Update: a couple more. I didn’t include Salman Rushdie’s because it was more personal, but I see it’s also on Twitter where anyone can see it, so -
Goodbye, my beloved friend. A great voice falls silent. A great heart stops. Christopher Hitchens, April 13, 1949-December 15, 2011.
And Richard Dawkins -
Christopher Hitchens, finest orator of our time, fellow horseman, valiant fighter against all tyrants including God.
My thoughts exactly.
Francis Wheen at Facebook -
BBC radio news at 7am reports the death of Christopher Hitchens, “an alcoholic”. How I wish Christopher was still here to challenge imbecile reporter Nick Higham over this lie. His epitaph, he once told me, should be “He never missed a deadline”. Farewell, dear old fruit.
Nick Cohen ditto -
The editor is letting me write about the Hitch. The fact that I had a gun to his head at the time is neither here nor there.
Also, a few minutes earlier -
Anyone who wishes to raise a glass of whisky in memory of an absent comrade can join Padraig Reidy and me at 5.30 at the King’s Head Islington.
That’s two hours from now, you have plenty of time.
Martin Robb ditto -
Now it’s up to the rest of us to stay on the case of Galloway and all the other friends of tyrants.
And on the case of the ultimate tyrant, Colonel God.
18 comments
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daveau
December 16, 2011 at 7:40 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
There’s a liquor store in the strip mall across the parking lot from work. I’m tempted. Just for Hitch, you know.
What sad news to wake up to. A great man.
James Croft
December 16, 2011 at 8:00 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I may take up drinking in his honor. He was an inspiration.
Matt Penfold
December 16, 2011 at 8:03 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I heard the news on the Today program when I woke at 6am. It was second to a story on how NHS staff do not know how to handle patients suffering from dementia.
I was tempted to go back to sleep in the hope I was having a bad dream.
Bruce Everett
December 16, 2011 at 8:06 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Well, I’ve already checked to see if JW Black Label is vegetarian friendly, and it appears it is, so some time in the next week… Maybe anti-Christmas.
I wonder how much stupid there’ll be to put up with in the meantime. More, or same-as-always.
Ophelia Benson
December 16, 2011 at 8:10 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
There will be plenty. One genius called Hitchens a “twat” on Wheen’s thread. Yay lads culture.
Torquil Macneil
December 16, 2011 at 8:10 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I heard the same news report as Wheen this morning. The sort of shameful spite that should be expected I suppose of a cringing mediocrity like Higham for whom a talent like Hitchens’ must be experienced as a constant rebuke. But the BBC should know better.
I will miss Hitch’s voice so much. And if anyone hasn’t read his Vanity Fair essay about losing is voice, you really should.
Matt Penfold
December 16, 2011 at 8:10 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
It is only just gone 4pm here in the UK, but I have nothing else left to do today, and I am at home so I have poured myself a large vodka (not liking whisky) and have toasted him.
Will try to find my copy of “God Is Not Great” later, so I can re-read it.
Saikat Biswas
December 16, 2011 at 8:14 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I’m opening my Laphroaig.
Nick
December 16, 2011 at 8:19 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Calling Hitch and alcoholic is like calling Higham a journalist. They both dabble a little, but neither is a professional.
Marta
December 16, 2011 at 8:21 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Over at Huffington Post (yes, I know. Sorry.) David Frum has written a lovely obituary for Hitch. Well worth reading.
Ophelia Benson
December 16, 2011 at 8:46 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Marta – well at least you don’t call it the PuffHo!
mazeRunner
December 16, 2011 at 8:48 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I haven’t read any of his books, just most of his journalism. Also watched many of his talks. Needless for me to say, his wit, erudition and eloquence were, and probably will be, truly unsurpassable.
To the Hitch *toast*
(Had to say something, somewhere. So.)
Matt Penfold
December 16, 2011 at 9:10 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
You owe it to yourself to read some of his books. I can highly recommend “God Is Not Great”, and his book on Mother Theresa is well worth reading as well.
Roger
December 16, 2011 at 12:58 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Muslims responding with their usual grace:
http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?312497-Hitchens-can-finally-find-out-if-God-exists-or-not
http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f18/writer-christopher-hitchens-dead-62-aka-another-54187/
mazeRunner
December 16, 2011 at 10:08 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Matt #13:
Yes, I do, thanks. I’ve been lazy, and now’s as good a time as any to start reading his books.
Musical Atheist
December 16, 2011 at 11:40 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Drinking a glass to his wit, integrity and courage. What a loss.
Stewart
December 17, 2011 at 11:09 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hitch, as such, cannot be replaced. But those of us who shared his ideas of what is important in the only world we’re ever going to have understand that we’ll all have to work a bit harder now to make up for the shortfall.
Vaughan Jones
December 18, 2011 at 2:04 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I’ve responded to the loons on those Muslim forums.
“With so much hate and disgusting things done in the name of faith around the world, it is surprising that the vitriol is being aimed at a person who did no more than reject the same gods you do and simply went one further in rejecting yours.”