Last Thursday, pneumonia did what fundamentalists, dictators, shady politicians, and blowhards couldn’t: win a battle with Christopher Hitchens. He was receiving treatment in Houston for stage 4 esophageal cancer, the disease which claimed his father. Succumbing to pneumonia in the face of the more lethal cancer seems a fitting final act for the ultimate contrarian. Hitch flipped off the Big C, and went quietly into the night.
In his 62 years, Christopher Hitchens packed a whole lot of living. As a writer, reporter, bon vivant and professional debater, he left the world a whole lot more interesting. Few escaped his analysis, and even fewer escaped his exquisite rapier wit and relentless rhetorical assault when provoked. He wrote memorable take down pieces on Jerry Falwell, the Clintons, Mother Teresa, opponents of the Iraq War, and of course, religion in general.
It’s his position as one of the “Big 4” of modern atheism that drew the most interest, or disdain, depending on which side of the God issue you fall. Along with Daniel Dennett, Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, Hitchens was a relentless prosecutor of all things religious. While the other three couched their comments and debates in a scholarly reason, Hitchens preferred getting into the trenches and brawling with anyone and everyone who challenged him. In fact, he seems to thrive on the debate form and treated right-wing radio hosts as equally as Biblical scholars.
It’s this pugnacious approach to life that garnered Hitchens a considerable following, and an almost equal enemies list. He did modulate his opinions when presented evidence to the contrary, though. A few years back, he agreed to be waterboarded to see what the experience was like. He lasted mere seconds. He then retracted his previous statements on the practice, and proclaimed it as torture. While he didn’t play the part of the neutral reporter, he did search for the truth.
Originally a Trotskyite, Hitchens alarmed the left when he came out in full support of the Iraq War. After 9/11, he turned his attention to Fundamentalist Islam, declaring it “Islamofascism”. He also spoke favorably about the plight of the Kurds, specifically in Northern Iraq during the conflict.
During the last year of his life, Hitchens didn’t back down on his views. He did however turn in several amazing essays in Vanity Fair on his battle with cancer and how it affected him. He used his remarkable facility with the language to explain his complex feelings of seeing his own mortality, and measuring success in a few more months, a few more days.
I admire Christopher Hitchens’ writings. I think he was brave in defending some unpopular views with fire, deftness and wit. Those praying for a death bed conversion were sorely disappointed. As with George Carlin, I won’t pray for Christopher Hitchens, as it wouldn’t have meant much to him. Instead, I just want to thank him for his brilliant work, and hope he is resting in peace.
Wherever that may be.
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