Hitch is the finest essayist since Orwell. Thanks for uploading.
@abhishekviswanathan3842
11 жыл бұрын
You just made my day.
@josefvickers
11 жыл бұрын
Thanks Melvin!
@guitarpicka1
13 жыл бұрын
Christopher....You are a true 21st century Hero...your clarity of thought and speech...is just so inspiring...BRAVO TO YOU..!!!!
@yeshuasage3724
6 жыл бұрын
So eloquent
@elie876
11 жыл бұрын
I could listn to this man for ever
@Slothy691
10 жыл бұрын
Well said, I am looking in vain for his equal, alas for humanity
@mrgianlucavialli
12 жыл бұрын
excellent!!!
@kranti1019
Жыл бұрын
"Moral blackmail" you are god damn right!!!!
@CBfrmcardiff
12 жыл бұрын
@Joope666 :(cont) I believe I mentioned the bombing of Caen as an example of the 'blunt instrument' reality. Also, there's the RAF's failure to hit ANYTHING before Area Bombing in 1942, the retaliatory principle, and the utilitarian argument that victory, or a quicker victory, would save lives.
@writersblock26
13 жыл бұрын
Thank you for posting this, Melvin6566842.
@barrach7
14 жыл бұрын
Hey! You're right! Thanks!
@DamienBlade
13 жыл бұрын
@yusufulhas Not spell checking is a good way of saying "I don't read what I write, I just hit the post button."
@CBfrmcardiff
12 жыл бұрын
@joope666 : I agree with the implication that the most sadistic and least restrained people have an advantage in war, and that warfare is murder, it is sadism. And that few sides in a conflict have nothing to be ashamed of. However, most participants do tend to control themselves and take pride in doing so, and its the most absurd relativism to say that this self restraint is valueless, because violence is inherently nasty.
@786swe
11 жыл бұрын
Bharatwaj Iyer already replied to you. It amazes me to see how many people, after reading the translation into a limited language like English, seem to think that they are important enough that the word "they" in the verses in the Quran refer to them instead of the context in which the verses were all about.
@CarlJosephEscarian
12 жыл бұрын
Do you have any videos about it ? I would like to know about christian missionaries spreading hatred .Please provide me some articles or videos about it .I'm interested on that matter I wanted to know more about this sir.
@neil73
13 жыл бұрын
@jaykulls I agree with you here. If only more people would speak up...
@PaulOrtiz
11 жыл бұрын
I love how everyone is acting shocked/surprised at the way things are going in Pakistan now. Hitch called it years ago.
@equsnarnd
13 жыл бұрын
@yuptydoo I've read a lot of Bertrand Russell but not that. Have you any titles?
@Auspexable
11 жыл бұрын
Can someone link the full version of this? thank you.
@layla302
14 жыл бұрын
@benthemiester Really? What happened? Do you know somewhere I can read about the incident? Maybe a video or something. Thanks!
@perkeleman
13 жыл бұрын
Is there anyone more eloquent than Hitchens?
@valdetaisuti4950
11 жыл бұрын
To be fair though, the Spanish inquisition (which began after the reconquista was already finished) was not nearly as bad as is often made out to be. The total number executed was only about 3000 over several centuries. The total number put to death for witchcraft in Europe in the same period was over 60,000.
@wowthatsbs
12 жыл бұрын
the world lost a great man in hitch....RIP
@desmulhern6872
8 ай бұрын
Word!
@jopalolive
10 жыл бұрын
Is the audience hall half empty or half full?
@Biyer11
12 жыл бұрын
Yes you are absolutely right, and as a practicing Hindu I'm deeply ashamed of this barbarism and would personally wish to apologize to the afflicted and hope that such fanaticism stops forever.
@benthemiester
14 жыл бұрын
@layla302 Correction I misspoke. It was in Beirut.
@Vihamshras
11 жыл бұрын
the Shunga coup was just one example. The actual decline of Buddhism took place in the Gupta period. You can read the works of Indian historian SR Goyal on that. And agreed there were other factors like the rise of Vaishnava movements; but there have been many instances of violence against Buddhist monks.
@yuptydoo
13 жыл бұрын
@equsnarnd Have you read Bertrand Russell's essays on Islam? He seemed to be quite enamored by the tenets of the religion, contrary to the majority of the public opinion today.
@terrypussypower
11 жыл бұрын
When it comes to religion Hitchens is on the button every time !
