A look back at the life of Christopher Hitchins

Christopher Hitchens, whose writings and have illuminated political debate in Britain and the US for three decades, has died aged 62. Jonathan Rugman looks back on his life.

[@caesar1700]

A look back at the life of Christopher Hitchens _posts picture of Bill Clinton as thumbnail_

[@princeandrey]

The man Hitch loathed...and with good cause.

[@sarahmueller335]

It absolutely wonderful there is so much video footage of him available.

[@darshnikdeep4650]

I guess we are lucky

[@davidgriffiths7696]

Indeed, media is a virtue when used wisely.

[@coreycox2345]

@@davidgriffiths7696 Can be used for virtuous endeavors?

[@davidgriffiths7696]

realistic speech dispelling ignorance

[@thomasbonner8464]

One of the great minds of the last half century and the most wonderfully eloquent and articulate intellectual I’ve ever had the pleasure to both read and listen to. Rest easy, genius..❤️

[@michaelgibbons6273]

I disagree.. I think he was Yet educated beyond his intelligence.... The way that he completely says there's no God. it's not very intelligent.. There is 3 or 4 really good miracles What happened in this world... Observed by children.. And also thousands of people.. So how could he completely just push that aside.... I think his problem was pride and Ego.. Then no matter what was produced to him as evidence.. he could not go back on his word And all of his life's work..

[@XDKnoori]

​@@michaelgibbons6273 his arrogance cost him his afterlife

[@Barry-tl3ru]

Hitchins speaking inconvenient truths

[@Pe6ek]

Hitchens was the rational mind's best weapon against legalised insanity. May we never stop fighting his fight.

[@PetersFXfilms]

2:42 I cannot believe he wrote all of those wonderful books using only two fingers.

[@faithkiarie7579]

😂

[@johneyon5257]

one on his left hand - one on his right

[@Toledo_Doodee]

🤣

[@Adam-hi4mg]

That’s the proper technique for writing with mechanical typewriters, which Hitchens would have used throughout university and the earlier parts of his career as a journalist. Old habits die hard I suppose.

[@johneyon5257]

@@Adam-hi4mg - that was NOT the "proper" technique for manual typewriters (aka mechanical) - touch typing with all the fingers goes back more than a hundred years - i learned to touch type on a manual - and i'm Hitch's age

[@Shortberg]

Need to correct Channel 4 News, on telling the viewers that Christopher was 'Left' and then 'Right'. Those who have read his work know he no longer considers himself having a particular allegiance in the political spectrum. And I doubt he 'turned his back on Britain'.

[@Killuminati911]

^^

[@raceryod]

He would be much more progressive In today’s politics

[@stephenlord1986]

@Mattie 75 if only everyone had a 136 IQ like you we could also take to KZbin and put the world to rights in the comment section. I used to like hitchens, but you've shown me the light, thank God for you sir!

[@078flash]

@farenheit041 spoken like a true Christian

[@078flash]

If I have to explain it to you then your not a true Christian. Open your eyes and see what's in front of you

[@orangefield100]

A man without equal. How we could use his insight today.

[@suz567]

Hitchens is/ was a writer that one would wish, in fantasy, to have as a friend.

[@kylew.4896]

When we need him more than ever. RIP

[@jingievaalbal3322]

Rip?

[@yuvrajs.8109]

@@jingievaalbal3322 rest in peace

[@jingievaalbal3322]

@@yuvrajs.8109 how

[@yuvrajs.8109]

@@jingievaalbal3322cuz don't have to deal with suffering in this world?

[@jingievaalbal3322]

@@yuvrajs.8109 how can he rip if he don't have a soul

[@bobwilson7192]

If I could have a tenth of his intelligence, whit, oratory skill or just pure presence, I would be a lucky man indeed.

