FORUMS FORUMS






RLFANS.COM
Celebrating
25 years service to
the Rugby League
Community!

  

Home The Sin Bin Christopher Hitchens RIP



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 23 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3
Author Message
 Post subject: Re: Christopher Hitchens RIP
PostPosted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:13 am 
Administrator
Administrator
User avatar

Joined: Dec 05 2001
Posts: 25122
Location: Aleph Green
Sheldon wrote:
Mugwump wrote:Hitch could always turn a phrase and was good for the odd comedy interlude. But when he abandoned the good ship Albion and doggy-paddled ashore in the US things began to slip. Over the years his Vanity Fair stuff became increasingly difficult to read (frenetic, fragmented with low signal to noise) and you did well if you found an article in which argument and conclusion knew of each other's existence.

I mean, I liked his book attacking Kissinger's limitless war profiteering but he was suspiciously blind to GWB and his cronies doing precisely the same thing. Why he chose to ascribe weird altruistic motives to Bush's "Grand Vision" when he spent much of his career arguing few politicians possess any such notion I'm not sure. Unfortunately, much of his later years and ego were occupied with beating up on intellectual weaklings (far right Christian fundamentalists, conspiracy theorists etc. - the kind of folk he wouldn't have bothered with twenty years ago) - but when taken to task on, say, his support for Bush's policies by guys like Michael Parenti he looked like a fool.

Upon learning of his illness he re-invented himself for a third time and his articles improved (I think he finally realised the rich American media magnates had played him for a fool) but he wasted too many good years staggering out of any boozer that would serve him a row of triple measures until 5am.

Love him or loathe him Galloway hit right home with his "... drink-soaked former Trotskyist popinjay" remark. Although to give Hitchens his due he had enough of a sense of humour to appreciate it.


That debate, Michael Parenti v Michael Hitchens, I've only read a small amount of and to be honest I can see both sides of the argument.

I can't find the link for the full debate, any help would be greatly appreciated.


I think I watched it on YouTube. If not you might find a link to it on Parenti's site. It's been a while, tho. There's also a good debate between Edward Said and Hitchens in which the former forensically destroys Samuel P. Huntingdon's "Clash of Civilisations" thesis - the foundation for much of Hitch's reasoning for agreeing with Bush's Iraq policy.

This was much of my problem with Hitchens during the last ten years of his life. I mean, when you first see him beating up on loony far right Christian fundamentalists and wackos you can't help but enjoy the comedy. But after a while it becomes wearisome - even uncomfortable. A bit like watching a big kid picking exclusively on small ones in the playground. Unfortunately, when Hitchens did choose to swim with bigger fish (like Said, Parenti or Chomsky) he often ended up as lunch.

It was especially uncomfortable watching him being reminded of much of his earlier rhetoric (before his move to the US) - say his support for the Viet Cong, the Algerian war of independence (one of the bloodiest in modern history where the division between civilian and combatant was blurred to the point of non-existence) etc. - and his, IMO, unsuccessful attempts to reconcile such with his view on Iraq. Not that I have a problem with people changing their opinions over time (I'm far more suspicious of people who claim not to have) but given their force and reasoning it's hard to see - by reasoning alone - how he moved from one end of the spectrum to the other.

Top
   
 
 Post subject: Re: Christopher Hitchens RIP
PostPosted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:28 am 
All Time Great
All Time Great
User avatar

Joined: May 10 2002
Posts: 47951
Location: Die Metropole
Stand-Offish wrote:And the Saddam loving bit.


I also forgot the subsequent sucking up to rather more fundamentalist Islamists with his election campaign in Bethnal Green.






"You are working for Satan." Kirkstaller

"Dare to know!" Immanuel Kant

"Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive" Elbert Hubbard

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." Oscar Wilde

The Voluptuous Manifesto – thoughts on all sorts of stuff.

Top
   
 
 Post subject: Re: Christopher Hitchens RIP
PostPosted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:20 am 
Club Owner
Club Owner
User avatar

Joined: Mar 26 2006
Posts: 22320
Location: York
Mintball wrote:
Stand-Offish wrote:And the Saddam loving bit.


I also forgot the subsequent sucking up to rather more fundamentalist Islamists with his election campaign in Bethnal Green.


That was embarrassing as the cat impersonations.






Tarquin Fuego wrote: I love Jamie and have done since he was 10 years old.


