Christopher Hitchens On CNN discussing U N Anti Blasphemy Resolution

February 25, 2009.
Christopher Hitchens joined Lou Dobbs to discuss anti-blasphemy laws.
The United Nations Anti-Blasphemy Resolution aims to curtail speech that offends religion, specifically Islam. Critics, religious groups and free speech advocates say the resolution is spreading Sharia law to the Western world.

[@roisingtommy]

Christopher Hitchens, you are missed! RIP

[@Brakathor]

Lou Dobbs was the only guy on CNN who wasn't a complete flake, and they canned him for being too tenacious with unpopular views. Unbelievable.

[@TravelsTTG]

Are you fucking insane? He was one of the worst. Just because he’s right on fascist Islam means nothing.

[@burkedejanes5735]

I'm always happy when I find a Hitchens video that I haven't seen before. Thanks for posting!

[@missdee4927]

Hitchens great as always, but respect for Lou Dobbs for being a CNN broadcaster and not afraid to have and share those opinions.

[@Josh-wh3re]

Wow, this guy is probably the only genuine journalist on CNN, shame he no longer works there.

[@jkryanspark]

Blasphemy is cleansing. It ought to be encouraged. What better way to eradicate the disease of religion than by ridicule.

[@a.r.t.4611]

What a shame to hurt these poor down trodden Muslims! Stop bellyaching and clean up your act; then you will gain respect

[@arthuride]

I had received notice of a comment from Constant Chinner, who asked: "What do you think is needed to stop the spread of the nonsense that is Islam?" Even though the comment may have been withdrawn, I will still reply. Islam is a religion fashioned by one man: an illiterate camel driver known today as Muhammad. This man married his much older wife who owned the camels he took on commercial expeditions, and through the marriage and because of the marriage was able to spend his life in leisure. It was at this point that Muhammad began to visit with the merchants who came to Meccas, merchants who were Christian, Jews, and of other faiths. Talking with them he heard their unique tales, and ultimately took them into the formation of his own religion. From the Jews he adopted the myths of Noah, Adam and Eve, Abram, Moses, etc. From the Christians he incorporated the unverified and at that time unknown legends of Jesus, Mary, Armageddon, etc. From the Greeks he laced his tart tale known today as the Qur'an with such myths as the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, etc. The Qur'an, like the Bible, Torah, etc. is the release of speculation based on ignorance and fear of the known world and marginalized science (although, in the period from 800-1100 CE, Arab nations did have the best hospitals, doctors, etc). Islam, quickly in fact, became as war-oriented as did Christianity from 200-500 when Christians were allowed and even encourage to rape, kill, and steal the temples and properties of non-Christians throughout the Roman Empire based on the Codex Theodosius and imperial support. To counter the idiocy and infamous slaughter of jihadistic Islam one must learn about Islam as a science not as a proto-belief and then educate the Muslim community on what Islam is about from a charitable perspective--not a droning on the evils or weaknesses of Islam as those evils and weaknesses are also a part of Christianity, Judaism, etc. It will take time as Muslims, like most Christians, are fundamentalists and totally ignorant about the conduct of inquiry and few want to be challenged as it is more comfortable to live in sloth of a religion than to erase its imperfectures and detail reality. To educate must be dispassionate but also to have a full knowledge (subject matter) of what is current and what brought it into being. Only with a full and charitable debate can change be effected.

[@buddybleau]

When the last brick from the last church falls on the head of the last preacher we will have peace.

[@butchr4850]

Every country in the world should abide by America's First Amendment in their constitution. Thank you Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine and others for ensuring that we see all the colours of the rainbow.

[@Longtack55]

Our NZ Constitution says fuck-all; We're a democracy, a monarchy and have a parliament - that's it., and we're pretty happy, atheistic, peace-loving, and a long way from Amerika. The USA has trampled on their own people's freedoms for centuries and WE don't like people telling us what's good for us.

[@mylesgeronimo4976]

NZ is known for its largesse--not.

[@CosmicValkyrie]

@@Longtack55 it's also a piece of rock will 10 people. A single attacked destroyed the spirit of its people. Pathetic.

[@valkyriesardo278]

All human beings want respect. It is an intangible value we award to others according to perceived merit. Law cannot regulate an intangible value. Law cannot redistribute respect as if it were a commodity. There are extremes of disrespect that manifest in physical form which law can and does regulate:: rape, murder, child abuse, wife beating, etc. Blasphemy is disrepect by word or act toward divinity or divine objects. Human beings have never reached consensus on divinity. At best, we agree to disagree. Nonethless, it is understood that divinity is impervious to harm. Divine objects can be physically damaged and that damage is redressed under property laws. Beyond that, blasphemy amounts to human insult and only if it is a perceived insult. Respect cannot be legislated. The Anti-Blasphemy resolution is not an effort to foster respect. It is an attempt at suppression on a global scale by way of the United Nations. The expectation is that constitutional governments will trade in the liberty of her citizens to avoid insulting Islam.

[@Longtack55]

Well, hopefully Aunty Helen Clark will be elected the new Secretary General shortly. She is probably atheistic.

[@Swordlend]

Was this passed?

[@elborrador333]

It was initially passed but subsequently repealed by the UN owing to pressure from free speech advocacy groups and even some progressive muslim organizations

[@nerdofilo]

Blasphemy: the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk. So, if I say Jesus is God, is that a blasphemy for muslims, so I am not allowed to do so?

[@GADefence]

It would be, as they believe jesus was one of many prophets that ended in mohammed. Of course, their entire anti scientific ramblings are a blasphemy against my jedi sensibilities.

[@FallicIdol]

Of course, the Muslim belief that Muhammad is higher than Jesus is blasphemy to Christians.

[@GADefence]

There for, the only proper thing is for everyone to become an atheist and thusly not be offended by someone else's view on imaginary sky gods. Win, win!

[@nerdofilo]

FallicIdol not blasphemy for us.. because we don't even pay attention to what those idiots say

[@KennyPurpleRain]

Laughable

[@markyy54]

take this dribble off you tube I am talking about the advert for want of a better word, these sick people has we know they bury men women and children alive cut heads off and just do the sickest things the devil will welcome all the is nuts into hell when it comes there time to die.