Ayn Rand

[fpb]

There is one person in HP fandom who detested me instinctively, and whom I detested with equal intensity, almost as soon as we became aware of each other. Now I have found out why. She is an Ayn Rand fan. I am, to begin with, too old to put up with Rand's infantile attempts at philosophy - she is one of those people who managed to remain mentally fifteen all their lives - but I also have my roots in European Socialism and Christian Democracy, of all political views in the world the most offensive to an Objectivist (as her cultists arrogantly call themselves). Rand was a disaster and a hypocrite in real life, and her doctrines are only rescued from having to be called revolting by their sheer, self-parodying stupidity. One would think that anyone over the age of sixteen would be able to see through such obiter dicta as "altruism is the root of all evil" or her praise of the dollar sign; alas, America is still full of people without enough culture or self-understanding to see through this sort of thing. One of the things that make Europe still superior to America is that there is no way that a Rand phenomenon could ever take place among us. We do have our follies, but ultra-individualism is not one of them.

Comments

Re: Hey, watch what you say about the U.S.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

If your professors are actually telling you, abusing their responsibility as educators, that the only reason why anyone (let alone European countries that are, on average, MORE prosperous than the US - check your facts before you speak) should take an anti-US position is "envy", they ought to be sacked: they are not fit for their jobs. The reasons for disliking specific features of American society are many and various. I am personally quite sympathetic with the Catholic wing of the American conservative spectrum, and regularly read such magazines as FIRST THINGS, CRISIS, THE WANDERER, CULTURE WARS and so on. I regard, however, with intense distaste the non-religious right, where I believe Rand and Objectivism to be major influences. As for her abiding presence in American culture, you should check various "favourite books" or "favourite scenes" threads in Fiction Alley, where you would find several people quoting her directly.
My view of American culture is largely positive, and if you had ASKED me instead of loading me with expletives and unwarranted hypotheses, I would have told you so. I believe that in many areas, Americans have been among the finest figures in the twentieth century (no other country, for instance, boasts an architect remotely to be compared with Frank Lloyd Wright), and that in popular culture throughout the world American influence has been and remains, in the main, benignant and enlivening. (I exclude most Hollywood "action" movies.) From Bruce Springsteen to Jack Kirby, most of my artistic heroes of the recent past are American, and I have just added Garth Brooks to the number after being introduced to his music by Jennilee.
It so happens, Stephanie, that I like you, too. Which is why I have not taken your head off about your various misrepresentations and general defensiveness and arrogance. But Ayn Rand is a peculiarly American phenomenon; it is a poisonous phenomenon; and whether or not you personally are protected from her influence by the fact of your family being Catholic, her influence is unfortunately still with us. If I had had to criticize Italian or British culture and politics - which you know perfectly well I do freely - I would have regarded any appeal to patriotism or whatever as a pure red herring. Patriotism does not defend what is bad in one's country, rather it is the first to criticize it. (Patriotism is one thing I have written about: http://www.livejournal.com/users/fpb/22050.html)

I would really like this to be over now. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

Re: Hey, watch what you say about the U.S.

[thepreciouss.livejournal.com]

If this is true, then, I sincerely beg your pardon.

Sometimes I get quiet overwraught when it starts to feel as if all conflicts boil down to the United States versus the rest of the world.

Anyway, have a happy Christmas in lovely Italy.