The Reason wrote:Hi Andy

The Rugby Football League are in the process of reviewing the video that you are referring to. We do not condone behaviour of this nature and have contacted the player’s employer, Hull F.C., who have confirmed that they are dealing with the incident under their club rules.
 
 
Regards,
 
Matthew

Top
   
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 23 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3





It is currently Sun Nov 24, 2024 5:09 pm


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 197 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  


It is currently Sun Nov 24, 2024 5:09 pm
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
4m
ALL NEW 49ERS ERA LEEDS UTD THREAD
tad rhino
2594
11m
Transfer Talk V5
ArthurClues
504
12m
Ground Improvements
Khlav Kalash
168
18m
Salford
Uncle Rico
25
20m
Film game
Boss Hog
5683
49m
Dual Reg
The Phantom
11
Recent
Game - Song Titles
Boss Hog
40749
Recent
BORED The Band Name Game
Boss Hog
63242
Recent
DoR - New Coach - Investor & Adam - New signings
The Dentist
4031
Recent
Squad 2025
Tony Fax
61
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
1m
ALL NEW 49ERS ERA LEEDS UTD THREAD
tad rhino
2594
1m
War of the Roses
sally cinnam
35
1m
2025 merchandise
BarnsleyGull
17
2m
How many games will we win
PopTart
28
2m
Game - Song Titles
Boss Hog
40749
3m
Dual Reg
The Phantom
11
3m
Its all gone a bit quiet
orangeman
22
3m
Salford
Uncle Rico
25
4m
Accounts
Tony Fax
136
5m
New Players
Deadcowboys1
144
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
Mike Ogunwole
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Bailey Dawson
Wanderer
1
TODAY
2024
REDWHITEANDB
14
TODAY
Dan Norman Retires
Cokey
1
TODAY
How many games will we win
PopTart
28
TODAY
Leigh Leopards - 2025 Fixtures
Bent&Bon
6
TODAY
Catalan Away
Dannyboywt1
6
TODAY
2025 Betfred Super League Fixtures
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
2025 fixtures
Smiffy27
15
TODAY
Fixtures
Willzay
13
TODAY
Salford
Uncle Rico
25
TODAY
WCC Off
Choc Ice
11
TODAY
Leeds away first up
FIL
50
TODAY
Jake McLoughlin
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Assistant Coach - Langley
exiledrhino
30
TODAY
Noah Booth out on loan
Big lads mat
22
TODAY
Luke Gale testimonial match
BarnsleyGull
2
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
2025 Betfred Super League Fixt..
941
Magic Weekend 2025 - Back To N..
583
England Beat Samoa To Take Tes..
1310
England's Women Demolish The W..
1142
England Beat Samoa Comfortably..
1374
Operational Rules Tribunal –..
1169
IMG-RFL club gradings released..
1423
Wakefield Trinity Win Champion..
1970
Hunslet Secure Promotion After..
2177
Trinity Into Play Off Final Af..
2416
Wigan Warriors Crowned Champio..
1986
York Valkyrie Win Back to Back..
2223
Hunslet Book Relegation Play O..
2693
Penrith Panthers Secure Fourth..
2119
Wigan Humiliate Leigh For Gran..
2189
RLFANS Match Centre
Matches on TV
Thu 13th Feb
SL
20:00
Wigan-Leigh
Fri 14th Feb
SL
20:00
Hull KR-Castleford
SL
20:00
Catalans-Hull FC
Sat 15th Feb
SL
15:00
Leeds - Wakefield
SL
17:30
St.Helens-Salford
Sun 16th Feb
SL
15:00
Huddersfield-Warrington
Thu 20th Feb
SL
20:00
Wakefield - Hull KR
Fri 21st Feb
SL
20:00
Warrington-Catalans
SL
20:00
Hull FC-Wigan
Sat 22nd Feb
SL
15:00
Salford-Leeds
SL
20:00
Castleford-St.Helens
Sun 23rd Feb
SL
14:30
Leigh-Huddersfield
Thu 6th Mar
SL
20:00
Hull FC-Leigh
Fri 7th Mar
SL
20:00
Castleford-Salford
SL
20:00
St.Helens-Hull KR
Sat 8th Mar
SL
17:30
Catalans-Leeds
Sun 9th Mar
SL
17:30
Warrington - Wakefield
SL
17:30
Wigan-Huddersfield
Thu 20th Mar
SL
20:00
Salford-Huddersfield
Fri 21st Mar
SL
20:00
St.Helens-Warrington
This is an inplay table and live positions can change.
Mens Betfred Super League XXVIII ROUND : 1
 PLDFADIFFPTS
Wigan 29 768 338 430 48
Hull KR 29 731 344 387 44
Warrington 29 769 351 418 42
Leigh 29 580 442 138 33
Salford 28 556 561 -5 32
St.Helens 28 618 411 207 30
 
