I am an Objectivist and its my first post and it's my birthday and I got this in the email today:

The following letter was published today, December 1, in Canada's National Post.
Dear Editor:

Re: Aesop For Capitalists, Algis Valiunas, Nov. 29.

Algis Valiunas smears Ayn Rand while pretending to offer an objective account of her life and philosophy.

He derides Ayn Rand's "unlimited faith" in reason, even though her confidence in reason resulted not from faith, but from the observation of countless instances of reason's efficacy. He says Ayn Rand's heroes "sound as tyrants," while knowing full well that he can't produce a single example where they (in contrast to her villains) act as tyrants. He ridicules Rand's belief in the possibility of a human society where men are free to use their minds and pursue their happiness as a "utopian fantasy." He characterizes as "Castro-like mad zealotry" the speech where Rand gives a moral defense of the rights of the individual, and where she denounces all forms of coercion and collectivism. He also falsely accuses her of "writing half-truths" and of "charlatanry"--without, of course, offering a single example of each.

Ayn Rand lived her life as the fictional heroes she created lived theirs: with a full and unyielding commitment to reality, reason and the achievement of personal happiness.

Valiunas's smear of Ayn Rand and her philosophy should not discourage people from reading her books and benefiting from her ideas. For those who value their own lives and seek their own happiness, Ayn Rand's ideas are priceless.

David Holcberg, Ayn Rand Institute, Irvine, Calif.

I would add that objective (ist?) men, because they do put themselves first are truly desiring me and not just saying it because they "should" and THAT's got to be the best compliment a woman can get.

>Objective men turn me on for these reasons:
>They are realistic when they make plans,
> if they say it then it will happen.

I just wanted to point out something on these concepts. Let's go back to Rand to make the point in context.

Dominique Francon met Howard Roark (in Fountainhead) while he was working at a Rock Quarry. [He wanted to build buildings - build them 'his' way - but no one in the 'conformist' world would let him.]

Dagney Taggert couldn't find John Galt even though he was right under her nose because she couldn't possibly imagine he might be working as a common hand on her own railroad. [he could have been out building things for the entire world, instead he chose to build for himself and those few who could see the value in the things he built]

My point being, don't be quick to see someone as a good objectivist example simply by way of the things they appear to be doing or not doing. Or by what they plan and make happen. As someone who is doing their own real life stretch in the equivalent of the quarry, I can tell you there really are some real life equivalent scenarios to those found in her books....

TreII28