Christopher Hitchens on George Orwell's 1984 (1/2)

[Praventore]

big secrets lies in small things like 1 book or 1 movie or something between

[phinny5608]

This is a fantastic interview.

[DATCMOTO]

1984 is a succinct argument for the existence of God: O'Brien asks 'where does morality, spirit etc exist if we destroy all evidence of it/you?'

If there is no God then he is right.

[jhvscs]

@DATCMOTO not sure about that. Surely the statement implies that morality exists in the human

[DATCMOTO]

@jhvscs But WHO'S morality? Jesus'? Hitlers? yours? mine? If the party destroys everyone (and ALL trace) of those who disagree with them, then that morality is destroyed.. BUT, if morality is not subjective, but objective (resides within an Eternal Being) then it cannot be destroyed.

[jhvscs]

@DATCMOTO I don't have the text at hand, so I can't read read around your quote properly. I think the quote is much simpler, and suggests that morality is terminated along with the death of the human. 1984 seems if pertaining to anything numinous an argument against theocracy

[DATCMOTO]

@jhvscs Yes, Orwell understood the nihilistic consequence of this truth, which is why the book (and not the film) ends on such pessimistic note: Smith is completely defeated and awaits only destruction.

But, before O'Brien begins the line of questioning we are discussing, he asks Smith; " do you believe in God?" and Smith responds; "No." to me, it is as if he must get that obstacle out of the way before he begins.. Please read the passage again and consider it.

All the best, toodle pip!

[HenryAcker]

R.I.P. Christopher Hitchens :(

[test123ok]

I just watched the movie. And now Im enjoying this conversation.

[Bushcamper4Sale]

@americaisbacktrump Red neck. Leave the forest. You need to be around people.

[MattyGkid]

@americaisbacktrump Fascist crackpot. 

[americaisbacktrump]

@MattyGkid  Brainwashed Marxist sociobot

[stratocaster1986able]

LOL at Hitchens on the bike.

[parafleet]

hi asl?

[munkybrain]

thanks for uploading!

Why is Mr Hitchens on a bicycle? :-)

[AryanKnight]

FYI: -there is nothing mystical about Geo.Orwell's book- "1984", --as it is a fact that he socialized with these criminal-elite agents of Rothschild/Rockefeller's et'al Jew-Zionists, --and unlike patriot Henry'Ford and Chas.Lindbergh, and St.Hitler, --whom tried to expose these subversives, Orwell simply wrote about the Jews sick-plans to enslave humanity via their zealous control of all Banks internationally, which is finally coming into fruition...!!!

[eslgurucalif]

@AryanKnight You need some serious help.

[trydownloadingthis]

It was not desirable that the proles should have strong political feelings. All that was required of them was a primitive patriotism which could be appealed to when it was necessary to make them accept longer working-hours or shorter rations. And even when they did become discontented, as they sometimes did, their discontent led nowhere, because, being without general ideas, they could only focus it on petty specific grievances. The larger evils invariably escaped their notice.

[rerevisionist]

Hitchens is not much of an analyst. He doesn't mention that Jews built up the USSR, and murdered millions. How can anyone take him seriously? He also confuses fascism with Spain, Italy, Japan... he's a lightweight trying to sell his books

[mooninquirer]

@rerevisionist That is because Hitchens is Jewish himself. His job is NOT to sell books, but to spread pro-Jewish propaganda, such as extreme, in your face Atheism ( as per the Protocols ), and that JFK was an evil man, including being a womanizer. The Jews recruited Hitchens to do that, because this discourages people from investigating JFK's murder, its causes, and getting angry about it. He might actually be LOSING money, just like COSMOPOLITAN, but his books are prominently displayed.

[mooninquirer]

@rerevisionist I have seen bookstores with an entire wall of Hitchen's book "God in not Great" on display for almost a year. Stores are PAID to display merchandise. Hardly anybody buys those "body gorgeous" magazines like COSMOPOLITAN, but they are always on eye level in every check out lane. Through the Federal Reserve and central banking, the Jews have access to individually structured loans for which they do not have to pay back the interest, nor the principal.

[Invesigator]

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: Communism ('socialism) and Facism (national-socialism) are not as different as we think they are. Both are totalitarian and defend the theory of evolution (social-darwinism). Hitler copied some of his ideas from communists.

[cwbyfan223]

@Invesigator You lack any resemblence of an understanding what Communism is. There has never been a Communist state, only state's that exploit their people under the guise of Communism. The Soviet Union, Cuba, North Korea, Loas, Vietnam were/are not Communist, they were/are "State Capitalist" society's. A Communist society cannot have a totalitarian governement because once Communism is achieved the govt. ceases to exist. The theory of evolution is completely different from social-darwinism.

[Brascofarian]

Nice photo :)

[LovingKimiKatkar]

Karen Carpenter was the Teresa Teng of America.

