Christopher Hitchens on free speech, pt 1 of 3

[abuliberalee]

This lecture alone makes his life a more valuable contribution to the world than 99% of people. RIP Hitchens and bravo on a life well lived and a world that's the better for it.

[jjobie]

Hitch looks just a tad lubricated in this video. 

[TheFirstAngloSaxon]

its Apollo creed

[TheDano1947]

The final solution was the fault of all those countries who wouldn't accept jews from Germany into their countries which brought about the holocaust.

[johnjsal]

@TheDano1947 I rather think the blame lies with the Nazis themselves.

[TheDano1947]

@johnjsal True the major part of the blame goes to the Nazis but the world turned it's back on the plight of the jews in the first place which lead to the final solution.

[johnjsal]

@TheDano1947 But blaming the rest of the world for the specific actions taken by the Nazis doesn't seem right. Do you also think the Jews are to blame for their own plight?

[ErikBramsen]

Hitchens is on from 0:40

[BrianAsh100]

Who is going to speak up so eloquently for freedom from the tyrrany of religion when he is gone?

[trey4439]

fuck free speech haters and fuck pc

[scottnsanfran]

Who is this man who introduced Christopher Hitchens. Is he a nigger?

[hitchwatch]

"Maybe you don't like Israel."

Maybe you had sex with your mom.

[seppomuppit]

@hitchwatch lol what a loser, nice channel dick

[longfootbuddy]

im sorry, this lecture has been deemed inappropriate, and has been deleted

[phuturexy]

hitchwatch is as dumb as the nigger at the start of this clip

[instereovideos]

It's a bit silly to take a stab at Oliver Wendell Holmes here... Holmes's decision in the case he is referring to is bogus by today's free speech standards, but we hadn't gotten that far yet... it was HOLMES'S dissent in a case a couple of years later that GAVE us the broadened free speech idea that hitchens is trying to argue for here. Holmes is the reason that outspoken people like Hitchens have the freedom of speech that they do. Wrong man to call "over praised" on this issue.

[ratpackfrank]

A sincere request:

Please provide me with a reference for this.

I get the impression that you are on the side of freedom of speech so i do mean this request sincerely - even if you aren't!

[instereovideos]

yeah sure. you'll want to compare supreme court cases: Schenk vs. United States (holmes majority opinion) with Abrams vs. United States (holmes dissent), both are 1919. In Schenk, holmes agreed to condemn the socialists hitchens is talking about (under his "clear and present danger"). In Abrams, the court argued a similar circumstance but holmes dissented. Holmes had changed his mind, and realized that even in a time of war, freedom to criticize the government is necessary. (cont)

[instereovideos]

(cont) Holmes dissent in the case was used in a later case to change the precedent about free speech during war time. Its why people today can complain about the Iraq war and not go to jail under acts like the 1917 "sedition act." The truth is, freedom of speech the way it is today is a fairly recent idea, at least in the legal sense. Hitchens is on the right side of the issue, just on the wrong side of Holmes.

[joelhowells]

@instereovideos Surely the First Amendment had the same wording when Justice Holmes sat on the bench?

[instereovideos]

@joelhowells Yeah, you're not making a very clever statement here.... People are very apt to assume that the First Amendment meant then exactly what it means to us now... but that's because they don't have any concept of what it meant then. Common Law and precedent changes the interpretation of things over time. At Holmes's time, his verdict was in line with the common interpretation... and HE is the hero responsible for changing it to what we have today by dissenting two years later.

[Wotuer]

Can i get this with subs somewhere?

[camino1ca]

The guy with the sarcastic intro sucks.

[SingHouse]

and he's black

[camino1ca]

Holy Lucifer!

[redchant]

Hitchens makes the point about free speech because he doesn't fear debate.

[TheBannedAtheist]

Who is that ignoramus opening the speech?

[CliffM85]

@TheBannedAtheist Denzel Washington.

[sony1024]

Thank you for posting this speech.

[hitchwatch]

The "Fire!" routine that starts this is so lame.

[hitchwatch]

"Hitchens explains why it is an intellectual duty to defend the right of people we may disgree with."

If that why he smeared people who booed him during the Galloway debate and claimed that they were insulting the military while warning them that they were on TV? Seems like a rather McCarthyite rhetorical technique.