@CBfrmcardiff
12 жыл бұрын
@Joope666 : 3./unexploded ordinance: A true issue, relating to the cluster bombs issue. But not one often mentioned by terrorist ideologues. You seem to feel that personal tragedy causes terrorism, rather than one's political/ideological/religious views. I think in reality if that were true things would be much easier, people would abandon violence for a modest improvement in their lives or reduction of misery.
@CBfrmcardiff
12 жыл бұрын
@joope666; you should note that the area bombing of Germany was retaliatory and the result of an inability to precisely hit targets. In attacks on their own cities, the British noted that concentrations of German incendiary bombs caused the most damage, and went on to work out how to cause the same result in German cities. The targets were industrial cities, and the planners spoke of de-housing, rather than terror or slaughter.
@624697
11 жыл бұрын
@SJJGautham08 to me i believe the opposite indian constitution is not perfect but its a good blend of modern concepts and our cultural ethos
@joope666
12 жыл бұрын
@CBfrmcardiff Additionally, my point was that it is somewhat wrong to imply one side's conduct during war is somehow 'humane' or 'morally superior' because the reality of war is a race to the bottom where whoever disposes of more humanity quicker wins. There were many summary executions of 'axis' conscripts by allied forces and troop sadism is just a reality of any side in any conflict and army mentality, even in the U.N. we see this.
@deevine1818
Жыл бұрын
“Morally Superior” is not merely implied in religious warfare as such is sanctioned by “Just Cause” and “Holy War.”
@matsurika1
12 жыл бұрын
@landesdesign Coming from someone from someone who lives in Hong Kong and honestly doesn't know the issues too well here, can you elaborate about why you hold your stance in Iraq?
@surelady
14 жыл бұрын
@benthemiester I would give you the exact same advice back. And that would go for some of the other points made as well.
@MELISSA3536
12 жыл бұрын
@tarun1982 As a result of our conversation I will make an effort to learn more about the culture, politics, and religion of your people and share that knowledge with those around me. May your life be filled with peace and happiness.
@kingda117
13 жыл бұрын
@JayMessenjah if you had political power, what would you do?
@isaachaze1
14 жыл бұрын
@surelady Very true. I know I'm very late to this particular youtube comment party, but would like to say people like benthemiester are quite talented at quote mining, twisting words etc. Not sure how far you'll get with people like that in a debate, but you did pretty well :). People like benthe are filled with thinly veiled hate (and I suspect self-hatred) and nothing you say to them is going to change that
@chapo148
11 жыл бұрын
you could also see fora.tv to see the full scheduled vids of sam harris and hitchens and many more
@titlihoon1988
11 жыл бұрын
I wish i could have met him. Our thoughts are very similar :)
@Hirnlego999
14 жыл бұрын
@ogirv101 No, it's not from Dawkins.. the quote is a pretty good representation of the thinking that goes inside dogmatic churches. There are reasons why they kept speaking latin in churches and even set a guy on fire for committing the crime of translating to bible to a language which people can understand. One can also see that the religious has had quite a bit apologizing to do..because they so much of it wrong and still do..
@kentamitchell
11 жыл бұрын
Hear! Hear!
@valdetaisuti4950
10 жыл бұрын
True, I think orientalism has part to do with it. It's ironic though, that it was the Ottomans, so vilified by later Serb nationalist propoganda, which provided the incubator for the Serb's national identity. Likewise, the Serbs act as though the ALbanian presence in Kosovo is illigitimate bacause it occured under the ottomans, yet conventiently forget that the fact that there are any Serbs in Western Bosnia and Croatia at all is due to the Ottomans and the Austrians (another colonial master).
@CBfrmcardiff
12 жыл бұрын
I'm finding it awkward to talk on here as KZitem severely restricts the number of posts. And does so unpredictable. Last night it only allowed one.
@benthemiester
14 жыл бұрын
@surelady "The European countries you're refering to still cling to the taint of the past unfortunately, despite apparently atheist majority" Great point thanks for making it. From this conversation were having, so far I feel comfortable standing behind my argument that this country that has a Christian majority still has the greatest freedoms in the worlds and that the 5 or 6 countries that are still officially atheist are not considered bastions of freedoms.
@MELISSA3536
12 жыл бұрын
@tarun1982 I thought a lot about our discussion last night and feel sadness that you were treated the way you described, I agree that many Americans are unaware of the situation that exists in your part of the world but do not mistake ignorance for uncaring. My response to your initial comment was very much because I like you do not want to be grouped in with people who represent hate and unkindness.