[@nickilston1763]

The man was a superstar Thanks to modern technology we can continue to be educated by him

[@nickilston1763]

@Cleo Fierro Really > Which god do you follow of the hundreds out there? I am sure which ever one it is You will go to his heaven as long as you obey his every word and pay your dues. He certainly was not an imbecile, it is call intelligence

[@nickilston1763]

@Cleo Fierro Well, you will go yo heaven and I won't then . Have fun

[@nickilston1763]

@Cleo Fierro Look, We are not going anywhere with this You have your beliefs I have mine I don't know you I am sure you are a decent person I don't believe there is a god, you do You keep saying I am obsessed with things.... You took against me when I said that I agreed with Christopher Hitchens views. If you don't that is fine No need for us to argue about it

[@Pranav-rp8wi]

We Indians Hate mother teressa. .. she chose not to help dying people coz her god wanted people to suffer... But chose the best medical facilities for herself..

[@tracylf5409]

@Jazzkeyboardist1 They died, no medical help, on cots, restricted from their loved ones visiting them. You're delusional & misinformed. She was a monster.

[@tracylf5409]

@Jazzkeyboardist1 Please try to stay on topic, if that's even possible for you. The issue is NOT whether anyone donates to wherever, the issue is that M Theresa deliberately, and with direct awful outcome, tortured dying people in her care. Additionally, she "rubbed shoulders" with famous people and took advantage of that status to serve herself only, as people died alone in her slums.

[@shaheedbhaghatsingh3974]

@@ConanTheCimmerian lol bro not really Indians are spread around the world. I am guessing u are from UK judging by ur name. The UK doesn't even have their own authentic dish as their national dish lol the national dish of the UK is an authentic Indian dish i.e Chicken Tikka Masalah. There are 1000s of Indian restaurants spread across the UK. There are thousands of Indian families living in London itself. Even if she actually did what she was accused of doing that doesn't ur case out cause most of the Indians under her care were poor slum dweller kids most of whom barely had any education opportunities or even went to school. Many of the Indians living in places like the UK US Dubai and other countries big cities around the world are rich and educated as is the case in England which has thousands of Indian millionaires. Even one of India's billionaires used to live there lol. Long story short even if she did cause of the deaths of thousands of more Indians under her care it wouldn't have affected the spread and diaspora of Indians around the world a single bit lol cause those who were under her care were mostly Calcutta which is one city and they were too poor and didn't have the means to travel out of the country for a job in the first place

[@77jamess]

@@shaheedbhaghatsingh3974 Doesn't have it's own authentic dish?! I think you're forgetting about cheese on toast, sir!

[@77jamess]

@@ConanTheCimmerian Bit of twatish thing to say. But I'm sure you were aware of that.

[@alessioandreoli2145]

Thanks Hitchens, you were and and still are among the greatest orators.

[@danielh8728]

I love the thumbnail picture showing Clinton with 420 in the bottom right corner and the title with Hitchens's name misspelled.

[@jotac87278]

I was/am a Hitchens fan. His greatest quote was the following: "If you gave Jerry Falwell an enema he could be buried in a matchbox."

[@kellyannemakeup8296]

He always intrigued me, I always admired him . A true legend

[@adam_p99]

He could outwit anyone, anywhere and anytime. Hungover or not. Just as intelligent as he was articulate. They’ll never be another quite like him... 🥃

[@lenyrockwell9164]

but not death

[@Xpistos510]

@@lenyrockwell9164 Death comes for everyone. No one ever claimed otherwise.

[@lenyrockwell9164]

@@Xpistos510 yes always out there always lurking, Death the Great Equalizer, HA! HA!

[@lenyrockwell9164]

@@Xpistos510 ha! ha! death always lurking stocking your dreams your hopes, i believe in death, never fails me, never leaves me always wanting more more ha aha

[@ethanjohnson9521]

What a hell of a bloke !

[@AFMMarcelD]

I know I'm not going to live forever, and neither are you, but until my furlough here on Earth is revoked, I should elbow aside the established pieties and raise my glass of JWB in salute to the fantastic and inspiring Christopher Hitchens,..sorely missed.

[@w8m4n]

Nice

[@elenafoleyfoley168]

🙏🙏🙏🇮🇪🙏🙏🙏

[@KrazyKatPosse]

That’s *Hitchens* Not “Hitchins”

[@user-fm6yf5hh7q]

A true legend, this doesn't do him justice.

