In Memoriam: Christopher Hitchens, 1949–2011
Hitchens was essentially a Marxist (by his own admission) who was also in favor of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the foreign policy it represented.  So there was very little I agreed with him on.<p>But I'm terribly upset about this and I'll tell you why.<p>Because of his willingness to debate.  I'd literally scan right wing talk radio schedules for his name because you just knew it would be a great show.  In a world where so many people in our modern society hide in their little cliques I think a smart person who is willing to have their ideas challenged is the most valuable person of all.<p>Losing a voice like that is a true tragedy.<p>So, with all due respect, I hope he is wrong in his beliefs about the after life because if there is a heaven he's surely earned his place in it.<p>Edit: On that note this is awesome: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4JJqXISBiI" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4JJqXISBiI</a> (though skip the first 4 minutes of the host self aggrandizement)