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September 2, 2010Continue reading. (Vanity Fair)
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Who else feels Christopher Hitchens getting terminal throat cancer [sic] was God’s revenge for him using his voice to blaspheme him?
Well done.
Hey look at that ashtry on the table behind Hitchens. That's a cigarette! He can't be still smoking can he?
not all "prominent rabbis" are praying for Hitchens - rabbijohnmoscowitz.blog.com
If God exists, and he invented it all, including earthquakes and well cancer then this isn't a deity worth praising in anyway.
Cancer alone kills the concept of a loving God..
Hey there HJ ...
To answer your question, yes, unfortunately he can and he's probably still drinking too. I suspected as much with his lukewarm response to questions regarding both of these addictions.
Smoking can be one of the most difficult addictions to quit - it has 2 powerful components - the physiological effects of the nicotine with the continually reinforcing habit aspect. In fact, the hardest part of quitting is the habit - the cigarette with coffee in the morning, the one after dinner. Add to that the stress he is under with his cancer diagnosis and it's that much more difficult.
I have read ( I want to say one of the major Cancer organizations but don't remember - it's been a long time) that it takes an average of 11 tries to successfully quit smoking. It took about that many for me and I had serious sinus issues from smoking. Christopher has said that he doesn't have any issues with it so without direct motivation - it can be difficult to even see a need to. Yes, I know, cancer is pretty direct but if it's not a direct psychological connection. Like never being able to drink wine again after the worst hangover of your life ;-) (direct experience). It has now been about 5 years - but it would only take one to go back.
We don't know the whole story - he may be trying to quit - or - because of the odds he's facing, he may be justifying not quitting because 'it wouldn't matter anyway'. He has been extremely good at justifying his drinking, so I'm sure he's just as good at this. Unfortunate. I'm sure it's not helping his odds. ;-(
The reason he employs towards those who claim the hand of god in his disease is devastatingly sound. With each righteous condemnation in the name of the god's will, they condemn every child and saint who has ever suffered and died by that very same hand.
I was under two impressions regarding smoking and cancer. The first was that you may as well take comfort in those things that give you pleasure - it can't really do much more harm at this point. Although, I do recall some research released on that a couple months ago, saying that there are benefits to quitting.
But the other thing I had heard was that trying to quit can shock your system enough (for anyone who's gone through withdrawal and such) that it doesn't help your case.
Otherwise, I agree with what was said above completely.
Hi Xeno! Yeah, we don't know the whole story but here he is saying he's consulting people to find out ways of improving his odds and yet he's puffing on ciggies!!! Coginitive dissonance ALERT!
It may not be "easy" to give up the aptly named "cancer sticks" but nobody says that making a rational decision means picking the easiest option. If life were that simple then maybe we could assume the existence of a benevolent creator! :D
So, if you do read this Mr Hitchens, will you please give up those "fags" (as Brits call them) and stop being a stubborn ass.
; ) HJ:
You'd be amazed at how creative you become when rationalizing an addiction ...
That being said - I have seen people continue to smoke after having their larynx removed (through the hole in their throat) and while on oxygen with severe emphysema. The latter really scared me ...
The habit is the hardest part - it's something you do - often 20+ times a day for years on end. Reminders smack you every time you turn around. Nicotine is also a 'mood' stabilizer - if you're angry it will help calm you down, if you're sad, it will help you feel more up. Look, I'm not trying to excuse him really, but being an ex-smoker - I know what that's like and I couldn't imagine trying to quit when facing what he's facing.
I'm sure his doctors inform him of the benefits of quitting whenever they have a chance ;-). His family probably is too - what's unfortunate about that is that often the more someone is 'badgered' about their addiction, the more they dig their heals about it. Sigh ...
It's kind of telling that he would have it in the picture being taken though ... almost like he's daring the world to take him on about it really. Wouldn't surprise me at all ...
Obstinate as you can be, Hitch, I imagine you're tempted to die on the 21st just to prove a point.
I beg you not to. They wouldn't cede the argument, anyway...
-jjg
Gravelle.us
Gadzooks!
$17,000 will be set aside for the bill, $15,000 of which will pay for Mr. Hitchens’ speaking fee.
Hitchens gets a lot of cash for speaking!
I envy that!
:D
That comes from here BTW
http://flathatnews.com/content/73826
Merci and bravo Mr. Hitchens for being public about your cancer, and keeping punching bigottery and superstition. Your thought process throughout this painful period of your life is very valuable for the rest of us: sick, healthy, believers, nonbelievers, ordinary human beings. The cancer will not change who you are. I cannot believe the tenacity of religious people. You are too brilliant, educated and strong about the way you think. You are an intellectual, a Voltaire and a Sartre of our time, and we need so many more public philosophes like you. I love the picture of you standing by your desk in front of hundreds of books: power to knowledge as opposed to submission to one book and brainwashing. You are an exceptionnal human being. Your contribution to society is a "blessing from god" like they say in the south. Thank you for your recent articles and let us know what we can do for you.
Merci and bravo Mr. Hitchens for being public about your cancer, and keeping punching bigottery [sic] and superstition.
Hitchens is a bigot.
How old are you, FGFM? I think we're all curious. Your mother once told me but happily I need not keep track of all my offspring.
Sincerely,
(possibly) your father Svett Brett
How old are you, FGFM?
I'll probably live longer than Hitchens, so no worries.
The Internet can look forward to a long and rich future of witless contribution from the ever loyal FGFM.
The Internet can look forward to a long and rich future of witless contribution from the ever loyal FGFM.
Yeah, but it won't be about Hitchens. What the Cappleman!
"What the Cappleman!"
What does that mean?
What does that mean?
What the Cappleman?
; ):
HJ - maybe he wants you to vote for James Cappleman - who's running for Alderman of the 46th Ward disctrict of Chicago? At least that's what comes up first with a Google search of Cappleman ... ;-).
As for your confidence in outliving Christopher FGFM - I am sure that Mike Edwards (one of the founding members of the Electric Light Orchestra) figured he had more time before he was run over by a 700lb hay bale. In life - there are no guarantees ....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/7982808/Former-member-of-ELO-killed-by-hay-bale-while-driving.html
As for any of the rest of it - I'm sure your need for attention would be better served by actual human interaction than poking others with verbal inanities. Just a thought ... ;-).
In life - there are no guarantees ....
But always bet on Hitch.
But always bet on Hitch.
That way we can be happy even if we lose!!!
:D
*Sigh*
I don't make bets - especially on someone's life. You just do this to keep yourself amused FGFM? I honestly never understood the the attraction of trolling - what do you get out of it? The satisfaction of knowing you've annoyed someone? I just don't understand .... seems so ... pointless to me. I guess if you're bored it may provide some entertainment but I could find much more fruitful pursuits - like reading or listening to podcasts or watching some TED Talks .... why do you do this FGFM? I really want to know.
I don't make bets - especially on someone's life.
Duck you!
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