MG wrote:
> First things, first: that was a well written post, H.L. and I >enjoyed it
very much.
Yes, it was a great post. I'm always amazed by so many of you who can
remember and recite in depth the books you have read. I practically wrote a
thesis on Rand in both high school and college, but much of the details have
faded from my memory.
Harper Lou brought up the very good point that she served to champion the
individual at a time when perhaps the culture was moving toward a type of
"group think" conformity. In that way, I think she is an important
"prophet" of the 20th century alongside Joni.
> I, too, got a jolt from Rand that was similar to the Joni Jolt >but over
time and with more exposure to life, I still believe >that Rand lacks a
great deal of compassion, heart and soul.
Arguably, one could say that she must have had some kind of compassion to be
able to write about the human condition in such a deep, insightful and
compelling way. But it seems that her "precepts" do not factor in the
randomness of compassion and spirituality in the total equation. There are
factors beyond the control of any set philosophy, including hers.
> Umm, to the best of my knowledge, Ms. Rand testified for >the HUAC
hearings. Having no problem with "naming >names" of people who failed to
conform to HER
> rigid standards.
Didn't she start out as a screenwriter in Hollywood? I think that was her
first occupation. I think she also was an actress for a time. Because of
her position in Hollywood and the fact that she had just come from communist
Stalinist Russia and was vehemently anti-communist/anti-totalitarian, she
was probably ripe to have been friendly to the HUAC at that point in time.
Kakki
