Christopher Hitchens, RIP.

[Notlob]

My point was that no one can ever be socialist enough not to be called an Imperialist or Fascist when they die. It's the macho side of "intellectual" leftism.

I think that is very true. Amongst my ultra-leftist friends there has been a lot of cheering over his death in a way I instinctively find repugnant, no matter how much I disagree with his views. However, I think for Hitchens that accusation does have some grounding because he so openly left behind his socialist principles and was a very bombastic, emotional, cheerleader for a war that went horribly wrong. The impression I get is that he was quite callous about the civilian casualties that such a war would incur; furthermore, he was all about the top down imposition of his version of 'civilisation' - both these combine to make him both imperialist, and a Fascist (in terms of the zealotry he showed for such a war). 

I was trying to say that whilst a lot of Lit Crit and Continental Philosophy types (see Slavoj Zizek today) proudly wave their socialist sympathies, their talks have a very different flavour to the Noam Chomskies and Naomi Kleins and Abbie Hoffmans of the world. From the bits understand, they tend to massively over-complicate simple political sentiments (usually along the line of "hegemony (...) [is] (...) [bad]").

True again. But while Hitchens was braver than someone who loudly shouts about his socialism from a university campus in Europe and often undertook missions at some risk to himself in various parts of the world, I just find that the level of support he gave to the Iraq war abhorrent - he wrote about it, he did not fight it: he was content for his writings to encourage others to fight his 'endless war' on his behalf. Having persuaded others to fight, he then went on to write mawkish pieces about their death (http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/11/hitchens200711) where he seems surprised his writings should have actual consequence in the real world of war and death.

And again, agree with you about the massive over complications ultra liberals are so fond of (my friends are testament to this in every conversation we have), but I would say that, for all his intellect, Hitchens was one who loved simplification - of politics and religions.

Have you posted this blog before? I'm sure it's come up in the past on here.

That blog entry was posted in 16-12-2011 so it probably wasn't posted up before, certainly the first time I read it was when I posted it here.

[Still Not George]

And again, agree with you about the massive over complications ultra liberals are so fond of (my friends are testament to this in every conversation we have), but I would say that, for all his intellect, Hitchens was one who loved simplification - of politics and religions.

Some would describe that as a penchant for puncturing bullshit.

[Notlob]

They would be wrong.

[the midnight watch baboon]

Head up: Stephen Fry, Sean Penn, Dawkins talking about Hitchens' work (almost literally) in the wake of his death on Current TV right now seemingly replacing David Mitchell's soapbox

[Mark Steels Stockbroker]

Another view, from about 9 years ago (pre-Iraq).

[Mark Steels Stockbroker]

I also don't know anything about Louis Althusser, either, but he sounds like utter bollocks.

The most interesting detail is that he strangled his wife.

[homesickalien]

I think that is very true. Amongst my ultra-leftist friends there has been a lot of cheering over his death in a way I instinctively find repugnant, no matter how much I disagree with his views.

I'm certainly not cheering over his death, I don't know hardly any of his work so I won't make my mind up about him anytime soon.  However I find this interesting from an article about how  public figures should not be openly barred from criticism soon after their death (unlike private individuals):

"The day after Jerry Falwell died, Hitchens went on CNN and scorned what he called "the empty life of this ugly little charlatan," saying: "I think it's a pity there isn't a hell for him to go to." As I said, those demanding that Hitchens not be criticized in death are invoking a warped etiquette standard on his behalf that is not only irrational, but is one he himself vigorously rejected."

from a good article here: http://www.salon.com/2011/12/17/christohper_hitchens_and_the_protocol_for_public_figure_deaths/singleton/

[the midnight watch baboon]

Head up: Stephen Fry, Sean Penn, Dawkins talking about Hitchens' work (almost literally) in the wake of his death on Current TV right now seemingly replacing David Mitchell's soapbox

actually it was before he died and is doubtless a repeat :/

[NoSleep]

Amongst my ultra-leftist friends

Ha, bloody, ha.

[Notlob]

Ha ha nothing - you haven't had to sit through a two hour conversation discussing how on some level they will miss Gaddafi's 'vanguard' state against imperialism.

[jutl]

I mean, he might've been doing it all to cover up for his post-9/11 Iraq War tubthumping...but he remained a tubthumper for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan until his death, and was very vocal about being in favour of toppling the Iranian regime by pretty much any means necessary post-chemo, so there ya go.

I said 'partly', so calm down. I'd imagine it was also partly to do with the fact that the market for atheist non-fiction took off so well after The God Delusion.

[thepuffpastryhangman]

To borrow from the Bowen "here's a little rhyme to help you"...

'Now the godless have struck for fame
'Cause Dickie's on sale again.'

[Retinend]

The most interesting detail is that he strangled his wife.

I just scanned the Wikipedia article on Althusser. Two questions to anyone who knows about it: Is Marxism only a specific type of labour struggle? Is "Marxist Philosophy" a way of looking at Marx in the history of thought, rather than a branch of political philosophy? Only I can't see what people engaged in labour struggle would want with a Theorist.

[Blumf]

Only I can't see what people engaged in labour struggle would want with a Theorist.

Direction?

[All Surrogate]

Marxism, for good or ill, is a huge sprawling mass of stuff.  Your best bet is to read what Marx wrote.  Anything is else is just other people's opinions about him/his writing/other people's opinions about him/his writing/other people's opinions about other people's opinions ...

"The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it."