Catalans 27 475 427 48 30
Leeds 27 530 488 42 28
Huddersfield 27 468 658 -190 20
Castleford 27 425 735 -310 15
Hull FC 27 328 894 -566 6
LondonB 27 317 916 -599 6
This is an inplay table and live positions can change.
Betfred Championship 2024 ROUND : 1
 PLDFADIFFPTS
Wakefield 27 1032 275 757 52
Toulouse 26 765 388 377 37
Bradford 28 723 420 303 36
York 29 695 501 194 32
Widnes 27 561 502 59 29
Featherstone 27 634 525 109 28
 
Sheffield 26 626 526 100 28
Doncaster 26 498 619 -121 25
Halifax 26 509 650 -141 22
Batley 26 422 591 -169 22
Swinton 28 484 676 -192 20
Barrow 25 442 720 -278 19
Whitehaven 25 437 826 -389 18
Dewsbury 27 348 879 -531 4
Hunslet 1 6 10 -4 0
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
4m
ALL NEW 49ERS ERA LEEDS UTD THREAD
tad rhino
2594
11m
Transfer Talk V5
ArthurClues
504
12m
Ground Improvements
Khlav Kalash
168
18m
Salford
Uncle Rico
25
20m
Film game
Boss Hog
5683
49m
Dual Reg
The Phantom
11
Recent
Game - Song Titles
Boss Hog
40749
Recent
BORED The Band Name Game
Boss Hog
63242
Recent
DoR - New Coach - Investor & Adam - New signings
The Dentist
4031
Recent
Squad 2025
Tony Fax
61
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
1m
ALL NEW 49ERS ERA LEEDS UTD THREAD
tad rhino
2594
1m
War of the Roses
sally cinnam
35
1m
2025 merchandise
BarnsleyGull
17
2m
How many games will we win
PopTart
28
2m
Game - Song Titles
Boss Hog
40749
3m
Dual Reg
The Phantom
11
3m
Its all gone a bit quiet
orangeman
22
3m
Salford
Uncle Rico
25
4m
Accounts
Tony Fax
136
5m
New Players
Deadcowboys1
144
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
Mike Ogunwole
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Bailey Dawson
Wanderer
1
TODAY
2024
REDWHITEANDB
14
TODAY
Dan Norman Retires
Cokey
1
TODAY
How many games will we win
PopTart
28
TODAY
Leigh Leopards - 2025 Fixtures
Bent&Bon
6
TODAY
Catalan Away
Dannyboywt1
6
TODAY
2025 Betfred Super League Fixtures
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
2025 fixtures
Smiffy27
15
TODAY
Fixtures
Willzay
13
TODAY
Salford
Uncle Rico
25
TODAY
WCC Off
Choc Ice
11
TODAY
Leeds away first up
FIL
50
TODAY
Jake McLoughlin
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Assistant Coach - Langley
exiledrhino
30
TODAY
Noah Booth out on loan
Big lads mat
22
TODAY
Luke Gale testimonial match
BarnsleyGull
2
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
2025 Betfred Super League Fixt..
941
Magic Weekend 2025 - Back To N..
583
England Beat Samoa To Take Tes..
1310
England's Women Demolish The W..
1142
England Beat Samoa Comfortably..
1374
Operational Rules Tribunal –..
1169
IMG-RFL club gradings released..
1423
Wakefield Trinity Win Champion..
1970
Hunslet Secure Promotion After..
2177
Trinity Into Play Off Final Af..
2416
Wigan Warriors Crowned Champio..
1986
York Valkyrie Win Back to Back..
2223
Hunslet Book Relegation Play O..
2693
Penrith Panthers Secure Fourth..
2119
Wigan Humiliate Leigh For Gran..
2189


Visit the RLFANS.COM SHOP
for more merchandise!












.