articles/644246-christopher-hitchens-obituaries

Bloody legend. RIP

Silence said...

great man. a huge loss for mankind.
I used to argue with religious people as well (about religion, I still argue with them for other things) but really.. it's like arguing about mathematical theorems with a person that uses Dr Seuss math (where after "three" comes "blue"), or playing a game with a child: since they make up their rules according to their argument, you won't be able to reason with them.

Hitch would have gone to heaven

wave knave said...

wow, you guys are pretty religious about your non-religiousness..
i dont get it?

This is such a common comment, but if you honestly want to get it, then I can only really speak for myself..

I'm intolerant of nonsense. And it's the biggest source of nonsense in the world, it makes truth claims that go against all evidence and it makes good people do evil things, and intelligent people say stupid things..

I'm just as 'Religious' in my opposition to Snake oil salesmen, Ghost hunters and Fortune tellers..

But I suspect this XKCD comic would have been a better reply..

It seems stupid of me to quote "Van" at this moment, Hitchens wasn't a fan of religion or stupidity though he did love words more than most.

"Rave on, you left us infinity
And well pressed pages torn to fade
Drive on with wild abandon
Uptempo, frenzied heels"

Maybe it is time to make some aware of the difference between an "athiest" and an "agnostic" and for them to figure out which of the two they are.

My book of reference is the "Concise Oxford Dictionary" first edition 1911, fourth edition 1951, reprinted (with revised addenda) 1952,1954 and 1956, mine being the 1956 reprint and the only authorative dictionary of the English language that I accept as I regard all later dictionaries as being polluted by "New Speak".

In alphabetical order:-

agnostic:- 1. one who holds that nothing is known, or likely to be known of the existance of a God or of anything beyond material phenomena.

atheism:- disbelief in the existence of a God; Godlessness.

The former suggest an open mindedness that allows for proof of a God dependant on a material manifestation.

The latter suggests an immoveable stance of total denial of the existence of a God or the possibility of it.

The difference is subtle but clear, relevant and noteable.

Me??............I am a sinning irreligious Christian who therefore believes Christ came to the world to relieve us of our sins and that whosoever believes in He shall have everlasting Life.

Sounds like a good deal to me.

EEEEWWWW Agnostics!!!!there on a par with "Swinging voters"

log man said...

EEEEWWWW Agnostics!!!!there on a par with "Swinging voters"

Of course you could be never accused of that.

You are not a dyed in the wool Labor voter. You are a died in the brain Labor voter.

Toots said...


He has nothing on Napoleon or Global Mcwarming

Well he never wrote a biography of Napoleon, but he seemed to be aware of his existence..
slate.com/culture/2003/11/getting-patrick-o-brian-wrong.html

Hitchens said... After his final defeat at Waterloo in 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte was taken by Her Majesty's Ship Bellerophon to his exile on the island of St. Helena, on the far side of the world. He was allowed by custom and courtesy to take his exercise on the quarterdeck every day (there is a famous painting of this somewhere in the National Gallery in London) and, having observed the iron discipline and nautical skill of the officers and crew, is said to have told the Bellerophon's captain at dinner that he now at last understood why his attempt at the Empire had been brought low.'

And gee Toots, I'd be surprised if even you could find a flaw in his stance on the Global warming issue.