[chefshitpiece]

Gee...what a shcok!! The aristocracy supporting fascism! WHo woulda thunk it?

[1steve726]

2 of my all time favorite obsessions 1984 and Christopher Hitchens..Both have been life changing for me,by allowing me to feel ok about the feelings that I have.Without the internet I would be doomed to feeling as an outsider forever...Live on Orwell and Hitch..:-)

[ManuelBetten]

look at the fbi setting the terrorsit bombers to create fear in the american people

and send billions of dollars to the tsa for our good.

[LovingKimiKatkar]

"1984" REVIEW!!! Written by George Orwell in 1967, "1984" is set in the beautiful island of Haiti in the year of Orwell's birthday. Young Sophie is a fabulously-sexy transsexual who loves young Tony, a fabulously-trans-sexy sexual too. Together they overthrow the corrupt Hawaiian government by mistake, as they were really in Hawaii all along. “That explains the 39,000 leis that I've received at the airport since Labrador Day!”

[jwill5587]

I wonder what Orwell would have thought about the Iraq War, Patriot Act, airport strip searches, etc. I don't think he would have found them as wonderful as Hitchens believes them to be.

[leechchill]

@jwill5587

Orwell (just as Hitchens) went against the rest of the left at his time, and propogated for increased war efforts...

[carsanookdotcom]

That's a fine upload.

Merci beaucoup

Bangkok Johnny

Royaume de Thailande

[SgtDICTION]

Where was this photo taken? Rock Creek Park?

[DevoutSkeptic]

Wow that 1984 Day, seems like a really awesome idea... Really get whiny teenagers to stop complaining about their "lack of freedom" in school lol.

[TomValedro]

christopher doesnt know how to ride a bike.

[Slugg329]

I think I prefer Aldous Huxley's writings over Orwell. At least his novels, Orwell wrote some pretty cool essays/articles

[MrMick73]

No Seat !!! Ouch brings a tear to the eye.

[ThotherBrother]

1984 is a Catch-22.

Unbearable, LeGuine chips in: "The Lathe of Heaven" is machining Mao's chair, man! LeGuine's protag is called "George Orr". Poor George, under the lash of Heather, is released toward Bethlehem, the no good slouch!. Soon to follow: Apocalypse Tao or another mealy mouthful of the same old Chinese Chicken?

A boot, stepping on a human face forever...

... gee, I'd love to, but I'm washing my brain that night...

[rudenoodle]

thats against the law!

[DYORPEEPS]

A man who supports Orwell and yet is in bed with the neo-cons. Have people not realised this guy is suffering from serious mental health issues.

[andyissemicool]

@DYORPEEPS: His support of overthrowing totalitarian theocracy is somehow anti-Orwell?

[toastvision]

@DYORPEEPS he's for the war in iraq and afghanistan. as far as everything else is concerned, i think he still considers himself a socialist or a marxist.

[Brascofarian]

1984 is fantastic... Orwell gifted the world with a book of such magnitude and foreboding but people have to read it to understand why the surveillance culture is unacceptable... unfortunately most people don't, but watch the BS propaganda TV shows that show police catching criminals thanks to our friend CCTV. I hope someone soon will release a film of all the invasions of privacy.

[darkhyena]

1984 is among my favourite British novels, along with Day of the Triffids.

I truly wish there was a definitive answer to the question asked by Hitchens on whether or not Kim Il Sung had a Korean translation before forming the North Korean state

[porkramen21]

"kept on saying to all" Turn off Captions cause it transcribes it as "Can talk sexual"

lol

[yRegal]

No I believe those pictures were taken of him as he was conducting the interview. After he discovered handsfree telecommunications he does all interviews this way. It's a great way to stay in shape but if you live in the DC area you better watch out.

[DailyHitchens]

The pictures I've used are from google images or picsearch, simple as that. I haven't bothered to investigate where or when they were taken.

[MrPootisman]

@DailyHitchens The picture is from Vanity fair's "how i fought the law". Hitchens criticises the absurd laws in New York and here you can see him breaking one

[hcantsin]

The pictures are from an article he wrote about some of the more ridiculous laws in New York City. I think he's pictured above breaking the one where you can't ride your bike with your legs out. It might be a Vanity Fair article. I can't remember.

[zillahnoir]

@hcantsin breakin the law!! :D

[jfosterdyess]

I can't believe this picture! It's awesome. I gotta get some context. Where is it from?

[gonzoredux]

Where do these pictures come from?

[Mike3303]

Haha...geez. This picture is brilliant.

[QuasiRandomViewer]

Check out the link on the DailyHitchens website to the December 2009 C-SPAN2 After Words program where CH spends an hour talking Orwell with author George Packer.  This time CH is the host!

[DailyHitchens]

Good, Thanks. I forgot to mention that.

[QuasiRandomViewer]

I learned my lesson a week ago when I looked at your site and saw the "A Dinner with Christopher Hitchens" link. (In the archives for February 13, 2010)