Cheers!

November 9, 2011

29 comments:

Would have been much better without the music. So sick of emotional manipulation through music, who do these people think they are forcing us to listen to some gay song?

Glenn Donovan said...

Sigh, Leap in the Dark - go leap off of a building, okay? So yes,the music was a bit treacly but I found myself tearing up towards the end, the sentiments expressed being so heartfelt and moving. It's a beautiful tribute to a man who has inspired, educated and challenged so many, so real and personal. Thanks to who ever did this. The world will be a little less bright after Hitch passes, a little less rich. Dammit, I hate it!

It strikes me as odd how personally attached I feel to Hitch. I'm not one to follow an individual or be much of a fanboy of anything, but the demise of Hitch is crushing to me. I'm grievous and low over it. I've never met him, and I'm not sure he'd even give me the time of day - but I don't care. I treasure his speech, his writing, his mind and scathing wit. But most of all, I appreciate his fearless adherence to truth. To take on one's own side out of principle, correctly, is not an easy thing to do. Hitchens spared nobody and no cause from the light of reasoned moral criticism. I learned so much from what he wrote about, and even more from how he wrote about it. Thanks Hitch!

Michelle said...

Christopher Hitchens = one very bright light against the darkness.
Keep glowing dude !!

Karen Olsen said...

Oh, shoot...I missed the deadline for submitting a video!! :( Oh well, guess I'll have to upload my own pretty soon, Seattle souvenir shot glass and all...

Slainte ["cheers" in Irish], Hitch! Peace, Love and Courage to you and yours! Like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again!!

--Karen Olsen
Seattle, WA USA

Anonymous said...

So self congratulatory for being so cheesy and ttasteless. Presumably if he were afflicted with lung cancer they'd be takin long drags off cigarettes.

Brad Barrett said...

For Hitch: to an anti-theist with "Christ" in his name who appreciates irony. I sip the JWB to your greatness. Cheers.

Fitzgerald said...

We speak of loosing you Sir Hitchens and we sit here filled with sadness, in the wake of this eventual reality that will come to pass. I see young and old of all creeds and backgrounds wishing their salutations thank you for reminding us we are one global nation who is purpose is simplying being our inquisitive self in this grand universe of ours.Some of us have just come to know you and we are struck with a depth of immediate loss due to the parting of a beautiful human. You will be forever immortalized in our hearts and our hard drives, You can burn parchment but not the binary system! A gust of wind eventually turns into a tornado, thank you for giving us that mighty gust for whom we all can sail with confidence in these irrational seas.

you will never be forgotten
thank you for giving us your time and showing us to not be afraid. There is nothing to fear but fear itself.

I drink to you tonight dear sir
Be well Mr Hitchens

Fitzgerald Bach
Montreal Quebec

elronxenu said...

Also, "The Leap in the Dark", calling a song you don't like "some gay song" is demeaning to gays. Please choose your words more carefully next time.

thp said...

Personally, i felt these kinds of videos and messages full of praise and worship of the person Hitchens to be a bid awkward and embarrising. Some are most probably heartfelt but I sense some are in part self-congratulatory as well. The guy may well live for another 5 years, am I going to keep reading and hearing these messages till then?

Oh, and also, I think elronxenu may be a bit gay, at least his comment is.

Saint said...

gay.

Anonymous said...

I found the video smacked a bit of the 'rabid fan' syndrome. When people reach a sort of rock star status within a genre, best intentions can be skewed by selective cherrypicking of a person's attributes by the admirers. Yes, his mind is to be celebrated, however raising a toast with liquor is pure irony. His lifestyle with genetics got him in his current situation. One would assume that he would not consider himself the smartest fellow when it has come to certain choices. Raising a glass would represent one of those choices. Ironic.

Jane said...

I thought it was a great tribute, a chance most of us never get - to thank someone who has meant something to us. I also thought the music was a lovely touch, made me tear up. Good job. :)

Bobby said...

If Hitchens could do it all over again, I don't think he'd have given up the wine and scotch. He may have avoided the cigarettes, but not the alcohol.

Karen Olsen said...

@Glenn Donovan: my sentiments are much the same as yours. I also feel very attached and connected to Hitch, even though I've never met the man. I've greatly enjoyed getting to know him through his writing and speaking over the last couple of years, and wish I'd paid more attention to him before then. I certainly don't want to lose him very soon! Hope he's still got plenty of fight in him...

--Karen Olsen
Seattle, WA

Anonymous said...

Can someone close to Hitchens please tell him TO DO MEDITATION to help if not cure his illness.

It is not hocus pocus - it strengthens the immune system and people have used it to at least help if not recover from cancer. I know there are studies to support it. Ask Sam Harris I'm sure his experience of Buddhism will lead him to know.

PLEASE DO MEDITATION - specifically relating to cancer.

It is more important than anything else at this moment (work related that is).

PLEASE DO MEDITATION!!


KM

Anonymous said...

Can we stop with the "irony" comments? It is so banal and childish to go on ad on about how drinking caused his cancer and that 'raising a glass' is ... wait for it... drinking! Get it?

A toast is ritual of celebration and so it is apt regardless. Any perceived irony is immaterial and not all that interesting. You people are boring as hell...

Oh, that's ironic, i used the word "hell" and none of us believe in hell.... blah blah. It's ersatz and probative literary displays like these that make me want to puke. (Oh, he said, "puke" and Hitchens is puking right now from Chemo!)

Anonymous said...

Yes, "Please do meditate" oh "vis-a-vis cancer" in case you forgot what to do.

Please do xxxxxxxxxx [redacted]

Please do do

Please put words together than don't actually mean anything and get all emphatic about it.

Puuu lease!

Anonymous said...

nice job,I want to send a video but time was over.
I am an athiest from Iran and Hitch means for me more than any Islamic Apologist.
we drink for you hitch

I adore Christopher Hitchens.

Mr. Hitchens. If you see this please research capsaicin. It has been shown to make some cancer cells commit suicide.

http://christopherhitchenscancer.blogspot.com/

I strongly second what Mr. Donovan's words.

GET WELL!

Anonymous said...

Dear folks who created this video,

THANK YOU. You said all the things I'd like to say to Hitch, only better. I am gratified to know that there are many who feel much affection and love for Hitch, as if he were a close friend or family member.

One small concern is that I found it ironic that most of you were drinking alcohol, a substance that may be toxic to our beloved Hitch. Special kudos to those who raised a glass of water! Me too!

I'm raising a glass of water in your honor, Hitch, water as cleansing and clear and beautiful and vital as your words.
We love every day you are alive.
I feel fortunate to have found out about your magnificent work and hope to keep on reading new work from you. I'm not one to idolize ANYBODY, but your work matters a great deal to civilization, and it would be wrong to not say that to you and to the world. To your health!

Anonymous said...

Cheers, Christopher.

Gordon Robertson said...

I found the film very moving and the music - by the wonderful Band of Horses - was great.
I thought all the contributions were sincere and from people, like me, who have been inspired by Christopher.
The outpouring of love, respect and appreciation we have seen recently for such an important figure in the struggle for reason over superstition is so deserved.

elastiderm said...

very good post.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps one one of the saddest commentaries on a human life.

Anonymous said...

Banker's Club Kentucky Strait Bourbon Whisky. Cheers!

skeptikoi said...

cheers mr. hitchens... thank you for everything. especially being a voice for me to channel while i was searching for my own. love you so much.

makhmal said...

oh ... I sooooo wanted to be part of this ... pleaseeeeee let's do more for him !!!

 
 
 

Christopher reads from Hitch-22: A Memoir