[shystylzyt]

There's a difference between booing a guest speaker and having a different opinion. Good manners and all that, you know. And smears are only valid if not true.

[hitchwatch]

"Good manners and all that, you know."

Threating people and misrepresenting their actions is not polite. Hitchens is basically an intellectual thug.

[shystylzyt]

I don't know what "threating" is, but I would appreciate an example of Hitchens' supposed thuggery. Bonus points if you keep it relevant to the discussion on free speech. Surely we can agree on the necessity of that?

[shystylzyt]

The statement regarding "being on TV", wasn't a warning. It was an appeal to the crowds' inner sense of decency and decorum. He was asking them to show some respect for the military. I know, tough sell in a rabid leftist audience, but I suppose he had to give it a go.

[hitchwatch]

"It was an appeal to the crowds' inner sense of decency and decorum."

Bullshit.

"He was asking them to show some respect for the military."

Typical jingoistic behavior.

"I know, tough sell in a rabid leftist audience, but I suppose he had to give it a go."

While I reject your argument, why is anyone obligated to show the military any particular respect over anyone else, Terror Free Contard?

[shystylzyt]

"Bullshit."

...Because?

"Typical jingoistic behavior."

...Because?

"...why is anyone obligated to show the military any particular respect over anyone else..."

Over anyone else?

You seem inclined to making unsubstantiated claims. I prefer people who actually argue their case.

[hitchwatch]

"You seem inclined to making unsubstantiated claims. I prefer people who actually argue their case."

Pearls before swine. Go jack off to some more Joe Kaufman videos.

[hitchwatch]

Hitch is being booed and he tries to pull this bullshit:

"The case -- the case, don't -- I would advise you not to jeer at these men and women while you're being televised, ladies and gentlemen. I would advise you not to do it."

[shystylzyt]

Doesn't strengthen your case at all. It only confirms my point - the audience was acting disgracefully.

[hitchwatch]

"Doesn't strengthen your case at all. It only confirms my point - the audience was acting disgracefully."

Hitchens was baiting the audience and they booed him. Cry me a river.

[hitchwatch]

[Boos]

CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS: You're on TV.

AMY GOODMAN: Mr. Galloway.

CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS: You're all on TV.

[hitchwatch]

***I don't know what "threating" is***

It's known as a typo, contard.

"I would appreciate an example of Hitchens' supposed thuggery."

No, you wouldn't.

"Bonus points if you keep it relevant to the discussion on free speech."

Free speech is the last thing Hitchens wants. He routinely calls people stuff like traitor, fascist, etc., in a pathetic attempt to marginalize them.

"Surely we can agree on the necessity of that?"

Fuck off.

[shystylzyt]

"It's known as a typo, contard."

I knew that would get you riled. I'm hardly a "contard". Some of us like to reason and examine both sides.

"Free speech is the last thing Hitchens wants. He routinely calls people stuff"

Which has nothing to do with stifling free speech. Last time I checked freedom of speech included the right to call people things. Again, a smear is only that if untrue. Are you even aware of Hitch's many progressive views?

[hitchwatch]

"Last time I checked freedom of speech included the right to call people things."

Repeatedly calling people traitors when they are obvious not in any legal sense is a propaganda technique used to marginalize them. It's particularly pernicious when others of Hitchen's ilk are openly calling for traitors to be executed.

"Are you even aware of Hitch's many progressive views?"

I an quite familar with Hitchens, contard.

[shystylzyt]

"I an quite familar with Hitchens, contard."

Obviously not with his views.

[hitchwatch]

"Obviously not with his views."

I know all about him, been reading his crap for years.

[shystylzyt]

"I know all about him, been reading his crap for years."

And still no clue as to his actual views.

[thegreatestbak]

@hitchwatch

Which views of Hitchens do you disagree with exactly?

[hitchwatch]

Hitchens is a warmonger, get a clue. He's practically on his deathbed and he's still calling for an attack on Iran.

[NotAG4yName]

@hitchwatch The call to justice, secularism, womans right and an end to anti semitism is not war mongering you fool

[hitchwatch]

@NotAG4yName Calling for a preemptive attack on Iran is certainly warmongering.

