Christopher Hitchens diagnosed with cancer

[Thorum]

My hero, Christopher Hitchens, was diagnosed with esophageal carcinoma which has spread to his lymph nodes and lungs. This was announced back in late June 2010.

It really hits home as I just met him at one of his last appearances on 13 June 2010. It was a talk/discussion in Washington, DC about his new book (memoir ironically), "Hitch22".

I got to shake hands chat a bit and he signed my book. I said to him at the end, "You are my hero." His response to me was, "No one should have heros." :thumb001:

If I can find where I put them on my computer, I will post a few photos of me at the event. Pictured also is Austin Dacey (http://www.centerforinquiry.net/speakers/dacey_austin), of the Center for Inquiry / DC (http://www.centerforinquiry.net/dc) group I belong to. Update; found 'em and yes, that is me with the gay shorts, gut and black shirt in the top 2 photos:

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c336/asol12/CatsDadALinaLinnSnow245.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c336/asol12/CatsDadALinaLinnSnow244.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c336/asol12/CatsDadALinaLinnSnow238.jpg

Click the link for the latest from Hitchey in "Vanity Fair (http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/09/hitchens-201009)". As usual, he minces no words:

"I have more than once in my time woken up feeling like death...In whatever kind of a 'race' life may be, I have very abruptly become a finalist."

http://www.vanityfair.com/images/culture/2010/09/hitchens.jpg


My heart is with you brother... :pout:

[Jack B]

He's a very smart and quick witted guy. As Dawkins said, I wouldn't like to be on the other side of him in a debate.

[Beorn]

"No one should have heros."

Cancer suits him. It will eat away at what he has personally not consumed.

[Thorum]

Cancer suits him. It will eat away at what he has personally not consumed.

You are such a loving man...

[Óttar]

Christopher Hitchens is awesome. Most people are not fit to carry his jockstrap. He probably drinks too much for his own good, it is true.

[Debaser11]

Very sad. One of the only people in the mainstream media worth listening to.

[The Ripper]

What's so great about this Neo-con, then?

[Lars]

One of the only people in the mainstream media worth listening to.

Exactly.

I hope he will get better and continue to harass the established opinions of the crowd.

[Debaser11]

What's so great about this Neo-con, then?

He's not really a neo-con. Save that label for the likes of Perle, Wolfowitz, and Feith.

He's wrong about Iraq. And I'm not a socialist myself (like he once proudly was). Yet, the man has a certain gravity about him and is extremely witty often in the cause of what's good and right. He's also one of the few people who gets his mug on tv while knowing who Bertrand Russell, Epicurus, and Spinoza are. He became a U.S. citizen the proper way and has knowledge and respect and even humbled admiration as a native born Englishman for our institutions (which is rare from "cultural enrichers" these days). He's an international figure that gives America its rightful due when it is so chic to condescend to us. He's also one of the few people who recognizes Islam for what it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7aS7m3odqI&feature=related

"What is this babble?"

That is what everyone should be saying to people like the rather undistinguished guest in the above video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=078s5bCXBS4

LOL @ "Well, guess what? Guess who's saying it?"

[Eldritch]

I got to shake hands chat a bit and he signed my book. I said to him at the end, "You are my hero." His response to me was, "No one should have heros." :thumb001:


While I think I understand what his point was, I'm not sure I agree with this sentiment.

But anyway, what can one say. Looks like he won't get to enjoy a long retirement, whether you think he deserved it or not. I think he would have.

[Debaser11]

While I think I understand what his point was, I'm not sure I agree with this sentiment.

But anyway, what can one say. Looks like he won't get to enjoy a long retirement, whether you think he deserved it or not. I think he would have.

Agreed. It's the Marxist streak that runs in his vains a bit. I used to say the same types of things. I guess it has a nice humility to it though. Again, he's still a good man in my book.

[Thorum]

A couple recent, very absorbing and thought-provoking interviews with Mr. Hitchens. I find his opinions and viewpoints on death (and religion) very close to my thoughts also. It really sucks he is so ill. We could use more like him. He is just brilliant!!

