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Hollandmichigan · 05-03-2012, 08:48 PM

Are there any hitchens admirers present?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=mhee&v=S7WBEJJlYWU

Its a rather long debate but so far i think it's one of my favorite yet. His theist opponent gets his head handed to him on a silver platter .
I regret not seeing him in person before he died.

**RobMille** · 05-03-2012, 08:58 PM

I was a Hitchens fan until he went pro-war semi-neocon.

Hollandmichigan · 05-03-2012, 09:09 PM

(05-03-2012 08:58 PM)RobMille Wrote: I was a Hitchens fan until he went pro-war semi-neocon.

You didnt know much about him if you ever thought he was anti-war. But still, even if he got the war wrong, one can't help but admit he was freaking brilliant.

Tchaiko · 05-09-2012, 12:49 PM

My favorite debate of his was when he and Stephen Fry took on two Roman Catholics on whether or not the Catholic Church is a force for good in the world. In that, however, I must say that I think Stephen outshone him. Tongue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODfBO-vbn7Y&feature=plcp

**Qrayze** · 05-09-2012, 07:13 PM

(05-09-2012 12:49 PM)Tchaiko Wrote: My favorite debate of his was when he and Stephen Fry took on two Roman Catholics on whether or not the Catholic Church is a force for good in the world. In that, however, I must say that I think Stephen outshone him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODfBO-vbn7Y&feature=plcp

I listened to the first guy until he started listing "statistics". Too fundy for me, so I skipped ahead, lol.

Hollandmichigan · (This post was last modified: 05-11-2012 09:48 PM by Hollandmichigan.)

Stephen fry was absolutely brilliant in that debate. My favorite part comes when the lady in the audience asks them to help reverse the ban on family planning: "reverse the ban and save thousands and thousands of lives!"

One can only hope that, as a small justice, anne widdecomb is haunted by that plea in her nightmares.

**myotch** · (This post was last modified: 05-12-2012 01:05 AM by myotch.)

(05-09-2012 12:49 PM)Tchaiko Wrote: My favorite debate of his was when he and Stephen Fry took on two Roman Catholics on whether or not the Catholic Church is a force for good in the world. In that, however, I must say that I think Stephen outshone him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODfBO-vbn7Y&feature=plcp

I absolutely love that debate. Though I generally like Hitchens, Stephen Fry stole the show.

Seriously though....it just seemed rigged, in a "pair-Sean-Hannity-with-Alan-Combes" kind of way. They couldn't find two knowledgable, entertaining Roman Catholics who 1) spoke English as a first language or 2) didn't sound like Hyacinth Bucket with a head cold? Where are today's GK Chestertons?

Hollandmichigan · (This post was last modified: 05-12-2012 09:35 AM by Hollandmichigan.)

(05-12-2012 01:04 AM)myotch Wrote: .

Seriously though....it just seemed rigged, in a "pair-Sean-Hannity-with-Alan-Combes" kind of way. They couldn't find two knowledgable, entertaining Roman Catholics who 1) spoke English as a first language or 2) didn't sound like Hyacinth Bucket with a head cold? Where are today's GK Chestertons?

And how about someone who is actually knowledgable in the bible? His response to the question regarding the biblical stand on homosexuality is telling: he claims christ preached the ten commandments. Anne spent the entire debate bemoaning the fact that she had to talk about condoms so much. Poor girl

But just because your side performed poorly doesn't mean the debate was rigged, old chap Wink

**myotch** · (This post was last modified: 05-13-2012 10:00 AM by myotch.)

I would submit that I had no side on that dais. Public debate is as much about style as it is substance. I may have had a home team, but the sport is the sport it is because sometimes you get to see truly great players play against the home team. As a Falcons fan, I would love to see Tebow or a Manning play against the Dirty Birds.

A master of logic and rhetoric and a prolific writer teams up with an eloquent class-act to go against....a woman whose shrill Tory warble would make Julia Childs green with envy, and a very smart African whose presentational grasp of English was rudimentary at best? It's like pitting James Carville against Tucker Carlson.

Again, where's the GK Chestertons of today who can make a real sport of this type of debate? Surely there's a good, eloquent, and entertaining defender of the faith, no? This was a pro team up against an alumni college team past it's prime. Wouldn't the same sophistication on the other side made for a much more entertaining and informative debate?

Hollandmichigan · 05-13-2012, 10:23 AM

(05-12-2012 08:44 PM)myotch Wrote: Again, where's the GK Chestertons of today who can make a real sport of this type of debate? Surely there's a good, eloquent, and entertaining defender of the faith, no? This was a pro team up against an alumni college team past it's prime. Wouldn't the same sophistication on the other side made for a much more entertaining and informative debate?

Sounds like your side's problem to me. My guess is that all the A players are on my side of the line, though..

I just watched tony blair's debate with CH; i didn't see the results post-debate but I have a feeling things didn't go in tony's favor