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Without A Hitch
Flopping Aces ^ | 12-18-11 | Skookum

Posted on 12/18/2011 3:46:15 PM PST by Starman417

Christopher Hitchens 1949-2011, essayist, provocateur, wit, atheist, Brit-American and honest man, passed away on December 15. A Socialist early in life who evolved into a Marxist and eventually into a Conservative Marxist (a distinction he coined), later in life; Hitchens played no favorites and took no prisoners with his writing, he sought victims from both the Left and the Right, using his views of incompetence and dishonesty to guide his sharp critiques of those he eviscerated with indifference and without remorse, but regardless of whether you agreed with him, and he almost always bucked public opinion, he had the ability to make you think.

In this country, we have a phony pantheon of self-proclaimed intellects, starting with the president and his crew of faux intellectuals, but we have a few men who can write, Krauthammer, Sowell, Hanson, Horowitz, Goldberg, men who can write and make you think; Hitchens was among those who have a tremendous grasp of history and can write in a manner that will cause you to think and reconsider. There is a common thread among these writers and several others; they are honest in their opinions and expression. They have not let solipsism become immersed and diverted into proscribed theories of thought and writing that must conform to the party line without deviation or independent thought. No one can say that Hitchens wrote within the boundaries of Leftist drivel that we read in the New York Times or watch on the Main Stream Media. He was honest to his own convictions and was willing to let his thinking evolve when exposed to new evidence.

[VIDEO AT SITE]

Hitchens excoriated the Clintons, George Bush, Kissinger, Mother Theresa, Sara Palin, and many others, but he could do it with wit and style.

[snip]

His support of the Iraq War and deposing of Saddam Hussein, and denouncing the Islamo Fascism of the Middle East put him at odds with the Left.

“I got hold of a copy of the video that showed how Saddam Hussein had actually confirmed himself in power. This snuff-movie opens with a plenary session of the Ba'ath Party central committee: perhaps a hundred men. Suddenly the doors are locked and Saddam, in the chair, announces a special session. Into the room is dragged an obviously broken man, who begins to emit a robotic confession of treason and subversion, that he sobs has been instigated by Syrian and other agents. As the (literally) extorted confession unfolds, names begin to be named. Once a fellow-conspirator is identified, guards come to his seat and haul him from the room. The reclining Saddam, meanwhile, lights a large cigar and contentedly scans his dossiers. The sickness of fear in the room is such that men begin to crack up and weep, rising to their feet to shout hysterical praise, even love, for the leader. Inexorably, though, the cull continues, and faces and bodies go slack as their owners are pinioned and led away. When it is over, about half the committee members are left, moaning with relief and heaving with ardent love for the boss. (In an accompanying sequel, which I have not seen, they were apparently required to go into the yard outside and shoot the other half, thus sealing the pact with Saddam. I am not sure that even Beria or Himmler would have had the nerve and ingenuity and cruelty to come up with that.)”

[snip]

A man whose favorite author was George Orwell, will have redeeming qualities.

Yes, he criticized George Bush and Mother Theresa, he may have been an avowed Marxist, but he called out phonies on the Left and the Right. He admired America's fighting man and felt that America's Revolution was the best revolution. He was a wit and a great thinker; among the greatest wits of this era.

One of my favorite essays of his, is this hit piece is on Hillary and Bill, it deals with the honesty mentioned earlier:

(Excerpt) Read more at floppingaces.net...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Politics; Religion
KEYWORDS: hitchens; leftist; marxism

1 posted on 12/18/2011 3:46:18 PM PST by Starman417
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To: Starman417

He died as a philosopher should die.


2 posted on 12/18/2011 3:50:33 PM PST by GAB-1955 (I write books, serve my country, love my wife and daughter, and believe in the Resurrection.)
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To: Starman417

I disagreed with Hitch as often as I agreed with him, but I always respected his ability to write with such skill and intelligence. With so many lackluster writers on both the left and the right, a Hitchens article was something to look forward to.


3 posted on 12/18/2011 3:58:08 PM PST by DemforBush (A Repo man is *always* intense!)
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To: Starman417
(Excerpt)

Why? Does the blog need money?

4 posted on 12/18/2011 3:58:13 PM PST by humblegunner (The kinder, gentler version...)
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To: Starman417

I guess he chose to spend eternity in the smoking section.


5 posted on 12/18/2011 4:02:41 PM PST by Citizen Tom Paine (An old sailor sends)
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To: Starman417
A Socialist early in life who evolved into a Marxist and eventually into a Conservative Marxist

I believe that if he were to live longer, he would have eventually become a solid Conservative and man of faith. It seemed like the direction that he was heading. He just needed more time to come to those conclusions.