This is from The Charlie Rose Show. He (Charlie Rose) interviewed Christopher at his apartment in DC on 13 August 2010. INTERVIEW. (http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/11168)

Anderson Cooper of CNN interviewed him also recently. INTERVIEW. (http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2010/08/05/ac.hitchens.on.cancer.god.cnn)

Not to be missed, is his perspective on the Cordova House mosque, which is planned to go up near the World Trade Center. Err, where it used to be..."A Test of Tolerance (http://www.slate.com/id/2264770/): The 'Ground Zero mosque' debate is about tolerance—and a whole lot more."

[Debaser11]

Hitchens sort of likes to have his cake and eat it too. I don't understand how he cannot see the destruction of Western European culture as being precisely what has allowed Islam to plant itself in there the way it has in the first place.

[Óttar]

Hitchens sort of likes to have his cake and eat it too. I don't understand how he cannot see the destruction of Western European culture as being precisely what has allowed Islam to plant itself in there the way it has in the first place.
He's a conservative. Who says he's against the West?

Anyhow, he has esophageal cancer and he smokes and drinks? Put down the freaking cigarettes dude! I too have esophageal difficulties and I stopped smoking because of them. Smoking will kill you faster than anything. He's an incredibly smart man, but he's not too smart if he continues ingesting poison. :(

[Debaser11]

Hitchens is not, nor has he ever been, a conservative. He can be conservative on certain issues, but he takes issue with being labeled a conservative. I've even heard him explain that, despite the fact he no longer has Trotskyist views, that he still has sympathy for such people.

He defends the West. But he thinks the West in its current form can stand up to Islam. I see no evidence of this whatsoever. Ironically, such a stance requires more faith than believing in God.


Oh, and I was under the impression Hitch had stopped smoking three years back or so?

[Austin]

Never ceases to amaze how wise men such as him can actively destroy the husk which holds their mind.

Smoking is a mental defect of sorts I think as is excessive drinking.

[Murphy]

I've been praying for his conversion. Even fools are worthy of salvation you see, and great fools like him no less.

[Arne]

Last Weekend a famous German Regisseur died because of Cancer at the age of 49

http://www.dd-inside.com/news/christoph-schlingensief-erliegt-seinem-krebsleiden.jpg
His Name is Christopher Schlingensief

[Phil75231]

Hitchens, I don't take too seriously. He can be brilliant at some times, but he has so much in the way of other..let's say IMO off base views..that I check what other scholars in more or less his same camp have to say before agreeing with him with any sense of safety.

[Birka]

We know he will not be blaming God for his cancer. Christopher Hitchens is who Bill Maher (HBO) wishes he could be.

[Thorum]

I've been praying for his conversion. Even fools are worthy of salvation you see, and great fools like him no less.

You have nothing better to do? I consider your praying to be the utmost in foolishness. Frankly, I believe it is you who are the fool....or perhaps you are just fooled?

[Eldritch]

Hitchens on Life, Death, and "the False Promise of Eternity"

Video: Sally Quinn interviews Slate Columnist Christopher Hitchens.

Slate columnist Christopher Hitchens talks with the Washington Post's Sally Quinn about how he first found out he had esophageal cancer, the same disease that killed his father.

Watch video here. (http://www.slate.com/id/2268664/)

[Farcebook]

I've been praying for his conversion. Even fools are worthy of salvation you see, and great fools like him no less.

Theists say the darndest things.

Hey Eoin. I am teh Izzlum. I pray to Allah you fool convert MY religion! You is burley wurdy of teh salvation of Allah!

[Murphy]

Theists say the darndest things.

Hey Eoin. I am teh Izzlum. I pray to Allah you fool convert MY religion! You is burley wurdy of teh salvation of Allah!

And you are?

[Wyn]

I've been praying for his conversion.

Same, along with petitions for Christ's mercy.

In a fairly recent interview he seemed genuinely insecure.

[Murphy]

Same, along with petitions for Christ's mercy.

In a fairly recent interview he seemed genuinely insecure.

I wonder if there is an ongoing rosary crusade for his conversion? It would be nice to sign up. We should also pray that his brother receives abundant graces, as it's likely he would be God's vehicle for carrying out the conversion.

[Beorn]

Same, along with petitions for Christ's mercy.

In a fairly recent interview he seemed genuinely insecure.

All men will acknowledge the divine before they die, whether publicly or personally. They will all hedge their bets at the final tick of the clock.

[Austin]

All men will acknowledge the divine before they die, whether publicly or personally. They will all hedge their bets at the final tick of the clock.

