Informed Speculation

Well, you may have heard the bad news by now…Christopher Hitchens, a writer of considerable courage and integrity, as well as rarely surpassed erudition and elegance, has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer.  Hitchens is the sort of writer who has offended almost everyone at some point, but he has consistently, in his days of association with both the left and, if not the right, at least the pro-Iraq War faction of the right, stood up for the underdog in the face of oppression.  He has also compiled a long record of distinguished literary criticism, and has established himself as one of the few intellectuals of modern punditry.

Suffice to say, I am a huge fan, and have been for some time.  It is with considerable sadness that I ponder the implicatons of the prognosis, as just a little research quickly revealed appallingly low survival rates for this particular type of cancer.  The odds are stacked against him, and in an irony that will not escape him, thousands of people across the entire political spectrum are praying for this famously proud atheist  to be the rare exception to the rule. 

Regardless, he’s not dead yet, and while there is breath, there is hope, so let’s not make this a premature obituary.  I’m pulling for you, Hitch – I truly am.  Hang tight and fight with all of your considerable might…