Hitchens speaks ill of the dead
Christopher Hitchens rarely pulls his punches. This is his reaction to the news that the televangelist Jerry Falwell has died.
Update: This could well be the most stinging criticism spoken of the recently deceased in the entire history of public speech. Of the late Jerry Falwell, Hitchens told Fox News's Sean Hannity this week, “If they gave him an enema he could have been buried in a matchbox.”
Also: on Falwell's relationship with Reagan in the New Yorker.
Comments
I love Hitchens. I've loved Hitchens ever since I saw him giving a single fingered salute to a booing audience at Bill Maher's show a few years ago, through his Grapple in the Big Apple in which he publicly debated George Galloway and his fantastic articles in Vanity Fair and elsewhere. I can't say I disagree with most of his sentiments in this segment on CNN, and America would be an (even) better place were it to heed Hitchens' warning in this piece.
(By the way, for an even more explosive clip, see !)
I'll start off by saying I agree 100% with Hitchens about Fallwell and he has every right to say it. Screw anyone who feels insulted by it, Falwell insulted the dignity of almost everyone he spoke about. His so called charity was just a way of recruiting more employees for his business which when you boil it down was a hate cult.
Now for Hitchens. I don't trust anyone who has had an epiphany, whether it is a religious epiphany or a political one. Beckwith is a demonstration that many of these people retain vestages of their former unenlightened selves. Hitchen's views on the middle east are just as hateful in their own way as Falwell's are towards everyone else. Hitchens still clings to the Jew hating socialist rhetoric of his early left wing years before he saw the light. He also makes his money from his TV appearances all over the American media whether it's on cable news network talk/panel shows, his traveling road show debate with George Galloway, or hawking his new book, "God is Not Great." One can never be sure but I sometimes wonder if he actually believes half the things he says just as he has accused Falwell of the same sham. Perhaps he recognizes that he is in exactly the same business. He is quite proud of the fact that he recently become an American citizen. Ahh to be one with the land of bilk and money. No surprise there, he's just persuing his vision of happiness. $$$$$$$ At least the illegal aliens from Mexico plant and pick fruit, vegetables, and tend our lawns and gardens, I have no idea what good you can do with Hitchen's brand of manure. But it does sound a good game with its pompous British accent.
I am a fan of the Hitch too and believe that he is spot on here. Hitchen's is always compelling even though I may not agree with him all the time and that makes him even more fascinating.
Ps. That Hannity bloke is an idiot.
Jesus the hannity and holmes one was brilliant! Hitchens is 100% correct. reminds me of Alistair fothergill (Planet Earth creator) saying he thought Steve Irwin had it coming! If thats what you think, then thats it!!