I woke up bright and early this morning and checked my newsfeeds and of course, what riveted my attention was the story about the passing of Christopher Hitchens. I wish I could say it was a shock and a surprise, but it’s been obvious for the last few months that his end was close. I won’t discuss his death, it’s unimportant. It’s his life that matters, and the indelible mark he has left on those of us left behind.

I first became aware of Hitch with his blistering expose’ of ‘Mother’ Teresa. I was awestruck at the sheer balls of the man in tearing into a ‘beloved’ icon with simple, readily available truth. He didn’t speak with temerity from the crowd, he grabbed a bullhorn and screamed out, the “Emperor is bloody naked!”.

From that point on, I tried to read everything he wrote, even the political things with which I must admit, I didn’t agree.

But it was his out front, wholehearted and passionate stance on religion and theistic chicanery that captured my unabashed admiration for the man.  His no prisoners,  confrontational approach was a breath of pure oxygen. His skills at both lecture and debate were astounding in their clarity, wit, and sheer persuasiveness.  His presence alone on the stage was enough to make the most outspoken theist cringe in fear.  

He stood astride the once safe harbour of rhetorical discourse like a veritable colossus, wielding his enormous intellect like a club.

Christopher Hitchens is dead. His legacy lives on in those of us who admired him, and in those that felt his acid wit lay bare the bones of their hypocrisy.

All I can say, is to steal a line I saw this morning on one of the innumerable posters dedicated to his memory…

Thanks for everything Hitch, We’ll take it from here…

LC >;-}>