Well if I was an atheist and was Christopher Hitchens I'd hedge my bets by giving allegiance to aliens so as perhaps they afford me resurrection in the above realm if there is one for my intellect. That seems like a much better bet from a realists point of view, not giving it to some human-god figure that we dreamed up as a species.

[Eldritch]

Well if I was an atheist I'd hedge my bets by giving allegiance to aliens. That seems like a much better bet from a realists point of view, not giving it to some human-god figure that we dreamed up as a species.

It's all a simulation that has already been run anyway.

[Beorn]

That seems like a much better bet from a realists point of view, not giving it to some human-god figure that we dreamed up as a species.

Proof?

[Beorn]

Have any yet? :)

[Austin]

Well I'm not even very versed on matters of science yet it is obvious even to me that frozen water exists on mars. I'd take based on my time on earth that if Mars has frozen water on it then it is very likely from a realist point of view that a planet that had water on it surely had life on it at one point or may yet (aliens).

I am not aware of any findings in space or on other planets that give direct credence to any one religion on earth in a way that would legitimize them. So I see that as aliens=1 dreamed up gods=0 in respect to cosmic bet hedging.

If there are/were organisms in the water on Mars then if I was him I'd give my allegiance to the likely higher organisms deeper in the universe rather than to something I have no evidence of from out of this world (human gods).

[Beorn]

Well I'm not even very versed on matters of science

Exactly.


I am not aware of any findings in space or on other planets that give direct credence to any one religion on earth in a way that would legitimize them.

Yet you have thousands of years of several on this little planet called Earth.

If I was a realist facing extinction, my sure bet would be...?

[Austin]

Exactly.



Yet you have thousands of years of several on this little planet called Earth.

If I was a realist facing extinction, my sure bet would be...?

Yes but all the evidence on earth for the various religions completely contradict each other and or entirely negate the others supposed legitimacy.

A good way to find a fraud is to see if all those suspect are claiming the same things in respect to legitimacy. On earth all religions claim they have books and history to prove their deities power, they all use their own factional evidence to support their god and dismiss entirely all the others. That is what any and every scam artist does on the street corner when in fact they are all a scam and none are actually legit.

I take that scam artist common sense reality and apply it to religion and lose faith sometimes. Either there are multiple gods on earth for different people or all the faiths specific dogma is wrong and there are no god(s) at all and never were. Save perhaps for greater organisms high in the proverbial heavens that might as well take the roll of gods in our eyes due to their achieved sophistication. I am not sure and still am very much young and impressionable. I am just saying what I see from a realist point of view in terms of religion is not good and doesn't stack up no matter how you cut it.

[Beorn]

Yes but all the evidence on earth for the various religions completely contradict each other and or entirely negate the others supposed legitimacy.

You questioned my statement of there being a divine conclusion to it all, not whether the religions on Earth contradict each other.


Save perhaps for greater organisms high in the proverbial heavens that might as well take the roll of gods in our eyes due to their achieved sophistication.

Have aliens provided mankind with a divine purpose and a divine conclusion to a life that is ending? I'm presuming the answer is a straight 'no', so why would you wish to hedge your bets against all the evidence of religions on Earth (whether you didn't believe it or not, or consider it to contradict each other) and latch onto an unknown hope?

[Thorum]

All men will acknowledge the divine before they die, whether publicly or personally. They will all hedge their bets at the final tick of the clock.

Proof?

[Beorn]

Proof?

It's a stated opinion.

[Thorum]

It's a stated opinion.

Thanks, we all just wanted you to admit it. ...

[Beorn]

Thanks, we all just wanted you to admit it. ...

No problem. Now perhaps you (http://www.theapricity.com/forum/showpost.php?p=83028&postcount=10) could do the same? :)

[Thorum]

No problem. Now perhaps you (http://www.theapricity.com/forum/showpost.php?p=83028&postcount=10) could do the same? :)

Of course not, it was a fact, it was not my opinion.

[Beorn]

Of course not, it was a fact, it was not my opinion.

Well, yes, of course. It is why I wish for you to prove your "fact".

[Thorum]

No, I don't want to.

[Beorn]

No, I don't want to.

In other words, you can't. Thanks, we all just wanted you to admit it. ...

[Austin]

In other words, you can't. Thanks, we all just wanted you to admit it. ...

Your just mad about the frozen water on mars.