6 posted on 12/18/2011 4:03:29 PM PST by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
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To: Starman417

Hitch....eternity is forever....hope you are where you wanted to be.


7 posted on 12/18/2011 4:06:45 PM PST by Ann Archy ( ABORTION...the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Lazlo in PA

He had a LIFETIME plus I think he had CHILDREN....if you are an atheist with children, then you are a lost, lost soul.


8 posted on 12/18/2011 4:08:20 PM PST by Ann Archy ( ABORTION...the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Starman417
Enough with all the Hitchens eulogies. He was a dumass atheist who could write...

...now he's working for the Hell Herald and regretting every moment of his ignorant life.

9 posted on 12/18/2011 4:14:51 PM PST by Happy Rain ('The GOP establishment thinks a conservative can't win--Liberal Democrats KNOW conservatives win.)
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To: Starman417
Christopher Hitchens dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the
entrance.
 
'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter.
 
'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We
seldom see a celebrity around these parts, you see, so
we're not sure what to do with you.'
 
'No problem, just let me in,' says Christopher.
 
'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What
we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in
heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.'
 
'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says
Hitchens.
 
'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'
 
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he
goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds
himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the
distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all
his friends and politicians who had worked with him.
 
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to
greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good
times they had while getting rich at the expense of the
people.
 
They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster,
caviar and champagne.
 
Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly &
nice guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They
are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it
is time to go.
 
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the
elevator rises.....
 
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven
where St. Peter is waiting for him.
 
'Now it's time to visit heaven.'
 
So, 24 hours pass with Christopher Hitchens joining a group of contented
souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and
singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it,
the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
 
'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in
heaven. Now choose your eternity.'
 
Mr Hitchens reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I
would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been
delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.'
 
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,
down, down to hell.
 
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of
a barren land covered with waste and garbage.
 
He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the
trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from
above.
 
The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his
shoulder. ' I don't understand,' stammers Hitchens.
 
'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and
clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne,
and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a
wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.
 
What happened? '
 
The devil looks at him, smiles and says, ' Yesterday we were
campaigning.....
 
Today you voted.

10 posted on 12/18/2011 4:21:14 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
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To: a fool in paradise; Slings and Arrows; dfwgator

PINGIE


11 posted on 12/18/2011 4:22:28 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
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To: Revolting cat!

Ha! Perfect!


12 posted on 12/18/2011 4:45:08 PM PST by onyx (PLEASE SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC:DONATE MONTHLY! Sarah's New Ping List - tell me if you want on it.)
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To: Ann Archy
"Hitch....eternity is forever....hope you are where you wanted to be."

Unless he repented and accepted JESUS, the following is a description of his first moments of his eternity.....it doesn't have to be that way but he made a choice!

Luk 16:19 ¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

Luk 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

Luk 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Luk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Luk 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

Luk 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Luk 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that [would come] from thence.

Luk 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

Luk 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Luk 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

Luk 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

13 posted on 12/18/2011 4:45:39 PM PST by FW190
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To: Starman417

The Lord save us from smug know-it-alls!


14 posted on 12/18/2011 5:02:09 PM PST by kenavi (1% of the 1% were born in the 1%.)
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To: FW190

I know....he OBVIOUSLY didn’t want to be in heaven. He made his choice and MAYBE, just MAYBE he repented at the last moment, but if not, HE CHOSE HELL.


15 posted on 12/18/2011 5:06:24 PM PST by Ann Archy ( ABORTION...the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Revolting cat!

:::wow:::


16 posted on 12/18/2011 5:14:18 PM PST by b9
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To: Starman417

We are God’s chosen few,
All others will be damned.
There is no place in heaven for you:
We can’t have Heaven crammed.


17 posted on 12/18/2011 5:35:15 PM PST by tumblindice (Heaven? Gentile, white-collar, protestant. Yes, smoking. I do have reservations, yet here I am.)
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To: Starman417

I once watched a program starring Hitchens on TLC or such like on TV. I perceived him to be a pompous a$$ who was too “bright” for his own good. I feel that I am on solid ground with that assessmnent, because there are 2 scriptures which provide the basis:

Psalms 14:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalms 53:1 To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

Mark 9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mark 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mark 9:46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
Mark 9:48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Only a fool would pass up a “season ticket” to eternal joy that was being offered FOR FREE.

Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.


18 posted on 12/18/2011 6:13:39 PM PST by Tucker39
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To: Starman417

I heard he turned to Jesus at the last moment...


19 posted on 12/18/2011 7:10:16 PM PST by ColdSteelTalon (Light is fading to shadow, and casting its shroud over all we have known...)
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