dead Christopher Hitchens

[themaninblack 2,112]

I've had two down already - Hitchens and Socrates....

[Phantom 2,465]

I've had two down already - Hitchens and Socrates....

 

Hitchens makes it three for me. Saville and McManus were the other two

[Spade_Cooley 9,001]

Hitchens, Socrates, McManus, Gould... if Robin Gibb keels over at the Christmas table then this is going to be the widest-open DDP in history.

[Octopus of Odstock 1,848]

Not a fan of the fellow prior to today, when as my joker, he actually makes my DDP score half-respectable. He also makes it easier to choose my DDP 20 for next year. Well done that man.

[Body Snatcher 44 107]

Perhaps the event of Hitchens' death (the latest in a slew of missed deaths for 2011 - a point which has been frustrating us for most of the year) will make the DL committee readdress their selection process. This includes people who have abused themselves in such a way they have dire health ramifications in the future. As it currently stands it seems the likes of Etta James (surviving 2011 pending) still won't make next years list.

[Windsor 2,142]

It is interesting that the British Prime Minister makes a speech about "embracing Christianity" to deal with Britain's "moral collapse" on the same day Hitchens died.

 

He's probably spinning already - even before they put him in the grave.

[TAFKAG 70]

 

Saint Peter: Next!

Man [defiant]: Christopher Hitchens.

St Peter [a half-beat late]: Personal account?

Hitchens: Do you know who I am? Of course you do, it's one of the drawbacks of omniscience. And this place… It's obvious where this is. I haven't seen taste this bad on such a scale since I last liberated one of Saddam's palaces. No, no, let me finish. I suppose I should have known you'd turn out to be one of those drivelling relativists who thought that war was a bad idea. But answer this: has even one of the hundreds of thousands of people who've passed through your gate since I was so thunderingly right about Iraq blamed me at all? They probably just snivelled about Satan. The pathetic prisoners of religion.

Saint Peter: So you still don't think you might have been wrong about God?

Hitchens: Oh, don't think you can catch me with that old chestnut. Just shows how religion poisons everything. Let me tell you: death is certain, replacing both the siren song of paradise and the dread of hell.

Saint Peter: So you aren't in the least bit surprised to find yourself here…

Hitchens: Here? [repeats with rising, scornful incredulity] Here? This…continent of spacious heaven, adorned with plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems and gold… This kind of divine North Korea? Come off it. Where are the ashtrays? I'm off somewhere I can get a drink. [exits]

[Bert Trautmann 58]

An absolute hero, sad to see him go