[@wallacetf]

I cant remember almost any lines of prose/poetry verbatim, and I'm a writer. The mind boggles at his talent.

[@factbeaglesarebest]

As someone who both practices a sense of spirituality (admitting only that there are things greater than me)- whether it’s an impractical god or simply nature... I still am deeply saddened by the loss of such a logical and intelligent man. A truly intelligent man.

[@wvhollargirl7549]

I miss that brain, mouth. You did well my teacher, you did well Mr. HITCHENS.

[@arbackhaus]

This man is perhaps my most important intellectual hero. He literally fought for my intellectual autonomy as an atheist. Rest well, Hitch. Cheers, buddy!

[@Zinner222]

Really. Let's have a look at what you believe now. Biological processes from non-biological processes. No evidence. Consciousness from non-consciousness. No evidence. Ascensions from non-ascensions. No evidence. Life from non-life. No evidence. All created information systems, regardless of their shape and form, have one thing in common. Directed processes were required to create them. A Tom Clancy novel, computer software, are lit up sign on the top of the skyscraper and a restaurant menu to name a few. After 4 billion years of refining, purifying and perfecting by the forces of evolution, the DNA double helix cannot duplicate itself without the directed processes within the cell. Yet we are to believe that in Ponds of primordial soup, starting with nothing, molecules arranged themselves into complex information systems ,and duplicated themselves ,before the cell even came into existence. We have named and classified 1.8 million macroscopic animal life forms. We should have hundreds of examples of intermediary life forms. No one I know can even tell me five. How do we know all this happened. Because all the self-appointed intellectuals told us that it did. Fools like the Richard Dawkins, the Sam Harris's ,the Christopher Hitchens and the mindless sheep that followed them Continue to believe in your fairy tales. I will stick with science. Atheists. So easy to deceive.

[@kannanr9533]

Brave enough to speak his mind . There are sedition and blasphemy laws against that in many countries.

[@lagodifuoco313]

Long live the words of the Mighty Hitch!!!

[@oxqa]

Rest In Power Hitch 😢😭

[@edwardhardy]

Brilliant man.

[@-Ahmed8592]

@@toddsleezer3580 Awful debater tho it has to be said

[@h434n]

@@-Ahmed8592 How so?

[@barracuda7018]

@@-Ahmed8592 He was an magnificent debater who has never lost a serious debate....

[@barracuda7018]

@@h434n He probably has a different definition of awful..

[@photo161]

Barely an appetizer...there is so very much more to say about this inspiring man... so devoted a seeker of truth wherever it may be. I trust his search goes on even now...

[@th8257]

Worth noting that Christopher Hitchens wasn't massively well known in the UK outside of establishment / journalistic circles. The average man on the street knew absolutely nothing about him (probably one of the reasons he went to America), and that explains the shortness of this clip. Most of the viewers will have had either no knowledge of who he was, or a fairly limited one.

[@nahmaing8268]

This deserves a like simply because the duration was 4:20.

[@Killuminati911]

ând we know hitch was againts the war on drugs!

[@diabl2master]

Haha Haha xDDDDD le weed number. !!!!!

[@makclio172]

4:19 on mine???!!!

[@Maino88]

Considering the thugs and criminals in the White House, the thugs and criminals in Moscow, the thugs and criminals in Beijing - we fucking need Hitch more than ever.

[@ritawilkinson401]

I miss listening to him.

[@rickallen9167]

Need to clarify...cause of death is incorrect. As with many sufferers of cancer cause of death is pneumonia, unchecked due to immuno deficiency resulting from treatment therapies for cancer.

[@GCapitalOfficial]

I am on Hitchens on our love for America I was an atheist but my admiration for him still remains,

[@robbase5235]

I am so grateful that I discovered Hitch before he died. Never being afraid to intellectually speak his mind and stand his ground is what I take away and base my lifestyle around.

