[lbo-talk] Christopher Hitchens dead

[Andy]

On Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 3:31 PM, Eric Beck <ersatzdog at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 8:56 AM, Catherine Driscoll
> <catherine.driscoll at sydney.edu.au> wrote:
>
>> I truly believe the world is just better for the presence of people who want and further intelligent debate
>
> Maybe. I always got the feeling that Hitchens's goal in debate was to
> vanquish his foes, like Deleuze and Guattari's Socrates, which is not
> very compelling, and is politically problematic, to me.

Yes.  I became aware of him around the time he started arguing for
cruise missile diplomacy, and his high point was going after Mother
Theresa.  I never saw the guy some of you shared a drink or five with.

 He wouldn't be the first or last to be as gracious in person as they
are nasty in print.

He's one of many who make me wonder about the value of the
curb-stomping polemicist.  They can be wicked funny when they're 100%
on target, but when they're the slightest bit unfair the whole meal
gets tainted.

-- 
Andy