Mr. Smart Guy

Wifey and I went to a lecture last night, over at Temple Judea in the Gables. We saw Cristopher Hitchens, famous atheist and public intellectual, in a talk sponsored by our favorite bookstore, Books and Books.

The event was sold out, and owner Mitch Kaplan had a surprise: Hitchens talk would actually be a "conversation" with their friend Dave Barry. It was terrific --sort of the nerdy literary equivalent of going to a concert and another rock star shows up.

That happened to us once at a Springsteen show at the AAA. As Wifey and I were waiting pre show, she said the only other act she'd want to see live would be U2. An hour later, Bono came out on stage, followed by the great Dion!

OK, so maybe that was more exciting than last night. Still...Hitchens was wonderful. He knew his audience, and started his talk by saying that while he was an atheist, he learned late in life that his mother was a Russian Jew, and purposely hid the fact from him so he wouldn't experience England's subtle anti-semitism ("like in Chariots of Fire"). Also, he said, his wife and daughter were Jews, and some said although he isn't a Jew, he's sort of Jew-ish. The crowd loved it.

He told tales of nearly being killed in Beirut, and of his Methodist childhood, and how he came to reject belief in the invisible man in the sky.

He also advocated fighting stupidity at least a bit each day. He writes a daily email to the Washington Post excoriating them for publishing horoscopes.

Dave Barry talked about being on Bill Maher's show with him, and learning never to debate him. The man recalls everything he's ever read, which is everything. And, his lilting British accent make him a killer debater.

Some audience members asked questions. I recognized a man waiting in line --the Irish born monsignor of Miami's richest church --Epiphany. He wanted to stump Hitchens, and actually asked a good question about how there can be love and beauty without God --quoting Malcolm Muggeridge.

But then, the monsignor, trying to show how cool and hip he was, said how he visited Temple Judea often, and was a good friend of Rabbi "Goldstein." Many in the crowd shouted a correction: Rabbi GoldBERG!" The wise ass priest had been reduced to the barfly from the great "Iceberg-Ginsberg!" joke about Jews causing the Titanic sinking. It was precious.

Nonetheless, Hitchens explained how he can admire, and even worship the beauty of the Parthenon, without following the pagan rituals (including human sacrifice) that caused it to be built.

We attended with our friends Dr. Dave and Maureen, and we went outo for coffee afterwards (in honor of Hitchens, I had tea). We chatted with our fellow empty nesters, and 2 of D2's friends came by --both fellow Gators. They talked excitedly about heading up to UF and beginning college.

We were all elevated. It's terrific to be in the presence of someone smarter than you, and Hitchens, last night, was that guy.