@kuffarlimeleafbacon1100
11 жыл бұрын
Very clever man.
@josefvickers
11 жыл бұрын
I agree that in any religion, the believers themselves are often the biggest victims of its shortfalls and that distinction is important. For me, the biggest problem is that Islam is generally taken more seriously than Judaism and Christianity once were. The latter two are not being extinguished by force. The light of reason has been shed and their irrationalities/falsehoods revealed slowly over time. But an attempt to *exterminate* a fundamentally irrational belief system is at best futile.
@Vihamshras
11 жыл бұрын
This debate can go on and on, our views of our own culture are poles apart. Let's just do our own thing and leave the rest to the elected representatives of our democracy.
@CBfrmcardiff
12 жыл бұрын
@joope666 : In a comparison between "America" and "Islamic terrorism", how can you believe the US is NOT morally superior? It's behaviour in a war is more restrained, full stop. But I could add it's also more restrained about what it considers a 'just cause' for violence (eg. No massacres of Muslims because someone insulted Christ).
@GSW12345
12 жыл бұрын
@CBfrmcardiff "War is evil but it is often lesser evil."
@UtopiaMinor666
13 жыл бұрын
@pastuso1bc might i ask what difference it would make if it could be proved he were a muslim?
@gtavsmsg10
15 жыл бұрын
where's part 1?
@DaniboyBR2
11 жыл бұрын
The resistance to theocracy will use Hitchens articulations forever and ever, and we thank this great intellecual/philosopher for that, rest in peace Hitch.
@joope666
12 жыл бұрын
@mysock351W What did i miss? The part where you explained your total historic inaccuracies/lies?
@CBfrmcardiff
12 жыл бұрын
@Joope666 : I MAY be 'in denial', but I'd not set out to deceive you. Promise. Re: Berlin (why not Dresden?) I feel its really quite sinister to look at the Second World War from a neutral perspective, actually. Besides, such a blunt analysis ignores the mindset of the time, and the situation.
@Graham6762
13 жыл бұрын
great speech
@Jack72824
13 жыл бұрын
@theoldspicestuff I've read many of Hitchens' books and articles, and I'm aware, as is anyone who cares to read him, of the significant decline in his rationality, as well as morality. Perhaps the two are linked. Exactly what are these "contentions" of his that you and your professors can't "find answers" for? Could you be specific, please?
@yuptydoo
13 жыл бұрын
@IgnosticView101 Right, because Bertrand Russell was notorious for his academic incompetence.
@Vihamshras
11 жыл бұрын
Hinduism is a single religion; just because it isn't monotheistic doesn't mean it isn't one. You can always classify an organization into further parts. You can break Islam into Shia, Sunni, Ahmadiya etc. Religion should not have any place in the lawmaking books. I completely agree that religious minorities shouldn't be given any privileges. But then calling for pro Hindu policies isn't fair as well. Religion simply shouldn't have any role in the formulation of policies.
@kynismos
13 жыл бұрын
Don't Say You Haven't Been Warned.
@ccricers
14 жыл бұрын
People should put aside religion until they learn not to incorporate elements of competition into it. Everyone from every religion should ignore other religions and not perceive them as threats. A competitive attitude and spirit undermines your sense of morality. You can't be on your moral high horse about religion and be competitive about it at the same time.
@CBfrmcardiff
12 жыл бұрын
Besides which, as Hitchens points out, the concerns of Al-Quaida and affiliates were not retaliation for (non-existent) American atrocities. The removal of American troops from Saudi soil? The recovery of East Timor? Palestine came well down the list. Their motive was all pride and identity politics.
@sentinel_Alphacentauri
13 жыл бұрын
@JayMessenjah correction,Biggest Threat To Free Society
@equsnarnd
13 жыл бұрын
One should respect public opinion insofar as is necessary to avoid starvation and keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny. Bertrand Russell
@RakeeshJ4
12 жыл бұрын
@SJJGautham08 As for how what you said condones violence-you specifically liken missionaries to jihadis, to terrorists, to mass murderers, and exhort your fellows to respond with violence. You did so in plain language. You can either let those words stand and admit you were condoning violence, or explain why you didn't mean what you plainly said.
@TeKNiQ50
12 жыл бұрын
No, everyone should stick together to fight religious fundamentalism and interference with secular societies, regardless of whether the source of controversy stems from Hindus, Christians, Muslims, or Buddhists. It just so happens that the followers of Abraham tend to have the most crazies.
