Why I Love Hitchens

10/14/08

My father sent me a copy of Christopher Hitchens' endorsement of Obama yesterday.  The headline of my father’s email was “another conservative endorses Obama.”  I was surprised to find out it was Hitchens because he isn’t a conservative.  He is a liberal contrarian in the classic sense.  The difference is important and why I love reading Hitchens’ work.

I am not surprised that Hitchens has endorsed Obama.  His claim that he is a one-issue voter has always been a bit flimsy.  Every time he claims this, it is part of a larger sentence explaining that the current opinion he is writing (and presumably you are reading), has been written considering only the concerns of the pro-Iraq war stance because that is what he was asked to write about or speak about. He makes it clear that when he does this he is knowingly excluding other valid concerns he might have. At no time has he actually said that this one issue is the only one he would use when considering his choice for president. 

Hitchens has never claimed to be a conservative and he clearly has no love for President Bush, whom he considers to be an idiot.  He has, however, written a book about being a Contrarian and for anyone interested in why you sometimes love Hitchens’ opinions and sometimes you find yourself yelling out in rage that he would take such a preposterous position, you might want to read this engaging little book.

When I read Hitchens, I read a progressive, classically liberal individual with very strong humanist values.  In other words, he wants things to get better, has a strong belief that we humans can and should make things better and that individual liberty is the best way to ensure that things get better. He just happens to also be a Contrarian.

Of course, most people don’t read his entire opinion pieces unless they agree with his initial statements and since he is a Contrarian, most people don’t agree with him.  They get the highlights of his initial contradictory statement and are outraged that someone who professes to be a liberal could take such a contrary view to standard liberal ideology.  But that is exactly what a Contrarian does.  And it is an invaluable service to the rest of us that Hitchens plays this role so well. Take the time to read past his intentionally provocative opening statements and you will find well-researched and written arguments as to why Hitchens has taken a Contrarian stance. His essays on why he supported “the liberation of Iraq” are an excellent example of this. Regardless of what position he is taking, his argument will always be from the progressive and humanist standpoint.  And this is why I love to read Hitchens.

Reading Hitchens doesn’t mean you have to agree with him, but it does require you to be willing to challenge your assumptions.  I find it invaluable to read his Contrarian views precisely because he makes his arguments based in the values I hold dear.  He values the same things I do; yet he comes to different conclusions!  And I think that is wonderful because it forces to me consider whether my opinion is valid, and that is always a good thing.

If we are truly to employ Freethought as a way to avoid blind ideology, we must be vigilant against our own tendencies towards homogenous thinking.  If all we read are people who agree with us, we are never challenging our own thinking.  Hitchens provides the liberal, progressive and humanist communities with well-written and researched opposing viewpoints and he always provides a humanist moral framework for why he he is espousing such a contrary position.   Next time you start reading one of his pieces and get pissed off, relax.  His openings are designed to provoke.  Continue on and enjoy his arguments and the way he challenges your thinking.  Remember, Contrarians play a vital role in the intellectual life of our society.  Just be thankful we have someone of Hitchen’s quality to provide the liberal and progressive communities with such challenging thoughts.

The other reason I love Hitchens is more visceral.  Yes, I realize he is married and has a child.  But he really has the Oliver Reed vibe going strong!  Yum. And for the record, no, I don't approve of the smoking or drinking, but, as I said, he has the Oliver Reed vibe going strong.