A conversation with Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris. Both good friends of, and carries of the flame for, Hitch and his ideas. Dawkins and Harris were half of the well known Four Horsemen of the Non-Apocalypse (the others being Hitch and Dan Dennett). If you haven’t seen the video, check out the link. It’s a fascinating conversation around Hitch’s dining room table.
Sam Harris makes a good argument – that Hitch may have been willing to overlook Hilary’s shortcomings as a Presidential candidate, providing she planned to take action on the issue that was most important to him at the time: stopping Al Queda and its surrogates (which would have included Isis). This was back in 2007. I think if Hitch were here today, he would also be very concerned about Trump’s attacks on the free press. Let’s remember that Hitch was a First Amendment absolutist. He would not like Trump’s stated goal of making it easier to sue the press.
I’m sure Hitch would have had something to say about the language Donald Trump used in his recent, ineloquent outreach to the African American community. After saying its schools were horrible and its communities dangerous, he said “Give me a try – Whadda you got to lose ?”
It’s the same language Hitchens used when he mocked the god of Pascal’s Wager. The offer, he said, goes something like this: “Why not believe in God? Whadda you got to lose ?”
Here are videos of Hitch explaining the “Whadda ya got to lose” proposition (1:04 mark) (and as an added bonus he does an impression of Bertrand Russell), followed by Mr. Trump using, just about the same phrase, with his ‘offer’ (at the :55 mark).
Here is some good news. Hate preacher Anjem Choudary was convicted by a UK court, of supporting ISIS. It is high time. He can get up to 10 years in prison, which does not seem like enough, but it’s a great start. See the BBC story for details
Not unsurprisingly, Hitchens spoke out against him. Forward to 1:45 in the video below for the part where he addresses Choudary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwMOnFAAPwg
A compelling image. It inspired me to publish the following essay, reprinted courtesy of the John Templeton Foundation, which sponsored an event at which Hitch spoke. Here’s the video:
LINK: Video from John Templeton Foundation Event
Ok, a little fun with this post. I love this picture .Classic Hitchens. What do you think he’s saying? Is he staring in disbelief as an opponent makes a ridiculous remark (you can imagine any number of his debate opponents in this capacity) or is he making a sharp, brilliant, comment? Either way, great pic of the man.
Yes, you heard right….. a model of the ark. Read the details in this Washington Post article. Then hear Richard Dawkins address the matter (starting at about 2:20 in the video below)
I like this painting because it looks like the Hitchens from 2008 ish is talking to the Hitchens in the last year of his life, when he lost his hair cut to chemo. What are they saying? Source
Had an impromptu meeting of the Hitchens Fan Club with a fan from Berlin at Cafe Minerva in New York City. Yes, that is a bust of Hitchens along with “Arguably”. I insisted that each person with comments address the bust directly (OK, kidding, but it’s a fun thought).
From left to right are art dealer Sten Nordenhake from Berlin, Professor Sheldon Krimsky (who is a colleague of Hitchens friend Dan Dennett at Tufts) and Tom Casesa (your blog author).
Professor Krimsky, author of The GMO Deception, with Tom.
Playwright Carolyn Borris-Krimsky with Professor Krimsky, Sten with the Bust! and filmmaker Hector Carosso. Carosso’s recent film, Kayan Beauties, sheds light on the problem of human trafficking in Burma – well worth checking out.
Moon over Greenwich Avenue
In case you don’t recognize these distinguished men (and woman) of non-faith:
Penn Gillette, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Maher, Lawrence Krauss, HITCH, Sam Harris, Dan Dennett, Richard Dawkins, Ricky Gervais, Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
Great graphic, don’t have source
provokinghitchens.com 