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He was always rabidly against theocratic despots and I was right there with him. I had the same contempt for Clinton's funding of the Taliban that I had for Bush* when he got selected and started in sending more millions to those vile lunatics. Appalling policy is appalling policy. I liked Hitch's steadfastness in the face of bad political craziness, regardless of Party or personality.
His work on America, England, Cyprus, Palestinians, Israelis, Orwell, the wasteland of modern political writing and thought, culture and the lack of it, Kissinger, Princess Di (Diolatry was pure genius), Religion, Marx, Mother Theresa, history itself and so much more, were all brilliantly done. They remain recommended - even required - reading in my house. I admired his consistency, his sheer ballsiness and the fact that he was never mawkish or sentimental - no fucking violins for Hitch and pass the scotch, quickly. I could always rely on him to be well-researched, factually accurate, brutally sarcastic, razor-sharp and very, very funny. He was unrepentant in his enjoyment of smoking and drinking and sex (oh my!). For that alone he earned major props from me; I like grown-ups and vices and those who stay up late defending them. To this day, I admire the way his mind works and his undeniable, unstoppable talent with words. I'll never forget or disavow the influence his writing had on the development of my thinking on politics. I owe him a debt of gratitude for it today, and I'll still owe him tomorrow.
All that being said, I have no fucking idea what's happened to Hitch and it bothers me quite a bit. It began with Bill and Hillary. There's no question that he had it in for the Clintons. He was outraged by them with an intensity that I didn't share, but I could see where he was coming from. The vitriolic umbrage of the purist, the true idealist, the diehard political romantic in the very best interpretations of those terms. He'd deny that, viciously I'm sure, but I understood it and found it charming. He wasn't exactly wrong about the Clintons, though I'd give almost anything to have them back in power right now. Since 9/11 - Hitch seems to have lost his way, or found some new way that I cannot fathom and will not follow.
I have a pet theory that some friends of his must have died in the twin towers and that Hitch's reaction, or method of coping, is what has driven him to his current extreme position. I could be wrong. It could be an extension of his perfectly reasonable loathing of theocratic totalitarianism and thusly logical to him. His hatred of that obscene form of government is understandable to me, I join him in it. But his support of the Bush* junta and their actions is mystifying. I really don't get it and I'm saddened to see a good man go down because of it.
On the whole, it's nothing but awful to see him like this. Banished from the Nation, vilified by old friends, ostracized by the Left he spent his entire life serving so well and so brilliantly. Still, I can't help but be amused when neo-clowns point to Hitch with approval and admiration. They sing his praises to the rooftops, but it's a terribly shallow song. I have yet to find a single neo-clown Hitch admirer who has ever read his work. Oh, they've read the new stuff - the Clinton hating stuff, the post-9/11 stuff, the Bush* loving stuff, but not the rest of it. I especially like to recommend the Mother Theresa book. "The Missionary Position" (which I believe he wanted to call "Sacred Cow" but his publisher chickened out), would be such a good place for them to start. Then, just for kicks, they might try Hitch's writings on American religiosity or any of his older work, really. I can't imagine they'd enjoy it, but I did and still do. Actually, I'd like to see their pointy heads explode when they realize just who it is they've jumped into bed with, but I'm kinda mean that way.
I'm waiting for Hitch to come to his senses, but this may be in vain.
Elizabeth
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