Christopher Hitchens, the celebrated journalist, public intellectual, outspoken atheist, and Johnny Walker Black aficionado– a man of varying political complexities but who relentlessly, brutally derided anyone who sought to manipulate or flouted logic and reason–sadly passed away this past Thursday at 62 after suffering from esophageal cancer.
Hitchens, a devout non-believer who penned a book entitled “God is not Great,” bravely and fiercely raised important questions that the Doubting Thomas in us surely had but either lacked the intellectual, perspicacity or gumption to raise. Whether you agreed with the man or not meant very little, as Hitchens would still caustically argue (sometimes drunkenly) his viewpoints in spite of trying circumstances. So instead of focusing on many of the man’s obvious achievements and well-established beliefs and opinions, I figured the memory of Hitchens would be best served by including a myriad of quotes that wonderfully and unsentimentally encapsulate the life of Hitchens: an unabashed, unwavering, uncompromising, fearless believer in pursing truth and advocating logic and reason in a culture bereft of it. Seriously, the man took on Mother Theresa, by no means an easy and popular task.
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Hitch-slaps Sean Hannity:
Sean Hannity is a notorious close-minded, reactionary, know-nothing right-winger who will poorly demonize thinking people for single instances of perceived hostility. So naturally Hitchens wasn’t going to allow him to control the debate when it came to an appearance following the death of horribly ignorant and flagrantly close-minded charlatan Jerry “fallacy” Falwell, a man who thought fictional alien teddy bears were promoting homosexual agenda and that gays were responsible for 9/11.
Hitch-slaps Laura Ingraham:
Much like Hannity but a little but smarter and less pretty, Fox News’ Laura Ingraham makes a handsome living promulgating to some of the most utterly insane conservative positions that are as baseless as factless, all so she can manipulate the uninformed, fear-based minds of her unspectacular audience. So naturally Hitchens wasn’t going to be nice with her.
Hitch-slaps Sarah Palin: Sarah Palin, a miserably uninformed and barely relevant ex-wannabe candidate who has perpetually exhibited a profound ignorance of history and, when her stunning ignorance is pointed out, she turns on her critics viciously with ninja speed and plays the victim. So naturally Hitchens wasn’t going to give this terrible reality tv star and media invention a free pass.
Let us all honor this great thinker’s memory with a shot of Johnny Walker Black!
Michael is a comedian/VO artist/Columnist extraordinaire, who co-wrote an award-nominated comedy, wrote for NY Times Laugh Lines, guest-blogged for Joe Biden, and writes a column for MSNBC.com affiliated Cagle. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Seriously, follow him or he’ll send you a photo of Rush Limbaugh bending over in a thong.
Christopher Hitchens, the celebrated journalist, public intellectual, outspoken atheist, and Johnny Walker Black aficionado– a man of varying political complexities but who relentlessly, brutally derided anyone who sought to manipulate or flouted logic and reason–sadly passed away this past Thursday at 62 after suffering from esophageal cancer.