[IlovemyGlock21]

@hitchwatch - Like calling for a preemptive attack on Nazi Germany would have been warmongering? REALLY???

[hitchwatch]

@IloveyourCock21 Iran is hardly equivalent to Nazi Germany.  For starters, Iran has not invaded anyone nor is it threatening to.

[IlovemyGlock21]

@hitchwatch - Not threatening to invade another country? Are you claiming that the religious leaders in Iran have not advocated that the total destruction of the state of Israel? Maybe you don't count that. Maybe you don't like Israel.

[BrianBartholin]

@hitchwatch No. But they would enjoy killing Jew's.. Just as much as Hitler did do..

[darwinkilledgod]

@hitchwatch Didn't Iran invade Iraq a while back? I seem to recall selling arms to Iraq to fight them... yes, yes, I'm quite sure of it. Stop saying stupid things.

[BRtankbuster]

@darwinkilledgod: Actually the Iran-Iraq war occurred when Iraq invaded Iran in 1980. Not the other way around.

The reason weapons were sold to the Iraqi army by Western countries was not because Iraq was not the agressor (they were), but because many western countries saw geopolitical advantages in seeing the Iranian regime overthrown.

[hitchwatch]

@thegreatestbak I disagree with his desire to attack Iran.

[shystylzyt]

"in a pathetic attempt to marginalize them."

I didn't know you could read Hitch's mind.

"Fuck off."

Ah, what a nice, tolerant leftist. You're so inclusive, so open to different viewpoints.

[hitchwatch]

"Ah, what a nice, tolerant leftist. You're so inclusive, so open to different viewpoints."

Why should I take a nut like you seriously?

[shystylzyt]

"Why should I take a nut like you seriously?"

Then prove your empty charges. Prove that I'm a "nut". Should be easy with someone of your intellectual stature.

If you have any honesty whatsoever you'll state your case and make a reasoned argument as to why. As long as you keep shooting off ad hominems without arguing your points you come off looking like an angry child.

[hitchwatch]

'Then prove your empty charges. Prove that I'm a "nut". Should be easy with someone of your intellectual stature.'

Look at who you subscribe to.

"As long as you keep shooting off ad hominems without arguing your points you come off looking like an angry child."

Look at what Joe Kaufman typically puts on people profiles who dare to disagree with him

TerrorFreeOil | July 19, 2007

Go islamofuck yourself

[shystylzyt]

"Look at who you subscribe to."

I subscribe to to everything from liberal channels to conservatives, religious and atheists, art, politics and philosophy. Not good enough. State your case and prove your charges.

"Look at what Joe Kaufman typically puts on people profiles who dare to disagree with him"

What Kaufman calls some individual is irrelevant. It has nothing to do with me.

[hitchwatch]

"What Kaufman calls some individual is irrelevant. It has nothing to do with me."

You bigots have the same mentality.

[moogle342]

Wonderful save for the vacuous little intro by the black guy. Anytime you get a list of his targets in such a fashion: "and he's taken on and criticized Mother Theresa, Bill Clinton, and Princess Di" you know that the individual has not read a single word of Hitchens.

[hitchwatch]

"the black guy"

Nice.

[shystylzyt]

Let me guess: it's now a "hate crime" to describe someone as black?

Key word: context.

[hitchwatch]

"Key word: context."

Why not just call him "the interviewer?"

[shystylzyt]

Because he wasn't.

[blackacidlizzard]

Fuck yeah, good shit.

[blackacidlizzard]

When taught about the Debbs case in high school I found the verdict sickening and the famous quote beyond belief as far as levels of absolute bullshit go, but I cannot recall anyone else speaking of it as such. So few remember where that quote came from and those who bring it up always seem to agree with the sentiment, and all that it entails in regards to goodspeak. Nice to see someone besides myself skewering it.

[shystylzyt]

Very interesting. If true it's a total disgrace.

[nyomythus]

Some the criticism of Mother Theresa by Hitchens comes from her support for a no-vote on Ireland's referendum to end the ban on divorce from that country's constitution -- a no-vote of which gives no escape to the wives of drunken wife beaters, demonstrating how religion poisons social evolution. Google it.