Christopher Hitchens: My Hero of 2010

A gentleman and a truly formidable debater, Christopher Hitchens is a giant of the mind and a model of courage
By Richard Dawkins

"I'm not much given to straight, irony-free hero-worship. The last time I did a "heroes and villains" piece I chose Pope John Paul II as hero, on the grounds that he was doing everything possible to discredit the appalling institution of which he was head." Read More (guardian.co.uk)

The FP Top 100 Global Thinkers

Foreign Policy presents a unique portrait of 2010's global marketplace of ideas and the thinkers who make them.

#55. Christopher Hitchens
For refusing to surrender in the darkest of times.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/11/29/the_fp_top_100_global_thinkers?page=full

Debating Tony Blair on faith

By Christopher Hitchens

"I am sometimes asked whether I ever get tired of debating the faithful. There are two reasons why I never do. The first is that this argument is at the root of all other arguments: constituting the essential underlay of differences about philosophy, cosmology, history, textual criticism and even medicine. The second is that I never know what my antagonist is going to say, or affirm, or claim to believe."
Read More (Washington Post)

Blair's thoughts about the event.

BBC Newsnight Special: Christopher Hitchens

CH interviewed in his home in Washington D.C by Jeremy Paxman. Broadcasted on Nov 29, 2010.





Play Full Interview.

Don't Be an Ass About Airport Security

The enemy is inventive and imaginative. Our response is neither.
By Christopher Hitchens

"I did not pay any attention to last week's feeble-minded attempt at a civilian-sponsored go-slow at airport security checkpoints. When the best that the children of a revolution can do for the defense of their inalienable protection against unwarranted search and seizure is to issue the pathetic moan, "Don't touch my junk," a low point of humiliation has been reached."
Read More (Slate)

In Search of the Washington Novel

A colorful genre awaits its masterpiece.

By Christopher Hitchens

Fiction about the nation’s capital is a growth that flourishes only on the lower slopes of Parnassus. Think of the flower of our novelists—Updike, Mailer, Roth, Cheever, Bellow—and see if you can call to mind a single scene that is set on the banks of the Potomac.
Read More (City Journal)

Munk Debates: Tony Blair vs Christopher Hitchens

Friday, November 26, 2010. Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, Canada. The official resolution, "Be it resolved, religion is a force of good for the world".

Christopher Hitchens vs. Tony Blair: The Full Transcript

New Statesman: "You may need to set aside the rest of your Saturday to get through this, but here in full is the transcript of the long-anticipated Munk debate between Christopher Hitchens and former prime minister Tony Blair. The motion: "Be it resolved, religion is a force for good in the world". No prizes for guessing who was arguing for and against.
Read it here. (newstatesman.com)

Preliminary poll results show Hitchens winner of religion debate with Tony Blair

“To terrify children with the image of hell...to consider women an inferior creation. Is that good for the world?” - Christopher Hitchens.

Preliminary results posted on the Munk Debates website from an audience poll suggest Mr. Hitchens won the debate. Read More (theglobeandmail.com)

Clip from the debate
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11843586

Watch the debate for $2.99 at
 http://www.munkdebates.com/debates/Religion

BBC Newsnight: Christopher Hitchens (Preview)

Jeremy Paxman interviews Christopher Hitchens in Washington D.C. Full interview on BBC2, Nov 29, 7.30pm. 

Hitchens debate with Blair scheduled around chemo treatments

“I arranged my chemotherapy around this so that I wouldn’t be demoralized. I’m tired, but I’m not fogged as one can be, so that was the main consideration,” he said.
Read More (thestar.com)

Blair v. Hitchens: Is religion a force for good or ill?

The Globe and Mail has a few short videos with CH and Tony Blair being interviewed before the Munk debate.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/video/christopher-hitchens-the-seed-of-doubt/article1814310/?from=1814261

Transcript and audio: Hitchens on not believing
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/transcripts-and-audio-christopher-hitchens-on-not-believing/article1814261/

Tony Blair and Christopher Hitchens to debate religion

Former UK prime minister Tony Blair is to take on Christopher Hitchens in a televised public debate for and against religion. Friday Nov 26.

BBC World Service radio will air the Blair-Hitchens debate on December 4, followed by Radio 4 on December 11.

It can be viewed on BBC World News and the News Channel on January 1, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11843586

Livestream: http://www.munkdebates.com/debates/Religion

Paxman Meets Hitchens: A Newsnight Special

UPDATE Watch two minute clip from the interview. More tonight Nov 26, 10.30pm. Full interview Nov 29, 7.30pm.


Monday Nov 29, 19:30 on BBC Two (England, Scotland, Wales only)


In a wide-ranging special interview, Jeremy Paxman talks to Christopher Hitchens about his cancer diagnosis, his life, his politics and his writing.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wkrbk