...is a question that I’ve asked myself lately. As I’ve waded into the various right- and left-leaning blogs, his name seems to appear with regularity.
In an attempt to characterize, I found a number of people refer to him as liberal. Certainly, as a columnist for Vanity Fair, one might easily accept the stereotype.
Further research reveals that he has spent a good deal of time writing for decidedly left publications, including The Nation and Harper’s (aka, the Journal of American Self-Loathing).
And yet, as I browse some recent articles on the web, I find him resolutely defending the war in Iraq as a battle against real fascism (as opposed to “fascism” as an all-purpose expletive currently used by a Tourettic left.)
The short version of the story is that he has, over time, grown weary of, and simply outgrown, the modern American liberal. Some folks develop and evolve their views, and do so without fear of peer rejection. Others, well, they are deeply frightened of the possibility of rejection by their peers, or by having to justify their views in an independent way.
Mr. Hitchens has shown encouraging, call it thrilling, intellectual growth and independence. His most recent polemic, “A War to Be Proud Of” appears in the Weekly Standard, of all places.
So who is he? He fits the mold of a rambling and history-intoxicated writer. His words are highly personal -- he makes very strong and factual arguments but ultimately communicates that he can only speak for himself. His paper trail is long.
Here’s my thing: I don’t much care on which team you consider yourself to be, or whom you despise. Hate Bush? Great, but be on the right side of the issues (e.g. Thomas Friedman). Few people have the independence of mind to argue and defend issues on their merits -- it is much easier to join a team.
Mr. Hitchens is displaying many signs of such independence, and it’s exciting to read. You won’t easily pigeonhole him, and you won’t easily follow him.
Is he a clear and independent voice, or an onanistic blowhard? TBD. But I dig the ride.
For further reading:
Michael Kazin gives us a well-written history in Dissent.
An enormous accounting of his writing, at HitchensWeb.com.
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