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August 7th, 2010
10:42 AM ET
Video: Extended interview: Hitchens on cancer and atheism
Editor's Note: Watch a new extended version of Anderson's revealing interview with author Christopher Hitchens.
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Filed under: 360° Interview • Anderson Cooper • Christopher Hitchens |
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God bless you Christopher, even though you don't believe. I do love to listen to you. You are a wonderful man. My daughter is going through Chemo now and having a rough time of it. I"ve had cancer twice and almost through the fifth year. I wish you a lot of love and do hope you beat it.
Hi Anderson, fascinating interview. Some may not agree with his views on God and religion, but if you listen carefully, he's right on the mark. You can't help but respect the man. My own personal view is, everything happens for a reason. I remember a classmate of mine, then 14 years old at the time. Her mother died of breast cancer. I felt so sorry for her. I wondered then if there was a God. I still do, even in the worst times of my life, although, I can't imagine what I would do if my mom died. I'd go crazy because I love her so much. It would take a long time for me to get over it and accept it. I wish Mr. Hitchens the very best.
Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington
I was very moved by the interview. I'm not an atheist, but appreciate what Christopher is saying. He's an honest man, and has my respect.
Dear Mr. Hitchen,
Sitting here (in India), listening to you talk (even about your own death) in such a 'right on spot' manner, made me shed those welled up tears.
It is so easy to just copy a youtube link and send it across to people to make a point. You make it so clear, so simple (not in a linguistic way, always) to understand. Admire your talent.
Take heart in the fact that you have run a good race – will do so till it lasts and for standing true to your being, no matter what.
With kindest regards from India.
Filomina Pawar.
Should Hitchens succumb, the world will become a much less reasonable place. He is a giant among intellectuals, his intellect being matched only by his integrity.
A very fine example of dignity.
and besides, you owe us an Austin visit.
Hi Anderson, I love you and your show very much. I must say it was good that you kept the pressure on BP during the spill because it forced them to be accountable. However, I thought you were very harsh on them and biase only towards the negative. This was a never before occurrance and would certainly take sometime to get the fix right. I thought it was unfair to have so many so called experts offering their opinion on a possible fix and expecting the government and BF to jump at their ideas. Now that it is over, you should give some thought to saying something positive about their effort. I think the Obama Administration also did well. (Pauline in Toronto Canada)
My best wishes to Christopher. I hope he beats the odds. His writings have been a great inspiration to many people, and a great encouragement to me, a non-believer for some 30 years now.
My dad, also a drinker and heavy smoker, died of this variety of cancer several years ago, so I have a more visceral understanding of how his children must be feeling. He is doing a brave thing to undergo chemo, knowing his odds. Although he says in the interview that he doesn't mind being a medical guinea pig for a treatment of his disease, he most likely is drawing his greatest hope for remission from his continuing life with them. We, his fans, want him to stay with us. He, their father, wants to stay with them.
He will, one way or another. There isn't a day I don't hear my dad's laugh in my mind. My hope for Christopher's children is that they will enjoy many, many years of hearing their father laugh in person.
hey Anderson ac 360 the fuel from BP has reach the coast of Africa In Guinea west Africa but no one is talking about it they are saying that one third of the oil is not accounted for. You can contact me at 678-608-8010 Sincerely:
Balde
horrible news about Christopher Hitchens. Stay brave, stay strong & stay true & don't let the religious zealots get you down. They have much less compassion than atheists.
Christopher is someone that I disliked the first time I met him , I thought he was a pompous ... – a few minutes later, listening to him talk, I was captivated and in awe. I am a believer so our views on God are not in tune but he has spoken and written on the many good reasons to reunite the Parthenon Sculptures and for that, he is my super hero. Watching and listening to this interview I was drawn to Christopher and his love for his children, his sadness with regards to his Mum's death and his dignity in facing up to his illness. Christopher Hitchens – you are great and marvellous.
Christopher Hitchens is suffering from the same type of cancer that my grandad suffered from. Its a Horrible way to go, and its a very hard cancer to beat, and also to pick up on, as the symptoms are very subtle like you don't eat as much, you feel a bit tired and its slightly harder to swallow (which gets harder).
Respect, admiration, gratitude, and more...We all need Hitchens to to be alive in our world for a very long time.
To all the American people ... let your President do his job!!!
He is the President, please show some respect! Also, how is he suppose to run the country when he is asked inappropriate and unproductive questions which he is obliged to answer ...
Please stop the bickering! You are a united States but yet you are so divided its just mind boggling and very sad.
Please have faith and patience in your government and your President!
Hitchens stayed a true course even in the face of the disease that will probably end his life. His thoughtful answers to Anderson's questions show Hitchens at his best – well thought out and well phrased as ever. I hope that if I am ever faced with the same illness (or a variation of that disease) I can be. My best to Mr. Hitchens and my sincere wish that he live to be as old as his father was. The national discourse will be less than it is today without his ability to play devil's advocate, his insights, and his logical well-thought out positions on the issues. Good luck Mr. Hitchens.
Hitchens stayed a true course
AC, Thank you for your interview with Christopher Hitchens. I have only recently become familiar with him and found him to be a most brilliant, inspiring writer with a list of accomplishments few can match. I made my journey from cradle catholic, to skeptic, to died in the wool atheist in the last few years, thanks to many like minded rationalists, but few can hold a candle to Christopher.
I will NOT be praying for him, but hope to honor him by taking my place in furthering the cause of rational, humanists trying to reduce the mind numbing, horrific effects of blind, ignorant religious faith in the world.
Christopher, Chin up old boy! You have made a profound difference in this world. I hope you pull through the cancer struggle, but if not, rest assured mate, you have undoubtedly inspired many others to carry on in your stead. I raise my tumbler of scotch and drink to your health. Some day I hope to share a snort with you in person.
Take care old man!
Wonder if he is afraid that if he ends up in heaven, his Mom won’t be there? If God is real, how could he let in someone who claims to have lived a life of God, but was truly evil, yet deny a person who obviously is still so deeply loved? Believing you are a good Christian should not open a gate, being a good person should and good people, are always loved.
Thank you, Anderson, for this thoughtful and respectful interview. I did watch when it aired on CNN, and now again. Only a curious and sensitive interviewer could have chosen just those questions. Learning about Christopher Hitchens' illness was devastating and I appreciate your sharing his will to live.
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