Christopher Hitchens vs. Shashi Tharoor (5-9)

Christopher Hitchens battles Shashi Tharoor, chaired by Joan Bakewell Vigorous late-night debate around the Danish cartoons, David Irving, and contrarian culture. Tharoor is Under-Secretary General for Communications at the UN and a novelist.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• atheism
• Atheist. Agnosticism
• Agnostic
• Disbelief
• Belief
• Reason
• Science
• Proof
• Faith
• God
• ID
• Philosophy
• Debate
• Blockingheads
• Christopher Hitchens
• Sashi Tharoor
• danish
• cartoons
• muhammed cartoons
• muhamemd
• islam
• free speech
• right
• expression
• David Irving
• culture
• clash of civilizations
• UN
• Joan Bakewell
• Vigorous

[WSWarthog]

That Shashi character makes me heave with his toothless apologetics. He wants us to "take into consideration" who we're causing offense to etc. (i.e. kowtowing to irrational reaction) but stops short of saying we should enforce it by law. How then is this going to happen? Everyone will spontaneously decide never to speak a word that might carry some shadow of offensiveness, just because he puts the idea forward? How naive can a person be?

[FaganRoberts]

Shashi is a thorough broken record. Same appeasement theme, a one trick pony.

He's average intelligence, at best.

[andreiandrei1]

pretty dull audience. or uninterested/unintelligent

[halneufmille]

Most interesting segment. Allowing oneself to be censored is like negotiating with terrorists.  You know that if you agree to their demands, they stop killing hostages. But then, you encourage them to do it again next time.

[Graham6762]

Shashi is the worst kind of vermin for calling for the abolition of free speech in my country.

[LupineL00pine]

It isn't about "living in a planet full of Christopher 'Hitchenses'", it's about being intolerant about actions that are fundamentally unacceptable. Yes, that does mean a democratic society with some ground rules, that do to as far a degree ensure individual rights, freedom of expression,etc...but not one where "diplomacy" is considered concerning people who advocate violence and death threats because their sensitivities haven't been considered.

[bigtimebuttsex]

@WSWarthog You must to realize we have two humanists here.  Both of them come to this way of thinking through different experience. I have deep respect for Mr. Tharoor though as usual i must support Mr. Hitchens position here.

[Darvinisti]

@russellrummage And how old were you? :D

[russellrummage]

There is a God. And his name is Hitchens.

[russellrummage]

@Darvinisti The fact you think there is inane rape within us all shows what a sick, backward scumbag you are so you're obviously a muslim. Here's a risk for you; Talk your shit to my face. Now piss off back to your cave. Britain is losing patience with your kind, EVERYONE HATES YOU!