tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756920.post1506724151098797673..comments2024-01-08T06:21:35.864-08:00Comments on Notes in Samsara: Class, Christopher Hitchens...and Genpo MerzelMumon Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01116967568502451788noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756920.post-39720862606720551992011-12-27T13:29:48.829-08:002011-12-27T13:29:48.829-08:00Mixed feelings we have for Hitchens --tho wd agree...Mixed feelings we have for Hitchens --tho wd agree with Mumo the trotskyite Hitch. was superior to the later BushCo-ite Hitch. He was not one to tolerate spiritual hucksters--a point lost on many of the self-sytled boodhist hustlers, like the <a href="http://new-worlds.org/blog/?p=13355" rel="nofollow"> pathetic phonies</a> at New Worlds, who suddenly have become great defenders of Hitch.--without having read one of his books or Slate rants. Even white-supremacists have decided Hitch. is kewl (as in the case of McMax's little NWs gang). <br /><br />That said, on inspection, Hitch. was....a literatteur-- and semi-talented, glib journalist-- rather than profound philosopher (or scientist) tho' mistaken as such by those who don't know Hume's writing from their fave IHOP.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567400697675996283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756920.post-53479140373365765692011-12-18T04:04:23.781-08:002011-12-18T04:04:23.781-08:00NellaLou:
You're absolutely right. Other folk...NellaLou:<br /><br />You're absolutely right. Other folks never in that rarefied echelon include folks like Henry Miller and Dalton Trumbo, folks that wouldn't have wanted be fawned over nor would have wamted anyone to fawn over them.<br /><br />But I think Genpo got his (formerly 10's of thousands, now just thousands of) dollars precisely because his whole schtick <i>was</i> a kind of narcissistic fawning. But it's not the kind of thing that gets him a table at the Four Seasons with Lloyd Blankfein, or even Larry Ellison.Mumon Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01116967568502451788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756920.post-51950009623045181402011-12-17T14:08:31.855-08:002011-12-17T14:08:31.855-08:00I found Glen Greenwald's take on Hitchens quit...I found Glen Greenwald's take on Hitchens quite apropos. <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/2011/12/17/christohper_hitchens_and_the_protocol_for_public_figure_deaths/singleton/" rel="nofollow"> Christopher Hitchens and the Protocol for Public Figure Deaths </a><br /><br />To become part of that rarefied echelon takes a life time of work and a great deal of sucking up to and massaging the powerful. The massage generally consists of giving attention, entertainment and validation. Hitchens was good at it until he became bad at it and it became transparent with his fawning over and attempting to justify the war mongers with his atheist screeching. Ironic that the war mongers are so whole heartedly Christian. The hypocrisy is so self-serving and laughable.<br /><br />Genpo will never be included in that crowd because he expects to be the one fawned over. He would at best be tolerated as an amusing entertainment provider and/or spiritual conscience soother just as Deepak Chopra and Eckhart Tolle are. If they think those in the box seats for their presentations hear what they say or moreso actually take it to heart, then they are far more deluded than the rabble in the orchestra pit.NellaLouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07247769132258539996noreply@blogger.com