Goodbye, Mr. Hitchens. You were a big influence on me.

Dec 18, 2011 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

My independence of thought started long before I ever read anything by Christopher Hitchens. I would credit many persons in Guyana, particularly Brian Rodway of the WPA, and E.M.G. Wilson of the PPP, as shaping my approach to social criticism.
My name does not travel well in peculiar circles in this land; among certain members of civil society, among the socialite society and in the business community. I run into periodic problems with the management of the Kaieteur News that I write for (see the trenchant comments of me in the many editorial notes attached to my columns, the latest being on Thursday last).
The management of Stabroek News treats my name with scorn. If I am asked if anyone in this country hates me, my honest and sincere opinion would be the co-founder of the Stabroek News, Mr. Miles Fitzpatrick.
No one in Guyana, including Presidents Burnham and Jagdeo, has been more contemptuous of and unpleasant to me than Mr. Fitzpatrick. In my memoirs I will tell readers why. But one thing you need to know is that I don’t give or will ever give a damn what certain persons say about me.
Yes, I do care about a few people who have been extremely supportive of me over a long period of time and I am sensitive about their opinions of me. The rest can go to hell. This is a brutal world we live in.
Do you think the Stabroek News editor could be bothered what I write about him? Do you think Mr. Ian Mc Donald cares what I think about his judgement on the just concluded elections?
Likewise, I conduct my political activism, human rights activities and my newspaper commentary according to how I see life and I am not or will ever be deterred by the acidic perceptions of me by a few.
Christopher Hitchens was a columnist and academic whose style has influenced me immensely. Mr. Hitchens died from throat cancer last Thursday and it was an irreparable loss to both the literary and intellectual world. I will never forget his influence on my life. I first read Hitchens in the weekly NATION when I was a doctoral student at the University of Toronto. From thereon, I bought every issue of the NATION. He had a way with words that could easily have matched V.S. Naipaul.
Christopher Hitchens started out his career as a left-wing thinker. In the eighties he became disenchanted with the Left. But he was at heart, a human rights ideologue. He called it the way he saw it. He was never afraid to speak his mind, even writing some caustic comments on Mother Theresa.
He was admired as he was vilified, but what was admirable about him was that he was unapologetically independent in his views. Long after I left the University of Toronto, Hitchens became a university professor and one of the world’s most read and influential columnists and essayists.
Hitchens was never afraid to criticize and that was what made him a household name. From the powerful American President to the globally revered Mother Theresa, Hitchens spoke his mind about all and sundry. Each time I read something about him, I would think of the hypocrisy in my country.
Those in the media, business community and in civil society that lecture to our young ones are the least that should talk open debate and tolerance for dissenting views. Yes, one day I will write my memoirs. I don’t care if it sells or not. That is not or will ever be the intention. But it will be available for the future generation of young Guyanese to read. I want to write something so myths about so-called great Guyanese could be dissolved and the newer generation could reject the foundation of hypocrisy that they have inherited.
If we had some Christopher Hitchens in Guyana, we would have been a better society, where the young respect the not so young and those with eminence could attract the admiration of our younger population.
I am typing this article four days after a letter appeared in the Stabroek News by former GuySuCo official, E.B. John, who questioned Ian Mc Donald’s description of “the integrity of the election” even before any such term was used by the international observers.
In Friday’s editorial of the Stabroek News, the paper urged our politicians to be tolerant and reasonable and advised civil society to play its part. The politicians in turn should tell the media and civil society to practice what they preach. One day, Guyana will have its quota of Christopher Hitchens.

13 thoughts on “Goodbye, Mr. Hitchens. You were a big influence on me.”

Jason Benjamin December 18, 2011 at 8:33 am

I am!
whoisnotwho December 18, 2011 at 11:26 am

Christopher Hitchins was just a man who had a way with words, nothing more. Don’t make him into something more that he was. He is best remembered for saying the deaths of 100,000 people in Iraq, 60,000 of them civillians was worth it to remove Sadaam Hussain, and his support of the war..more than he is remembered for criticisng Mother Theresa.
Burch01 December 18, 2011 at 12:40 pm

“Beware the irrational, however seductive. Shun the ‘transcendent’ and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself. Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others. Don’t be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Picture all experts as if they were mammals. Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, and all excuses. Do not live for others any more than you would expect others to live for you.”
― Christopher Hitchens

Go Freddie!……..awaiting your memoir.Could you finish it while I am on this side?
JosephCarpenter December 18, 2011 at 1:05 pm

Mr Kissoon, when a person or a few persons do not like you, you would say ‘to hell with them……..they are no good’.
But when quite a number of persons do not like you it is definitely cause for great concern. Then, you need to check your inner-self. Now that you admit that you are not liked in almost every circle, even in the social circle where you cannot even enjoy an evening drink, something is DEFINITELY wrong with you. A good advice to you is to seek immediate help from a shrink……… Dr. Veerasammy Ramaya should be most willing to help…….and make sure you do not skip the medications he may precribe.
Seek help…….ASAP.
1. psydum December 18, 2011 at 7:07 pm
  
  hahaha……… finally i get someone to agree with me!! Freddie behave as if he is God gift to Guyana!!
2. dreaddy December 19, 2011 at 1:24 am
  
  Isn’t it a fact that when (as an analyst whose job it is to criticize) you are liked by the very people you criticize, then at best you’re doing a half-assed (for want of a better term) job? If Mr. Kissoon is hated by most (as you suggest) then why is his readership so vast (including those who claim to hate him)?
BrigadierPresident December 18, 2011 at 1:20 pm

I am laughing so hard at the insolence that Freddie Kissoon thinks he can compare himself to Christopher Hitchens. You seriously have got to be kidding right?
1. psydum December 18, 2011 at 7:08 pm
  
  Ture dat Freddie need to look inward an outward for that matter!!
dreaddy December 18, 2011 at 2:49 pm

Never knew the gentleman, but he must have been someone to admire since his influence has turned out a student who is this fearless and frank about his opinion of society. It’s about time you told some of your critics where to get off. Just remember, there is a reason why you are so widely read. Had you been pandering and apologetic to Jagdeo and the so many dwarfs …er… vertically and intellectually challenged, you would not have been this widely read. I, personally, am still an avid reader of this newspaper because of your writing. Press on Brother.
1. AIBSTUDENT December 19, 2011 at 12:37 pm
  
  Freddie articles indeed add value to KN
4410 December 18, 2011 at 4:41 pm

Hitchens has permanently found out how Great GOD really is.
Mark_0 December 18, 2011 at 5:40 pm

Freddie, you have that certain GRAVITAS. As well, class, decorum and eloquence to “ruffle-the-feathers” of those sanctimonious, holier-than-thou, that I so ADMIRE of you. Especially, when you speak, ‘truth-to-power’.

Some may not like what you have to say but it is undeniable, THE TRUTH HURTS!

Keep-on-keeping-on, my brother, we are listening intensely.
rekniht December 19, 2011 at 11:29 am

prof freddie ,, as far back as i can remember readin abt all dem people who was a big influence on u ,, it’s amazing dat yuh still tun out suicidally silly !….. yuh need to stop hitching yuh dotishnis pon intlligent people ,, cos yuh meking dem look sillier dan u ! hopefully is juss silly an nat suicidal ! anyway padnah have a happy holiday ,, and doan fuhget to stan safe an healthy caz nothing else can even come close ! an juss suh yuh know ,, i doan mean no harm ,, i juss love to dig at u ,, and i know yuh blood is nat right andah yuh skin ,, ure a tough cookie ! to u and ur family ,, all the best the season can offer !… keep on keepin on !….