Martin Amis Christopher Hitchens a conversation about Antisemitism and Saul bellow Part 8

Martin Amis in conversation with Christopher Hitchens
Martin Amis talks to Christopher Hitchens about Saul Bellow with whom he developed an intimate friendship, about the role of the writer as intellectual, the threat of political correctness to the comic novel, Islam, Israel and horrorism.

Martin Amis is considered as one of the most influential and innovative voices in contemporary British fiction. He is the author of novels, short stories and essays. His most recent book is House of Meetings.

Christopher Hitchens left the UK for the US in 1981 where he is columnist and contributing editor at Vanity Fair. Both an atheist and anti-atheist, an iconoclast, anti-fascist and humanist, he was voted in 2005 fifth out of the worlds top one hundred public intellectuals.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Martin
• Amis
• Christopher
• hitchens
• Antisemitism
• Saul
• bellow
• Zionism
• Neoconcervatism
• muslims
• islam
• Israel

[zhidd]

I find it fascinating when people who clearly come across this kind of thing when searching for "antisemitism" actually stick to it and listen. maybe there is hope. well, probably not for alienmoonbase, but still...

[richardcadbury]

They aren't knobs, they're both brilliant. But that was a very knobbish statement.

[firemarshall007]

I never knew Christopher Hitchens' mother was of Jewish origin.

[Surells]

I love how you an constantly hear them lighting up

[ghostofxmaspast]

1:21 - The manner in which the lady asked the question really made me laugh. I think it was a rather good question, considering how I've witnessed Jews who have criticized Israel being labeled antisemitic & self-hating.

[adamredwine]

Are you serious? Do you think they don't? How ridiculous. I grew up in a Christian family, they do that every week and most weekdays while watching the news.

That being said, I'm not sure why you think that necessarily "works against the common good."

Of course I'm not Jewish. Nor am I Christian or Muslim. I'm an atheist as I've said before. Even still, it wouldn't make me an idiot if I were one. I have many religious friends and family. They are not all idiots.

[alienmoonbase]

adam-

What if Christian intellectuals met to pat each other on the back about christian achivement which dwarfs jewish contributino to civilization btw.

I would be first to show up on their youtube videos to post how their tribalism works against the common good.

If you see yourself as "Jewish" you are an idiot. If you see yourself as "christian" you're an idiot. Muslim? You're an idiot.

Labels stamped at birth, our inherited religion, becomes our final barrier to shed.

[adamredwine]

I think you are drastically overstating the social context of the two communities, but at least you are starting to be reasonable.

[alienmoonbase]

Yes I understand that.

My point it, there is an egalitarian mentality on the West coast (The West Coast is the Best Coast, they say)

The east coast is older and more class oriented. I hope that the east coast class structure never materializes out here.

Jewish people have been a big part of the East Coast "class" formation. Its quite sad really, but that's human nature I guess.

[adamredwine]

Uh, you do realize that many of the founders of Hollywood were Jewish right?

[adamredwine]

Yup, that's just one example of many of horrible religious myths. Christians aren't without their terrible tales either. Come to think of it, Christians share all of the Jewish tales, the just tack on some more ridiculousness.

[alienmoonbase]

My point is, the bible states over and over and over again that there are two sets of rules for humanity. One for "Gentiles" is different.

Slaves are treated differently, money is loaned differently., etc. etc.

Its basically a form of tribalism at the expense of those who are NOT in the club/tribe.

Jewish advantage:

1. Social networking

2. Placebo effect

3. Built in "Socratic Method". When asked "why do you answer questions with another question, the Rabi replied, "Is there a better way?"