Foregoing the common fare of What and ♪ , I wish to pay my respects to a Gentleman of Eloquence and Intemperance, Bawdiness and Urbane. Christopher Hitchens, Non-believing English half Christian/half Jew (respectfully), is someone hated… and loved. Friendly and Feared. And now, deceased. Succumbing to pneumonia, a complication of his esophageal cancer, described by Mr. Hitchens as an “imagery of struggle,” one which he “loved”. “I sometimes wish I were suffering in a good cause, or risking my life for the good of others, instead of just being a gravely endangered patient.”
I could not begin to write the words of wisdom, nor words of opinion, which would define Mr. Hitchens, yet, there are so many which I agree (and disagree) with, that I feel I must make some statement in tribute to Christopher’s passing.
As described by the Editor for Vanity Fair, Graydon Carter: “There will never be another like Christopher. A man of ferocious intellect, who was as vibrant on the page as he was at the bar.” And continuing with, “Those who read him felt they knew him, and those who knew him were profoundly fortunate souls.”
To give prime example of Christopher’s views on life, drinking, concern for life itself, and the “come what may” attitude he carried:
“I was met by immaculate specimens of young American womanhood, holding silver trays and flashing perfect dentition,” he wrote. “What would I like? I thought a gin and tonic would meet the case. ‘Sir, that would be inappropriate.’ In what respect? ‘At this altitude gin would be very much more toxic than at ground level.’ In that case, I said, make it a double.”
Well said, Mr. Hitchens, well said.
Critical and unrepentant of his views and criticism, He was a most engaged, prolific and public intellectual who wrote numerous books, was a frequent television commentator and a contributor to Vanity Fair, Slate and other publications. He is most well known for his Authorship of the manifesto for atheists, “God in Not Great,”.
Gaining respect (and hatred) of popular Religious figures for his critical views of Religion and God in general, Mr. Hitchens passing will come with sorrow by some, and a welcomed relief by others.
I’m sure Prince Charles will breathe a sigh of relief, considering the scathing opinion Christopher wrote of the Prince’s speech criticizing Galileo for the scientist’s focus on “the material aspect of reality.”, in 2010:
“We have known for a long time that Prince Charles’ empty sails are so rigged as to be swelled by any passing waft or breeze of crankiness and cant,”, he continued, “He fell for the fake anthropologist Laurens van der Post. He was bowled over by the charms of homeopathic medicine. He has been believably reported as saying that plants do better if you talk to them in a soothing and encouraging way. But this latest departure promotes him from an advocate of harmless nonsense to positively sinister nonsense.”
I can definitely say, that, as a “Left-Right-of-Center”-alist (yes, an Independa-Publi-Crat.. I vote by my Heart), some of Mr. Hitchens views were hot to the touch, while others wrapped my personal views in a warmth, and welcomed wrap.
Rest in Peace Christopher. You will definitely be missed. I hope that, whatever you felt was after this life, is what you discover. Wind at your back, steady and true, calm seas to your bow, and a sunset to your Senior side.
*tips glass*
~Sun