[@stewartpedshit3984]

Hitch didn’t attack “God”. If one is an “atheist” or “antitheist” as he preferred, god does not exist so there’s nothing to attack. What Hitchens railed against was religion and the idea of an all knowing all seeing being judging you from birth to eternity. That’s a man made creation and it’s the impulse towards enforced subservience to an imaginary dictator that he was attacking. Even the way that statement, “attacking God” is delivered so casually inaccurate that it’s an example of how religion “poisons everything”, which is the subtitle of his book, not how “god” poisons everything.

[@AreMullets4AustraliansOnly]

Jazzkeyboardist1 Hitchen’s supported the Iraq war in order to remove Saddam Hussein, which is an entirely noble pursuit. He’s not a general, he was not involved in HOW it was done, and it was the method which was the problem. I continue to find it petty that you all call him Chrissy. If you’re going to refer to him, do so by his “christian” name, as is per your customs. To bring up his mother’s suicide is indeed crass and does nothing to further your cause but instead damages it, for you immediately overshadow any valid points you could have made.

[@AreMullets4AustraliansOnly]

Jazzkeyboardist1 further: hitchens did not mock religion, he criticised it and judged it and made a case, after finding it’s glaring flaws, for why it should be cast aside, the same as criticising politicians or the actions of countries like Russia, for the goal of creating a better place and weeding out the things that don’t work for us anymore and instead work against us, like religion or communism

[@zakbrownrigg1]

The people of Alcoholics Anonymous who came to believe in a power greater than themselves that could restore them to sanity would not agree that the power that saved their lives was dictatorial.

[@SNORKYMEDIA]

Zak Brownrigg neither have they any proof it exists...

[@billyd5317]

@@zakbrownrigg1 AA has a success rate of less than 10%.

[@gregvictoire1309]

Quel homme brilliant ! Quelle perte pour nous libre-penseurs ! Cheers to you Hitch’ ! 🥃 Cheers to life !

[@ericephemetherson3964]

I coined the following in my mind a long time ago and I finally have an opportunity to state here about extraordinary Chris; NOBODY REMEMBERS ORDINARY PEOPLE.

[@AlistairClive-vz4dh]

A great regret of mine is meeting this man late in my life, thank you Mr. Hitchens for your knowledge.

[@lukezuzga6460]

I think I'll have a drink tonight.

[@bryanmueller4542]

He rose against religion long before his sickness and loss to humanity.

[@bh1935]

You spelled his name wrong!!!! How can you not fix this?

[@ep7615]

You have mis-spelt his name in the title!

[@rickhuntling7338]

E P Misspelt with out the hyphen.

[@ep7615]

@@rickhuntling7338 Y A M A M A

[@bobwallacejnr6852]

Miss this guy. Can you imagine the conversations he's having with God?

[@scottspencer6899]

0:50, what's this debate, is there a video of it on KZbin?

[@celtic5177]

I don’t agree with almost anything he says, but I still feel very sorry him.

[@rubini46]

I'd love to hear the Hitch talk about Jeremy Corbyn and his Unholy alliance with Islam. ☀️️

[@brianfinnegan9700]

Exactly

[@petergreen2552]

Corbyn has no love for Islam. Is that just another anti semitic angle?

[@duncanmccaulkiner378]

paolo rubini he’s probably laugh at the kind of far right troublemakers that make those kinds of parallels

[@thecoderofyoutube]

I'd love to have heard him slaughter idiot Brexiteers and moronic dribbling Trump supporters. I think he would have found the US election of 2016 very difficult, like choosing between crabs and genital warts.

[@petergreen2552]

@@thecoderofyoutube Totally. If the Democrats had decided not to go with Clinton,Bernie Sanders would have wiped the floor with Trump. Could you imagine him doing that address and talking about airports in the 1770s? No_ me neither.

[@jovialgent9963]

A linguistic warrior standing up against the dishonesty of those with power & influence! The closest we have to Hitch now is Douglas Murray. ✌️

[@mlh4711]

The worlds worst and most evil go about their business sace in the knowledve that The Hitch is not here to illuminate them. A truly great defender of debate, increcibly articulate, fearless and very often right. RIP Mr. Hitchens.

