tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19106619.post3318628252165742139..comments2023-09-12T09:17:19.865-07:00Comments on Socialist Humanism with a human face: Hitchens, Chanukah and ImperialismJDHURFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02133971619468463558noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19106619.post-85943932309583238032008-01-06T01:47:00.000-08:002008-01-06T01:47:00.000-08:00rnb:I didn't argue that Hitchens was a “general su...rnb:<BR/><BR/>I didn't argue that Hitchens was a “general supporter” of imperialism. I argued that he was an explicit supporter of the specific imperial invasion of Iraq, supporter of imperialism in the Muslim world generally and that he went so far as to mock those in attendance at the Galloway-Hitchens debate opposed to imperialism for being opposed to imperialism. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by and commenting, I will keep an eye out for you response to my secular tribalism post.JDHURFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02133971619468463558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19106619.post-30910355257857568832008-01-05T07:27:00.000-08:002008-01-05T07:27:00.000-08:00I am not always pro-Hitchens but he does not at al...I am not always pro-Hitchens but he does not at all seem to be a general supporter of "American imperialism". However he supported the initial invasion for various reasons (like many of your Democrats) and since then his enormous ego has seemed to require constant self-justification of that decision. He was wrong there.<BR/><BR/>JDHURF, I think your writing is impassioned, erudite and eloquent, I agree with almost everything, but for what it's worth I think that you fundamentally mis-represent the "new atheists" on the secular tribalism issue - I'll try to explain briefly on that post.Ranahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06207632255129272209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19106619.post-64985882632065043622007-12-23T21:02:00.000-08:002007-12-23T21:02:00.000-08:00OT: A friend of mine wrote this. It is to use Bib...OT: A friend of mine wrote <A HREF="http://tomstream.blogspot.com/2007/11/my-book.html" REL="nofollow">this</A>. It is to use Bible references against rightists.Frank Partisanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03536211653082893030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19106619.post-2954190996252762002007-12-17T22:26:00.000-08:002007-12-17T22:26:00.000-08:00melloncollie:I agree with you that Hitchens’ scree...melloncollie:<BR/><BR/>I agree with you that Hitchens’ screed against Chanukah is a petty and transparent attempt to appear equally against all religion. Although I get the impression that rather than employing secular extremism to justify imperialism, he supports imperialism, in part, because it meshes well with his desire to wage a literal war against Islam. Even further, it appears to me to be the case that Hitchens does deep down despise all religion, as his screed against Chanukah helps illustrate, as well as his contemptuous dismissal of liberation theology; which is a progressive social movement with many social goals which Hitchens in fact shares. <BR/><BR/>I further agree with you that religions evolve and that defining a religion and that particular religion’s adherent’s solely by the ancient texts revered within the religion and “events that took place thousands of years ago” - especially when in a modern context the events play only a minor role if any at all – is pure obfuscation, in this case, I would argue, due to Hitchens’ tendencies towards secular tribalism, and just not serious. My post entitled “A Distinction Within Religious Criticism” being here appropriate. <BR/><BR/>Thank you for the very kind words at the end of your response, I very much appreciate them. <BR/><BR/>renegade eye:<BR/><BR/>I didn’t know Hitchens supported Schachtman. I find it a bit odd that Hitchens self-professed Trotskyism while having at the same time supported the “third camp” Marxism of Schachtman. Although, it still isn’t as odd as having at one time self-professed Trotskyism and then later endorsing neoconservative foreign policy. Apparently, with Hitchens, anything is possible. <BR/><BR/>I would agree with your disagreement with your blog team member Namazie for centering her political activity against religious practices. It is absolutely crucial that political activity be centered around an affirmative proposition, rather than merely an oppositional one. People need to know clearly what the alternatives are, rather than simply what the alternative should <I>not</I> be. <BR/>Although it is, of course, very important to oppose authoritarian theocratic political movements and any breech of the separation between church and state, Islamism certainly included. <BR/><BR/>I do, however, think that Hitchens’ attacks on religion stem from his blind and crazed opposition to religion. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Thank you both for stopping by and commenting.JDHURFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02133971619468463558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19106619.post-45811978273383744482007-12-17T12:30:00.000-08:002007-12-17T12:30:00.000-08:00Hitchens Trotskyism goes back to his support Max S...Hitchens Trotskyism goes back to his support Max Schachtman. The last thing Trotsky did before he died, was disassociate himself from Max Schachtman's supporters.<BR/><BR/>I actually disagree with my blog team member Maryam Namazie, for centering her political activity against religious practices. Even though Islamism has much to be fought, still you have to incorporate class struggle into the mix.<BR/><BR/>Hitch's attacks on religion are related to: 1) Support for Bush's policies. 2) To get leftist speaking engagements. Follow the $$.Frank Partisanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03536211653082893030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19106619.post-32615293273577566502007-12-17T11:01:00.000-08:002007-12-17T11:01:00.000-08:00Hitchens' article "Bah, Hanukkah" is nothing more ...Hitchens' article "Bah, Hanukkah" is nothing more than a thinly veiled justication for American imperialism. Simply put, Hitchens hates Islam and wants it destroyed. He believes in invading countries and killing innocent people. He uses Hanukkah as a way of pointing out his supposed "fairness." It's his way of saying, "See, I don't just hate Islam and Muslims."<BR/><BR/>But his attack on the Jewish holiday is actually a perfect example of why his ongoing crusade against Islam is so wrongheaded. Hanukkah's origin as a commemoration of a military victory have--as you pointed out--very little to do with the holiday we celebrate every year. Most Jews are embarrassed by how far the Macabees went in defending their faith, and most Jews no longer share the primitive views of the Macabee brothers anyway. Our syanagogue has a library that values Einstein and Marx as much as Maimonides and Rashi. We have social justice programs, DVIS voluteer groups, and same-sex committment ceremonies. And I go to a Conservative synagogue.<BR/><BR/>My point is that religion evolves, and Islam and Judaism are much, much more than ancient texts or military events that took place thousands of years ago. Hitchens needs to grow up.<BR/><BR/>You, on the other hand, are one of the best ambassadors for secularism on the internet. Your blog entries are consistently well written, fair, and insightful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com