@johnnyd101
14 жыл бұрын
@timetochilli yep they went as far as ireland to get them
@RakeeshJ4
12 жыл бұрын
When anyone, missionary or politician or volunteer, knowingly or negligently gives support to terrorist organizations, then we may begin to consider them some shade of terrorist themselves, or even outright terrorists. But this remains true: there is no such thing as 'cultural terrorism'. Terrorism by definition involves some form or another of violent threat, NOT the peaceful exchange of ideas-even when it's not wanted. If it's not violent, it's not terrorism.
@altosax1st
14 жыл бұрын
I would disagree with Hitchens' usage of the term "clash of civilization". As demostrated by the very existence of the talk shown here, there are no two monolithic "civilizations" to clash, but rather factions inside what we term "civilizations". Just a point on semantics.
@telstar2let
13 жыл бұрын
@thatamazinggeek The US was not 'occupying' Saudi Arabia per say, but they did leave tens of thousands of troops stationed in the country after the first Gulf War from 1990 until about 2003. Thats what bin laden meant about the occupation thing.
@RakeeshJ4
12 жыл бұрын
I wonder-who is it who's downvoting nearly every reply I make in this thread, exactly? Is it supposed to stop me from conversing, or what?
@mooglebee8
13 жыл бұрын
Hitch is a hero
@surelady
14 жыл бұрын
@benthemiester My understanding is that Hitchens lives in the United States because it is a secular repbulic, which is enshrined in the constitution. This is true whether the population has a majority of Christians or not.
@7x34hj
14 жыл бұрын
Sadly, you are right. I think our sense of 'fairness' has backfired and it is certainly unappreciated by many entering our countries. It is not racist to want to keep ones own culture and race dominant in ones own country. There is a point when the number of 'guests' in a country increases to such an amount that they become 'invaders'. We need to see things as they are, stop being 'told' to respect and stop patronising.
@CDoc91
11 жыл бұрын
"The primary support for the Taliban comes from Pakistan, not from destabilization in Afghanistan" so why wasn't the Taliban and their ideals dominant in Afghanistan as opposed to being a secular democracy before the invasions and interferences of the superpowers? The insurgency is constituted primarily by Pashtuns (as is Afghanistan), but as we have established primarily Pashtuns that do not associate themselves with the racism of the Taliban.
@CBfrmcardiff
12 жыл бұрын
@Joope666 re:proxy wars. That example's not remotely rational (though it would be, if the terrorists were pissed-off moderates, or Russians). I think the whole "proxy wars" thing is overstated. Sure, in that example the West funded Afghan resistance to invasion, I'm not sure there was anything nefarious in that.
@7kurisu
13 жыл бұрын
i find myself swayed by hitchens argument here but have to wonder about the political views of those gathered about in this conference... must we do a deal with these conservatives to rid ourselves of islamic terror and its more moderate, apologist but still backward majority? what a thorny issue.
@michaeldenisCarlin
11 жыл бұрын
hitchens really was a genius....you plank
@CBfrmcardiff
12 жыл бұрын
@joope666 :... Cont... Additionally, because war is hell this does not mean that violence is never the answer to a problem. Without violence from 'good' people, society would fall apart. As in the civil space, so on the world stage. Also, my assumptions are that America is relatively 'good' at self restraint, and that this might even be one of the reasons it fails to defeat its enemies - as the US does not race to the bottom it puts itself at disadvantage.
@salabala771
11 жыл бұрын
in countries like lebanon, egypt, syria, and etc u can build new churches who told u that they cant the problem is political religious parties it is very complex it will take a day to explain the system in the middle east but thats the basic reason for the instability its not the normal everday people causing these bombings its organized groups that have religious or a political plan causing these slanderous reputation of an entire entity
@telstar2let
13 жыл бұрын
@thatamazinggeek ok good point, I did not know that. It doesn't take a lot 2 upset these people thats for sure
@beginization
13 жыл бұрын
@SockbatReplica It was headline news about 2 weeks ago in a number of news websites like the dailey caller and American thinker, they have archives so check it out, you will be very suprised and disappointed by Hitchens actions after all these years claiming to hate religion. I never was keen on Hitchens but did admire him for sticking to his guns. I dont know if the cancer has anything to do with his decision but in a interview he did say he was bitter about the world going on without him
@CarlJosephEscarian
12 жыл бұрын
of course there are passages in the Old Testament ,which provided rationale for such acts. Its clear. But what I would like to know about is about missionaries spreading hatred. What myths/rumors are they trying to propagate about hinduism ? Do they treat hinduism in the same way as they have treated pagan cultures many centuries before?
