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2006-06-21 Home Front: Culture Wars

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Posted by ryuge 2006-06-21 06:03|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 "...this phrase, "perishing from an orgy of self-sacrificing"--could there be a better description of the Palestinians' suicide bomb society?"

Exactly.

I have found so much value in re-reading Ayn Rand's books (especially Atlas Shrugged, but also The Fountainhead). Years after she wrote the books, her words ring even truer today. She provides a perfect snapshot of the ideals in conflict in the 21st century's WoT: the quest for meaningful death vs. the quest for meaningful life.

Posted by Jules 2006-06-21 11:19|| 2006-06-21 11:19|| Front Page Top

#2 Rand scares the shit out of the intellectuals who've stuffed themselves full of silly nihilistic gibberish for regurgitation on cue in hopes of making someone's Idiot A-list or getting laid.

She is the anti-nihilist.

I always rather liked this one:

"The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it."
-Atlas Shrugged

Posted by Omirong Snumble8439 2006-06-21 11:41|| 2006-06-21 11:41|| Front Page Top

#3 Substitute "altruism" for "self-sacrifice" and the article is largely a Rand screed. Our world continues to be poisoned by the, largely, religious imperative that anything we do for ourselves is evil, whereas, anything we do for others is good.

Just as one is supposed to go through personality (read, "ego") death and be "reborn again", so it is that much of modern society still views ego as anathema to morality. That this is so much steaming horsesh!t manages to escape most of today's world.

The glorification of ego in no way condones sudden rampaging of the id. The upholding of ego in no way releases us from those responsibilities of the social contract. Yet, much of society would have you believe that this is true.

Much of this can be traced to the alienation of man from actual work output. No longer do we carry home the meat we have caught or food we have gathered. No longer do we bring home a share of that day's shearing or weaving. Instead, are involved in jobs that typically require a minuscule portion of our actual creative ability.

In a world that less and less often demands personal innovation, such productive throwbacks as the tenant farmer and other self-sufficient individuals are no longer held forth as worthy examples of human ability. In the obscene pursuit of unearned wealth and unmerited fame (Madonna? Regis Philbin, anyone?), actual creativity and individual excellence have been thrust into the backseat, and we all know what happens there.

In a world where one need merely touch a dial or button to hear music, in a world where one click of the remote brings you well-produced video renditions of classic literary works, people no longer have the least notion of what actual creativity involves.

Ergo, the ego, the prime mover of innovation and creativity is now held suspect and those who exhibit these tendencies are regarded as anachronistic or anti-social because they choose to pursue activities and goals not-so-easily attained as watching a soap opera/football game or swilling beer at the corner bar.

Ego is being crucified on the cross of lowest common denominator culture. Just as (The Fountainhead's) Howard Roarke is hounded for his unalloyed vision of modern architecture, just as (Atlas Shrugged's) John Galt is tortured for his unwavering allegience to the individual, so now does society regard askance those who do not kowtow to the mammon and moloch of popular culture.

In a world that increasingly demands unquestioning faith (e.g., Islam and fundamentalism in general), individuality is regarded as a virulent threat. In a political environment that every day becomes less bi-partisan and more financially unipolar (incumbents of both parties and their obsession with re-election), free thought is seen as heresey.

Welcome to the world of conformance. Welcome to homogeneity. Welcome to hell.

Posted by Zenster 2006-06-21 16:55|| 2006-06-21 16:55|| Front Page Top

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