[@mjp8845]

The World has need of more like him. Whisky distillers best friend Tobacco industry disciple Formidable mind Formidable vocabulary Unafraid to speak his mind and gleefully awaiting the anticipated response . Despised equally by Bible and Koran enthusiasts . Despised by Politicians everywhere . The smug despised his astounding articulation and sound reasoning . They rejected out of fear . His capacity to debate and question far exceeded their ability to defend and justify . One of the greatest minds

[@airbedane]

He had more brains than the lot of them put together!

[@hoyboys1000]

WE NEED MORE LOGICAL THINKING - WE NEED LESS SUPERSTITION - WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE CHRISTOPHER HITCHINS!

[@josewatson4175]

Atheism leads to cultural destruction

[@aapowilen5436]

@@josewatson4175 Evidence?

[@adam_p99]

Jose Watson you’re basing this on what? The most atheist nations just so happen to be the most happiest and have the best standards of living.

[@AtamMardes]

"Your ignorance can be cured by education, which is hindering by religion brainwashing you to not only be willfully ignorant, but also celebrate your willful ignorance."

[@pinknachas324]

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" - God on Hitchens et al.

[@ajk1690]

So, this video has existed with his name misspelt in the title for eleven years?

[@rommelnavarrette2831]

Latin America. Adored him like a god. Viva Hitch!

[@sunilkumarkarintha8469]

R.I.P Hich!You were so beautiful..!

[@tankeepeng4426]

he 's a , devil

[@lukezuzga6460]

@@tankeepeng4426 You're foolish.

[@sid4633]

How can you rest in peace if you don't believe in the spiritual world

[@tankeepeng4426]

@@sid4633 M jackson is devil

[@joshfried87]

People God is great and loves each of you.

[@thefakenewsnetwork8072]

Long live freedom and democratic support

[@user-sm8tr5ic7g]

"Abnormally unintelligent" hitch was a g

[@patrickcon1]

Hitch was a colossus. This pygmy presenter, Matt Frei, isn't even fit to tie the shoelaces of such an esteemed journalist.

[@davidroach6867]

Ch 4 should repeat his debates on tv....itll be something actually worth watching. Hitch forever.

[@nealhurwitz]

miss him!!!!!!!

[@jennymacallan9071]

If only Hitch had lived to comment on Trump. One can only imagine.

[@emptybucket1988]

He will be missed

[@hansvetter8653]

"Oh Captain - My Captain!" ... you opened my heart ... and ... sharpened my mind ! ... ... oh dear ... dear Hitch ... you were such a beacon of and an example of ethical behaviour ... we miss you so badly!

[@hansvetter8653]

@farenheit041 ... Hitch would have replied: "You lose boychek!"

[@hansvetter8653]

@farenheit041 ... looking @ your pic ... you are young ... so I say it with the words of Winston Churchill: "If you are not a socialist with 20 you have no heart, if you are still a socialist with 40 you have no sense!" ...

[@gregmccartney5780]

Still makes me sad.

[@theshecamel9126]

I guarantee he know the truth now and wishes he could come back for one more day to get it straight!!

[@gabrielgabes5074]

And I guarantee that when you’re gone, you’ll know also what the truth is, nothingness, at all.

[@simonmo5700]

0:50 Reminds me of Tony Stark

[@Blorp_]

update the title lads

[@leebode4643]

His intimate knowledge and ability to keep pace with all the BS is just astounding. I despise religion as much as him, but he takes the time and effort to learn everything about the enemy that I do not take the time to do, so I just love when he fires off all that ammunition gained thru the research.

[@sonicboove4865]

An absolute legend.

[@manoloxines9113]

What a GENIUS of a MAN!

[@archangecamilien1879]

2:06 I suspected they would have him say that, "created ill and commanded to be well", and also the part about "celestial North Korea", because those are his iconic phrases, etc...the ones that would make me think of him immediately...

[@archangecamilien1879]

...he tends to say "commanded", lol...

