Christopher Hitchens is much more interesting than a your typical Fedora Tipper because he actually wasn't just a carbon copy leftist. He was one of the most passionate defenders of David Irving -- 'Holocaust Denier' -- when his American publisher cancelled the publication of I think Hitler's War. He said things about women in other contexts -- such as whether they should go out to work while pregnant -- that sound positively reactionary. He also, strangely enough, was a passionate defender of the Iraq War.
Well both brothers discovered, I believe only later in life, that they had Jewish ancestry. I think Peter put it best when he said, and I'm paraphrasing, something like 'Christopher simply had realized that in the Trotskyist sense of world revolution by military action the American army had simply replaced the Red one as the vehicle for that type of action in the world.' That debate with Galloway is pretty interesting.
Funnily enough though Christopher defended Irving and described him as an important historian Peter has said nothing but nasty things about him despite writing books about WW2 that mimic a lot of Irving's theses.
I love Hitchens (even though I’m more left than right), but his defense of anything written pro Nazi fell under his dedication to free speech. He thought it was just as important to hear something abhorrently untrue as it was to hear the facts.
but his defense of anything written pro Nazi fell under his dedication to free speech.
Yes and no. The argument for freedom of speech was, of course, part of it when it came to Irving but if you read and listen to what he says about the issue he's not just defending Irving's right to express himself he clearly thinks he's a very important and worthwhile historian. He calls him one of the 'essential' historians when it comes to WW2. They're also rumoured to have been friends.
I'm much more right than left -- whatever that means -- so I take those facts as a mark of respect that shows he was an independent thinker.
Just a contrarian eurotrash edgelord. Amazing how a British accent fools Americans 100% of the time. Not sure he's not a fag either. He definitely had his shit pushed in in boarding school, and despite his obnoxiousness he's remarkably free of accusations of impropriety toward women.
17 comments
1 literalotherkin 2019-07-30
Christopher Hitchens is much more interesting than a your typical Fedora Tipper because he actually wasn't just a carbon copy leftist. He was one of the most passionate defenders of David Irving -- 'Holocaust Denier' -- when his American publisher cancelled the publication of I think Hitler's War. He said things about women in other contexts -- such as whether they should go out to work while pregnant -- that sound positively reactionary. He also, strangely enough, was a passionate defender of the Iraq War.
Interesting and nuanced guy.
1 hitch21 2019-07-30
He wouldn’t be bullied into just saying what they wanted if he didn’t believe it.
1 LetMeShowUMySoyFace 2019-07-30
He was pushing war with Iraq as hard as a Chosen Person neo-con. That was really strange.
1 literalotherkin 2019-07-30
Well both brothers discovered, I believe only later in life, that they had Jewish ancestry. I think Peter put it best when he said, and I'm paraphrasing, something like 'Christopher simply had realized that in the Trotskyist sense of world revolution by military action the American army had simply replaced the Red one as the vehicle for that type of action in the world.' That debate with Galloway is pretty interesting.
Funnily enough though Christopher defended Irving and described him as an important historian Peter has said nothing but nasty things about him despite writing books about WW2 that mimic a lot of Irving's theses.
1 fatshamers 2019-07-30
I love Hitchens (even though I’m more left than right), but his defense of anything written pro Nazi fell under his dedication to free speech. He thought it was just as important to hear something abhorrently untrue as it was to hear the facts.
1 literalotherkin 2019-07-30
Yes and no. The argument for freedom of speech was, of course, part of it when it came to Irving but if you read and listen to what he says about the issue he's not just defending Irving's right to express himself he clearly thinks he's a very important and worthwhile historian. He calls him one of the 'essential' historians when it comes to WW2. They're also rumoured to have been friends.
I'm much more right than left -- whatever that means -- so I take those facts as a mark of respect that shows he was an independent thinker.
1 JoeCumiasFryingPan 2019-07-30
You always seem to know a lot about Nazis. I'm sure it's just a personality quirk.
1 literalotherkin 2019-07-30
Helps to know about Nazis when you basically are one. I wouldn't call myself that but others probably would.
1 Belchides 2019-07-30
One of the few good Englishmen.
1 of_lower_stock 2019-07-30
He is missed.
1 Kenn_Kennnerson 2019-07-30
He wouldnt have been allowed to thrive in the current era.
1 TurningFrogsGay 2019-07-30
Sucked a dick or too, but most def not a faggot. NOBODY can claim this guy.
1 toe_trigger 2019-07-30
He told women they were unfunny jewish dykes and laughed when they got angry. And he called Clinton a rapist on national television.
Real ass dude.
1 Dr-Seepage 2019-07-30
He also referred to mos def as "mr definitely" when crushing his inane shit. Fantastic guy
1 ZombieRoeCumia 2019-07-30
Its actually amazement at bewilderment at how right and ahead of his time Hitch was.
1 ThatsSoOverrated 2019-07-30
Just a contrarian eurotrash edgelord. Amazing how a British accent fools Americans 100% of the time. Not sure he's not a fag either. He definitely had his shit pushed in in boarding school, and despite his obnoxiousness he's remarkably free of accusations of impropriety toward women.
1 sprimusp 2019-07-30
Has at least sucked a dick but still not a faggot.