Another word or two on Hitchens

Love him or hate him, it is impossible to ignore the manner in which he faced his death and the impact that has on people.

He didn't alter his basic views and beliefs on life and death as he faced his own, and he had the courage and commitment to his beliefs to speak openly of what he was dealing with and how he felt about his own end.

That gives strength to his arguments and should silence critics who say there is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole.  But it won't.

What it will do is help more open minded people come to terms with the inevitability of death and how it is a natural part of life.  It helps those of us who do not believe in an afterlife prepare with some of our own eventual questions and fears concerning how we will meet our own end.

For this, I am personally grateful to the man.  We all die.  How we meet that end is something hopefully we can manage and lessen the pain of those we love who are left behind.

Understanding the inevitability of death and seeing someone like Hitchens meet his own with grace and honesty is one of his last gifts to us.  He didn't have to be so public.  He could have spent his final months privately with those closest to him, but he showed, through his last few months, that despite his abrasiveness, despite his harsh criticisms of our species, his drive was one of caring, not of spite.

One more bit of music, then goodbye.  But not forgotten.