[Psychonaut]

Either there are multiple gods on earth for different people or all the faiths specific dogma is wrong and there are no god(s) at all and never were.

Given the inherent disparity of religious experience combined with its ubiquity amongst all peoples in all places and all times, polytheism seems a likelier bet, simply empirically speaking, than monotheism.

[Beorn]

Your just mad about the frozen water on mars.

Three things.

- WTF are you talking about?

- It is 'you're'.

- Mars should start with a capital M.

[Austin]

Three things.

- WTF are you talking about?

- It is 'you're'.

- Mars should start with a capital M.

Hah I beat you! You retreated to grammar corrections you lose and you know it.

Type water on mmmmmmars into google silly.

[Eldritch]

Enceladus, Saturn's sixth largest moon, almost certainly has water in liquid form under the icy surface.

[Beorn]

Hah I beat you! You retreated to grammar corrections you lose and you know it.

I didn't realise I was playing a game. :confused: Are you alright?


Type water on mmmmmmars into google silly.

I did and here (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=water+on+mmmmmmars+into+google+silly) is the result. And the point of that exercise was?

[Psychonaut]

Enceladus, Saturn's sixth largest moon, almost certainly has water in liquid form under the icy surface.

And if not Enceladus, Europa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_%28moon%29) certainly does.

[Austin]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/news/phoenix-20080731.html

Aliens

[Beorn]

http://markc1.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451bb2969e20120a545ddc8970c-800wi

[Thorum]

Debate (http://www.booktv.org/Program/11840/Debate+Does+Atheism+Poison+Everything+with+Christo pher+Hitchens+and+David+Berlinski.aspx): Does Atheism Poison Everything? with Christopher Hitchens and David Berlinski

"A debate on atheism with Christopher Hitchens, author of "God Is Not Great," and David Berlinski, author of "The Devil's Delusion." This event was hosted by the Fixed Point Foundation (fixed-point.org) in Birmingham, Alabama." Debate took place 2 weeks ago.

[Thorum]

Another excellent essay from Hitchey on his illness:

Miss Manners And the Big C (http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/12/hitchens-201012)

http://www.vanityfair.com/images/culture/2010/12/hitchens.jpg

[Thorum]

Hitchens 2 weeks ago on the American show "60 Minutes". He is great...

Christopher Hitchens, still outrageous (http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7358646n&tag=related;photovideo)

[Beorn]

God really doesn't exist. This cunt would be dead in a world full of God.

[Thorum]

God really doesn't exist. This cunt would be dead in a world full of God.

What did you think of the interview?

[Beorn]

What did you think of the interview?

:D I didn't watch it. I'm on a mission to develop Type 2 Diabetes as my 23andme dictates. :thumb001:

I can't be bogged down by cancerous individuals who have already "won".

[Thorum]

My guess is he is not doing too well. It's not his voice since he has lost the ability to speak:

znJfpsWjl9Y

[billErobreren]

I just read that he died :(

[Apollonaris]

All men will acknowledge the divine before they die, whether publicly or personally. They will all hedge their bets at the final tick of the clock.

Hitchens already gave us his answer to this typical Christian nonsense a while ago (from September 2009):

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And more recently:

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Far from hedging his bets, he seems to have been quite realistic on his ultimate fate.

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And let's not forget the nature of the so-called "divine" to which we are all entreated to beg for forgiveness ...

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This last clip is a perfect example of why Hitchens was so despised in certain (Christian) quarters. And why they (rightly) feared him ...

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He will be missed (but not by everyone :wink).

[Óttar]

I just read that he died :(
This is terrible news. Our generation needed his lucid iconoclasm. I didn't realise he died until a few minutes ago. Why was his death not covered on TV?

There was no one on this earth, so able to intellectually combat the smug and complacent Abrahamites.

Requiescat in Pace, Hitch. :icon_sad:

[Mercury]

This is terrible news. Our generation needed his lucid iconoclasm. I didn't realise he died until a few minutes ago. Why was his death not covered on TV?

There was no one on this earth, so able to intellectually combat the smug and complacent Abrahamites.

Requiescat in Pace, Hitch. :icon_sad:

He died when a few other well-known people died, such as Kim Jong Il. So his death wasn't properly covered.

[Bobby Martnen]

Christopher Hitchens, although I disagree with him about religion and politics, was a good-hearted, intelligent, and witty journalist and debater.