Tony Blair vs Christopher Hitchens

[Ronja]

Finally, in part 7 during 2:30 - 4:40 Hitch gets to the really heavy stuff. One of the best arguments against the Abrahamic religions, that is...

Edit: Oooooh, the audience question directly following was really good too - too bad Tony's answer flopped so badly after a very good start. "Essence" of (a) religion as some sort of a solution to bad people using scripture to justify horrible deeds - come on, how would that "essence" be determined, to begin with?

[Ronja]

Hitch comment/mini-sermon about beauty and inspiration that began towards the end of part 7 and continued into part 8 was great, IMO.

BTW, the closing remarks part seems to begin at 1 minute into part 8, but it really doesn't.


Edit: the bolded part

Edit2: At 7 minutes into part 8, that's the mark.

[Ronja]

Lord Frith of Watership Down!

I have known for a long time that Hitch is an absolute genius with words, and superbly capable to deliver those words, too, but I'm not sure I have heard anything as earnest, challenging and inspiring as his closing statement (part 8, time 7:00 - 12:35) since I saw his i^2 speech which he made before Stephen Fry (who was more brilliant and passionate than I have ever seen him before or after). I hope the link works http://www.intelligencesquared.com/even ... sgmt=23169

[Ronja]

So in his closing argument Tony pulls a real low-water-mark "Einstein was not an atheist."

It has taken me quite some time to muddle through this thing, mostly because listening to Tony is such a pain / embarrassment even though Hitch is great, and the whole thing is well organized.


Edit: After watching it through, I agree with all that XC wrote above. Hitch did get visibly tired towards the end, which was painful to see. He is leaving some powerful memories of exquisitely crafted statements behind, if indeed he is to die soon.

[Faithfree]

Finally got around to watching the entire thing in one hit. Hitch hasn't lost any of his edge. Tony flounders throughout, bringing up the same tired arguments again and again in a pleading voice.

[Deep Sea Isopod]

Look at the still shot on part 7. Tony Blair..... Does he look just like "dubya" Bush to you?

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Look at the still shot on part 7. Tony Blair..... Does he look just like "dubya" Bush to you?

They often say that you come to look like your dog. Clearly, it happens the other way round as well!

[TheGreatGatsby]

Wow, Blair got seriously blown out of the water by Hitchens, although at some point in the third video (10:28) Hitchens tries to stroke his nonexistent hair, after which his hand shakes against the table for a few moments as he is trying to gather himself.

Makes me sad.

[Thinking Aloud]

"Look. I'm not saying that bad things have never been done in the name of religion, but, you know, a lot of good comes from faith too."

Actually, the most valid thing Tony Blair said was with regard to places like the Middle East, and ostensibly what his "Faith Foundation" was set up to achieve: religion is not going to be brushed away; interfaith dialogue may be the only way to resolve some of the problems in those regions.

I wish he were wrong, but I can't imagine anything that would enlighten a majority of the world's population to the non-existence of their favourite invisible friend in a short space of time.

A polite debate, I thought. I'd heard many of Hitch's gambits before, though it was pleasant not to have to listen to preaching in response.

[Trolldor]

Emancipation of women, increased education and literacy.

Watch religion crumble.

[Thinking Aloud]

Emancipation of women, increased education and literacy.

Watch religion crumble.

I really hope so - I just think it's going to take longer than we'd really like.

[Trolldor]

I don't doubt that, especially that first part. Increased education and literacy is easy what with the mass of technology facilitating the ease of distribution of language, but the emancipation of women would involve crumbling some fairly hefty blocks of a lot of societies.