[@arrak5000]

Why is the thumbnail of Bill, when its a tribute about Hitch 🤨😆

[@isaacleillhikar4566]

Its a shame Tim Brook Taylor didn't have Bill and Graham saying things in his bit on the news line this. They had to stay indoors.

[@wall-e7179]

Referencing the one debate where he got emphatically trounced (versus Galloway) is a bit off. Perhaps C4 like to jibe in the name of condolence.

[@bluesboy54321]

I have to admit, and no one admired Hitch more than I, that Galloway put up a damn good show, .. I think secretly Hitch rather admired him, not that he would ever have admitted as much...

[@ontariobuds]

His death did not stop his “reign”. He is still with us with in his writings.

[@fezs9027]

Like Jesus .

[@ontariobuds]

​@@fezs9027 Jesus didn't write anything, I don't think so anyways but yes I do get your point.

[@franciscoalfaro6004]

He would've been perfect for this crazy political times!

[@BAD_A_MOTHER_F]

Good on him!!

[@sassypants7581]

Miss you, Hitch...

[@f3aok]

How we need that man now days.

[@jackblake4473]

incredible to me that his name is spelled incorrectly. of all the people to make that error with, honestly

[@joekiddyshaw5757]

Guy was a Legend !

[@davidthompson62]

Hitch lived life to fully and sadly we are all the worse for it.

[@duped999]

Most agree that we come to the world for a purpose whatever it may be. But to spend a lifetime ridiculing others and questioning the existence of God with an untellect that could have been utilised in more meaningful thought and action is tantamount to delusional hypocrisy. If God does not exist then much of the civilised world must have it woefully wrong and a handful of atheists must have one day come together at some point in time to create everything that we can and cannot see in a moment of intense thoughtful action.

[@ianhorn8543]

I agree with you 100 per cent!

[@DEN.2.0]

RIP

[@drm6089]

Absolute genius Sadly missed

[@michaelharrison5564]

10 years ago today we lost a genius

[@maulporphy4399]

Miss you, Hitch.

[@viktorm1883]

I miss him

[@davidatherton1780]

A very sad loss

[@th8257]

Looking back, it seems fairly obvious now that he had a highly addictive personality, whether it was alcohol, smoking or interpersonal conflict. No doubt partly a reaction to his childhood and having been sent to boarding school. The psychological damage that boarding school causes and the character traits that it imbues are only really being discussed now by the likes of James O'Brien.

[@aydan0161]

How can someone listen to Christopher Hitchens and then sincerely listen to James o Brien, them names shouldn’t even be in the same sentence tbh. James o Brien is an embarrassment. Through and through.

[@errolkim1334]

If Hitchens saw how C4 handled the Peterson interview......SMFH

[@jomac2046]

Hitchens when asked about Trump "Oh please, at least he’s worked out how to cover 90 per cent of his skull with 30 per cent of his hair." . I do so wish he was still around in the era of Trump as Prez.

[@wlodell]

Source your quote, please.

[@jomac2046]

@@wlodell Don't have to go far to find that. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKHLgqGnq8ZrnrM

[@brandxmuddy3614]

Trump would eat his lunch.

[@jomac2046]

@@brandxmuddy3614 @brandx Muddy Ha surely you jest. He sliced and diced the likes of Hannity and O'Reilly more than once, I'm sure dozy Trump would be no problem.

[@wlodell]

JoMac Now then, you made a proper comment. Thanks.

[@tomgreene2282]

Whom did he like and on what ground did he stand?

[@dhss333]

How can parents name a son Toby? Or Jeremy?

[@god-fearingenglishman5254]

Hey! Haha

[@darshnikdeep4650]

I think Hitch was poisoned by big corporates and his rivals (ofc) these politicians.

[@garyrose9805]

Create a numbered list of his totally incorrect comments. Not the ones people didn’t like, The ones shown to be false against all the comments made! He made his points very bluntly and intentionally at the people to whom they were in tended, When,where,how is irrelevant, the most brutal insults he ever made hurt those the most cause they were correct And they know it. RIP hitch and thank you for saying what many couldn’t.

[@user-vl1st5yb3q]

A great intellectual genius