Christopher Hitchens diagnosed with cancer

[Jozanny]

I'm in shock:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010...agnosed-cancer

[sixsmith]

I too was saddened, though not perhaps not surprised, by the revelation of Hitchens' throat cancer. I am a long-time, and sometimes ardent, reader of his journalism and essays. I wish him all the best.

[Lionheart]

Even though I don't susbcribe to his ideology, it is still a terrible thing for a person to suffer. He is a man of good debates and I wish him the best.

[mal4mac]

He's got Christians arguing over whether they should pray for him or not! That should amuse him greatly:

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cr...pher-hitchens/

"“Shepherds don’t look after sheep because they love them... They look after their sheep so they can, first, fleece them and second, turn them into meat. ” - Christopher Hitchens

[sixsmith]

He's got Christians arguing over whether they should pray for him or not! That should amuse him greatly:

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cr...pher-hitchens/

"“Shepherds don’t look after sheep because they love them... They look after their sheep so they can, first, fleece them and second, turn them into meat. ” - Christopher Hitchens

Predictably, it also has some Christians 'speculating' on God's role in Hitchens' illness.

The militant God-hater, Christopher Hitchens, has been diagnosed with throat cancer, Fox News is reporting. Hitchens is well known for his hatred of God and the Christian faith. Despite his irrational anti-theism, we admonish all followers of Christ who read this post to pray that the sovereign Spirit of God convict him that his worldview is entirely false, he has sinned against a just and holy God, and that he repent and receive Jesus Christ as God and Savior. It is not our place as Christians to say the specific reasons why Mr. Hitchens has contracted this disease. We only know that God often uses illness as a means to bring people to repentance and faith. We can only hope Mr. Hitchens responds.

http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post...th-Cancer.aspx

[The Atheist]

Unlucky for Hitch, it's not a good kind to get. 5% survival rate at 5 years.

Let's hope he gets lucky, but being a smoker for 40 years, it's not a surprise.

[billl]

A new article from him from Vanity Fair (and there have been several at Slate.com, as well).

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/fe...itchens-201009

And, from the eve of his bad news, from an alarming day, when he was vomitting, and knew that there was trouble:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tu...opher-hitchens

[JBI]

I find it strange how we all assume he's going to die - really, many people go through cancer and live, it seems kind of strange to follow one person going through it as if the world is ending - simply wishing him well wishes for a speedy recovery seems sufficient, in that the decease is deadly, but he isn't the first or only person with it, nor the first person to throw up.

[OrphanPip]

I find it strange how we all assume he's going to die - really, many people go through cancer and live, it seems kind of strange to follow one person going through it as if the world is ending - simply wishing him well wishes for a speedy recovery seems sufficient, in that the decease is deadly, but he isn't the first or only person with it, nor the first person to throw up.

I agree with you, mostly, but celebrity attention is often good for the funding and support of research organizations. There's no real lack of cancer visibility, or money for cancer research, but it does some good to have these persistent reminders of the disease around. Sometimes, like when Rock Hudson died of AIDS, this kind of celebrity worship transfers into a great deal more public interest in helping fight the disease. Michael J. Fox and his public efforts for Parkinson's is another example. I'm sure there are more than a few people out there whose only knowledge of Parkinson's might come from seeing Fox on TV.

[billl]

I don't always agree with Hitchens, but I (and some others on the forum) think he is a great writer (and, I think, a good guest on television--the appearance I have linked is mentioned in his article). As far as people assuming that people are assuming that he is going to die right away, or that it would be the end of our world--I do find both assumptions a little strange, but understandable. Anyhow, the Vanity Fair piece gives some insight to how the writer himself feels about his chances.

This is not the first time I have pointed to this writer's work in this forum, and it won't be the last. I won't bump this thread again, though, as it's mere appearance seems too much for some people's delicate tastes.

[country doctor]

well thanks for the news update, somehow this got by the doc and he didn't hear about it until looking through the threads...hitch lived a hard life, and it seemed that he was getting away with it...looks like he didn't, but it's not a death sentence either...

the doc hopes hitch beats it...hitch is a great humanist...

[JoeLopp]

One of my all-time favorite contrarians ... here's hoping he gets well..

[munkinhead]

Knowing that the will of God bends to blend with their own, some will rejoice in the "divine retribution" of their petty god.
Let God be God, if you can. Their perception of their own part in some grand conspiracy to mete out suffering betrays a
miniscule faith.