Posted on 12/27/2011 6:19:25 PM PST by SmithL
Some of Hitchens’ praise is deserved, since he had been an exception in the leftist debacle after 9/11.
But Hitchens had a serious problem with Jews, Israel and anti-Semitism. Despite the well known fact that the journalistic superstar boosted a deadly Judeophobic propaganda, Hitchens was given a pass by many US Jews for the anti-Semitic cheap shots about Israel just because he was a member of "the club".
Celebrated Jewish personalities such as Hitchens, George Steiner, the late Tony Judt and Alan Ginzburg, Noam Chomsky or Susan Sontag, all of them friends of Mr. Hitchens, have not just criticized Israel for its policies, they have depicted it as a “racist, vicious, inhumane entity”.
In 1987, at age 38, Hitchens discovered that he was Jewish. In the mid-1970s, a “Jewish settler” in Hebron told Hitchens his authority to dwell there came from God.
“This was where I began to feel seriously uncomfortable,” Hitchens wrote in his memoir. “Some such divine claim underlay not just ‘the occupation’ but the whole idea of a separate state for the Jews in Palestine”.
In the online magazine Slate, Hitchens not only depicted Israel as “stupid, messianic and superstitious”, he published an article entitled “Israel’s Shabbos Goy”, evoking the canard of a Jewish conspiracy manipulating US policy.
(Excerpt) Read more at israelnationalnews.com ...
Hitchens was anti- many people and things. Why should Jews be left out?
This veteran notes, without remorse, the passing of Hitchens.
Oh forget about those “other” people and things.
They are not of any significance to anything.
Is this saying that Hitchens was born Jewish. All of them friends of Hitchens? Including himself? Somebody 'splain' that statement to me please.
Never mind, I read further about his “Jewishness”. Still don’t know why they state that he was friends of himself though.
More like the old “Weekend Update” item on “Saturday Night Live”. The UN had just passed their resolution equating Zionism with racism. Sammy Davis, Jr. was quoted as saying, “Great! Now I can hate myself!”
He should have an adequate amount of time in Hell to prove that Hell doesn’t exist and is just superstition.
No thanks atheists. Hell is way too overrated in your minds. Tell ‘em Norman Greenbaum.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZQxH_8raCI
Depends on how you measure "celebrated"....
Hitchens was not remotely as celebrated as atheists Joe Stalin, Mao Tse-tung, Kim Il Sung or Pol Pot.
I bet he’s just as hot, and screaming just as loudly!
He really was a curmudgeon and a half.
That may be attributed to the fact that Hitchens didn't engage in mass killings (or genocide) - unlike the individuals (above) you mentioned.
Along with Jews, he certainly had a great deal of venom to spew at the Mormons. He hated any religion, especially the ones with high standards.
Didn’t know that Tony Judt was dead. Good, but why didn’t someone send me a notice. I would have gone out and taken a good healthy crap in the woods in his honor.
Ginsburg - almost worthless
Chomsky - a communist psychopath
Sontag - weird but once in the while she told the true about the Left
Did here Hitchens on a panel a few years ago. A formidable debater/speaker. Shame he was on the wrong side most of the time.
However, I’ll bet he’s giving old Satan some shit about conditions down there. “Where’s the damned air conditioning? Where’s the iced tea? Where are the women? I’m not interested in Helen Thomas, thank you.”
“Hitchens, He was an Anti-Semit”?
So is obammy.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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Hitchens was a gifted literary flame thrower.
Of course I object to many of his beliefs, or lack of beliefs.
He was clearly wrong about a lot of things but he provided a point of view that kept people on their toes.
We need the Hitchens of this world to challenge our beliefs and drive the conversation that makes us stronger.
On a personal note, Hitchen’s life was disabled by alcoholism. I went to great effort, planning to meet with him at a small reception. He never showed up, his aide found him, many hours later, passed out drunk in the hotel bar. I found out this was a common behavior and his public appearances ended soon after that.
Talent is inevitably useless without values. He left a lot of writings that will be resigned to history, but left no real legacy as he didn’t write with a focus towards a better future.
Bullshit.
It's possible to have enormous, classic talent along the lines of Einstein, Lennon or Michelangelo and have no values beyond what you can get for a hit on the corner.
Sure, it's a sad story, but it doesn't diminish the talent.
Is the only use of talent what you would it be? How about everyone else that enjoys art, for arts' sake?
Hitchens was an artist of the highest order.
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