Of disgusting bile. The Canadian Charger is an “alternative” (alternative to sane, I presume) magazine that, according to the professor of communication studies, University of Windsor is one of the best examples of “alternative” – I’m going to add that to my annoying words list – media.
In an August 13th missive, Joshua Blakeney, whose photo seems to be a portrait of someone sitting on a cluster of burst haemorrhoids without the benefit of an inflatable ring cushion, declares that Christopher Hitchens, through his oesophageal cancer, is receiving his just desserts:
On June 30, Vanity Fair journalist Christopher Hitchens posted on the magazine’s website that he has cancer of the esophagus. As I was contemplating this revelation, I couldn’t help feeling that the neoconservative armchair warrior was getting his just desserts.
The prospect of Hitchens having to cancel engagements at a time when an Israeli-American assault on Iran seems imminent is positive for humanity, I argue, because it deprives the war propaganda machine of one of its most erudite apologists.
I disagree with Christopher Hitchens’ views on Christianity – although less so his opinion of Islam – and his sniping at people like Mother Teresa and Jerry Falwell was inexcusable. Even though Blakeney excoriates this with considerable relish, it is but a sidebar to Hitchens’ true crimes: what Joshua Blakeney really can’t stomach is that Christopher Hitchens “morphed from a “Trotskyite” into a Bush-supporting neoconservative”. And he supports Israel. Bring out the garlic and holy water.
The fact is, Christopher Hitchens is one of the most engrossing and bright political and social commentators of our time; agree with him or not, his cancer is a cause for sadness not rejoicing and, if it finally kills him, the world will be a less interesting place.
““alternative” – I’m going to add that to my annoying words list” – annoying, yes – but why don’t we take it over as ours? After all, it’s people like us who are really “alternative”, now; authentic Christianity is the coutner-culture now (perhaps it always was), and the ecclesiastical “liberals” are what I call “The Church Compliant” – in the world, and definitely OF the world.
While I disagree with Christopher Hitchens on religion, I still treasure his use of the English language and respect his towering intellect.