@CBfrmcardiff
12 жыл бұрын
@joope666: I MUST call you on that one. There was no systematic extermination, by the USA, of Native Americans. As to area bombing: yes, it happened, and is a cautionary note about how even the best of nations, and most sentimental and humane of leaders, can commit murder easily for the ''greater good''. But the Second World War was an exceptional event, which, besides being seventy years ago, involved an unusually clear-cut good/evil dichotomy and was for massive stakes.
@comicreaper
14 жыл бұрын
@shitonMOHAMMAD very nicely put.
@somethingness
14 жыл бұрын
Sam Harris has written about Buddhism and writes about contemplatives and mystics from all religions.
@CBfrmcardiff
12 жыл бұрын
@Joope666: you seem to misunderstand the word "systematic". Isolated brutal acts, not instituted by the powers-that-be, do not "systematic" make, however common. And I'm not so sure there were as "MANY instances" as you seem to think. Furthermore, there's a big difference between the mistreatment of US Indians and the Pogroms of E Europe - let alone the Holocaust.
@daniyalmirza8595
11 жыл бұрын
Nami danaam chi manzil bood shab jaye ke man boodam, baharsu raqs-e-bismil, baharsu-raqs-e-bismil bood shab jaye k man boodam.
@salabala771
11 жыл бұрын
it is the middle east where christianity first came to be we have in the lebanon, syria, and in other middle eastern countries some of the oldest churches built in history so this region should be as important to u as it is to all christians but the problem is how politicians manipulate religion
@barrach7
14 жыл бұрын
@rogan71 I suggest that you read my posts again for the answers that you seek (and to see the irony in your own 'retorts'. If you still can't comprehend, then I can only wish you good luck....!
@joope666
12 жыл бұрын
@aaxxes Take a look through the previous comments, one of his responses when i backed him into a corner was to copypasta LEFTIST! LEFTIST! LEFTIST! until the character limit ran out. I'm 26 btw.
@marsCubed
14 жыл бұрын
The IWMA was, founded by Marx, or at least he was very closely associated with it. It was people who had been involved with fighting for decent conditions from all over England, but it would have been open to workers from all other countries. The concept was that people stopped their bosses warring and competing. soldiers refused to fight etc. Or factories would be taken over by workers and run cooperatively and democratically for everyone's benefit, not for harm or war any more.
@CBfrmcardiff
12 жыл бұрын
Joope666: re: child brides; my Asian landlady was speaking yesterday of how her mother got married at 11. I'm not sure this is anything to do with Islam, more with cultural routine and economic reality in impoverished countries. On the other hand it must still go on, so, you're both right.
@MELISSA3536
12 жыл бұрын
My issue with the caste system is that it feels very oppressive, if you are born in to a very low class you can never access opportunities to give your children a better life, this allows the rich to always profit off the poor. I am glad to hear that this system is less popular today and it makes sense that it is more political than religious because I find it to be in contrary to the little I know about Hinduism. Do you find there are many tensions between the classes?
@sanna8300
10 ай бұрын
It’s not a CASTE system. Caste comes from Portuguese word CASTA. It’s a class system that will exist in any free market economy or any society for that matter. The last names that are labeled as Castes(by the British) are connected to their work/profession. Like goldsmith or tailor. It’s not good for sure but let’s call it what it is and not something that’s just British propaganda.
@1daveyp
14 жыл бұрын
@ Toounreal556. Regarding Jihad, I'm well aware of the broader definition, I used the term Jihadist simply as a widely understood shorthand for the many and various violent Islamic groups killing in the name of Islam at the moment. If you don't like the shorthand, maybe we could describe them as "extrovert Muslims", "explosively enhanced Muslims", "Medieval Muslims", I'll leave the makiing up of PC evasions up to you, it seems to be your strong suit.
@surelady
14 жыл бұрын
@benthemiester Excellent analogy with the KKK rally. Also a reprehensible group. Pissing on their flag may be a little extreme, mind you. But if a black man or woman decided to do so, I'm not sure I could find it in my heart to condemn them for it.
@marsCubed
14 жыл бұрын
When Marx saw how many had misinterpreted his work, he too said that he was not a Marxist.
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