A Day of Mourning

As much as I am saddened by the recent passing of Christopher Hitchens, I am delighted by the sheer volume of recorded talks, debates, appearances, interviews, essays, articles, and books.  I spent the day perusing Hitchslaps, and had the time to just soak in so much of what he was famous for; whether you find any of his ideas inflammatory or spot on, there is no doubt that he was an incredible intellectual with a merciless wit. 

My first thought, after seeing him eviscerate his opponents for intellectual shortcomings, was that the apologist movement must have issued a universal sigh of relief.  No longer would they have to risk opening their mouths and saying something asinine like “oooh what about … what about pascal’s wager!” and know that Hitchens would first chide them for relying on such a stupid argument and then dispel any notion that the idea is worth entertaining.  I was shocked watching some of the footage in which his opponents attempted humor by saying things that he used to just BURY them. 

Like the Rabbi who commented about his son’s briss that “my son cried more at his first haircut than he did when he was circumcised” to which Hitchens first replied, “then you were doing it wrong.”  (The haircut, I presume.)  But he goes on to say “What if I was a muslim and said ‘my daughter cried more at her first hair cut than she did when I had her clitoris cut off.’?” And preceded to bring his point home that religion makes decent, nice people do outrageously horrible things in the name of religion. 

Or how about the time that fucking Grand Poobah of high pitched whiny morons has a moment of clarity when he quips “Now Hitch, I know you’re used to being the smartest man in the room…” Honey, everyone’s used to that feeling when they talk to you.  It’s not just Hitch.  That was Sean Hannity.  What a fucking tool.  He sounds like a 1930’s mafia informant, high pitched, nasal, and whiny.

I’m delighted that apart from the appearances on stupid news programs and inflammatory crossfire like LoudestVoiceWins news network appearances, Hitch also did a number of talks, friendly debates, book talks, and interviews which allow him the freedom to weave together his arguments without some moron who starts the interview with “So, I believe in god, I’m a Christian, but what is all this you’re saying about religion isn’t a force of good in the world!  What could you possibly mean by this?”  I totally respect the guy for making the rounds in places that may have quite a few non-believers hidden within that could use a reminder that they’re not alone.  He was just so fucking good at knowing when niceties were uncalled for and when someone needed to be called to the mat.

I watched him receive an award from Dawkins in Oct 2011 (2 months before he died), and I just couldn’t.  It made me sob.  He was so sick, and knowing he was nearing the end was so heartbreaking.

Forever in our conscious, even if no longer in the universe.  <3