Continuing with our Star Trek theme today, I’m going to bend the acceptable-language rules a trifle to share the above, which George Takei himself posted on Facebook earlier today. I think he got it from here…
The title, of course, is only a slight rewording of Ms. Rand’s classic treatise, The Virtue of Selfishness.
Randians kept reminding us that “Atlas Shrugged” Still Flying Off Shelves!
I’ll bet this title would sell as well. I might buy a copy, just to be seen on my bookshelf.
Darla “douchebag” Moore on Ayn Rand: Ms. Moore, a benefactor of the University of South Carolina,spoke of her debt to Rand in 1998, when the business school at the university was named in Ms. Moore’s honor. “As a woman and a Southerner,” she said, “I thrived on Rand’s message that only quality work counted, not who you are.”
I would rather be a successful douchebag than an unsuccessful leech on society.
I didn’t realize those were my only two choices.
“I would rather be a successful douchebag”
Well, Doug, one outta two ain’t bad.
KIDDING!
Ditto what Doug Ross said. I’ve strived to live my life according to objectivist principles, and they’ve done pretty well for me so far. I’m still regretting not going into architecture, or running a railroad though.
I will go so far as to say this — when I was required to read “Anthem” when I was in junior high in New Orleans, I enjoyed it.
Of course, it was a book well tailored to that reading level, and also had a theme that had great affinity for people that age — the whole idea of going off (with one’s girlfriend) and living a life apart from a society that did not deserve one’s sterling qualities had great appeal.
I also enjoyed Ibsen’s “Enemy of the People” later, when I was a senior in high school, for similar reasons. The money quote: “A minority may be right; a majority is always wrong.” Yeah! Effin’ A! And also, “…the strongest man in the world is the man who stands most alone.”
But as an adult, I came gradually to appreciate the meaning of community, and the ultimate value of service to others. And that image of the supreme individual, scornful of a society full of his inferiors, came more and more to look like the sort of impulse that leads to fascism.
I’ve also come to wonder about that teacher, choosing that book for such impressionable young minds.
I didn’t wonder at the time, though. I thought she was really cute. Dark hair, piled up on top of her head in a way that was fashionable at the time (I think it was the 1965-66 school year, about where “Mad Men” is now). Big eyes.
But my favorite English teacher from that period was someone I liked for different reasons — Mr. Kramberg, probably my first male teacher ever.
I remember only three things about him after all this time, though:
1. He read the original short story that later became “Flowers for Algernon” to us aloud in class. That seemed really weird at first — reading to big kids like us. But I really got into the story, and was fascinated by Daniel Keyes’ innovative use of language — with the beginning of the story being written as though by a borderline retarded man. It motivated me to read the whole novel, which I think most people would have thought a bit old for me.
2. Our school became integrated while I was there. Before it happened, Mr. Kramberg brought up the subject and encouraged us to ask any questions and air any concerns we might have. I don’t remember details of what was said; I just remember his matter-of-fact courage in having an open discussion of such a sensitive subject, in order to help his students deal constructively with the transition.
3. He had to leave us to go to Vietnam. I don’t know what ever happened to him.
@ Brad – progris riport 1 jewn 8
Mr. Kramberg says I should rite down what I think and remembir and evrey thing that happins to me from now on. My name is Braddie Warthen and I used to be an EPE at McClatchy where Mr. McClatchy gived me 11 dollers a week and newspapur or maguzines if I want. I am 58 yeres old and next munth is my brithday. I tolld Mr. Kramberg and Mr. Sulu I can’t rite gud but he sais it dont matter he says I shud rite just like I talk and like I rite editurials in The State newspapur where I go werk 7 days a week on my time off. Mr. Sulu says to rite a lot evrything I think and evrything that happins to me but I cant think anymor because I have nothing to rite so I will close for today…yrs truly Brad Warthen.
I can honestly not believe that that “progris riport” got approved!
So you HAVEN’T read either of Rand’s major novels, “Atlas Shrugged” or “The Fountainhead”, yet feel qualified to judge the character of those who have read them and agree with the themes?
I just finished re-reading The Fountainhead for the third time over the last decade.
I would think women would love the two books – the lead female character in each is a strong, smart, independent woman. And the Fountainhead’s last third deals with a Hearst-like newspaper publisher.
Who has presumed “to judge the character of those who have read them and agree with the themes?”
Certainly not I. I didn’t say a word about those who dig Ayn.
And Silence: I laughed out loud!
@ Brad – Glad you liked it!
… and I’m sure that, after you undergo the operashun, your spelling will get much better!
That’s a great book. Sad, though.
@Brad
Oh, I get it. You were just reporting the news.
No different than the people who make claims about Catholics without ever having been inside the church.
I’ll give Ayn Rand mixed reviews. She did correctly perceive that intuition, instinct and other forms of “reasoning” based on non-data driven factors is bogus. She also discounted supernatural beliefs including any kind of diety.
On the other hand, her obsession with lassiez-fair capitalism is misguided.