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Ayn Rand On Christmas

Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 7 years, 12 months ago to The Gulch: General
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"The charming aspect of Christmas is the fact that it expresses good will in a cheerful, happy, benevolent, non-sacrificial way. One says: “Merry Christmas”—not “Weep and Repent.” And the good will is expressed in a material, earthly form—by giving presents to one’s friends, or by sending them cards in token of remembrance . . . ." Ayn Rand

Happy holidays fellow Gulchers,
O.A.

P.S. Credit where due: This article was authored by The Sword_of_Apollo
https://www.galtsgulchonline.com/Swor...
SOURCE URL: https://objectivismforintellectuals.wordpress.com/2015/12/20/ayn-rand-on-christmas/

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  • Posted by $ puzzlelady 7 years, 12 months ago
    It's nice that Rand saw the charming aspects of lights and cheer and good will in Christmas celebrations. I cannot hide from the original premise that mankind is to be happy because the man was born who would become a blood sacrifice to "save" all of mankind from the wrath of his "father". That is a very sick meme that all the gifts cannot obscure.

    Let's by all means celebrate good will and human intelligence and collaboration by which our lives have risen immensely above the survival level of early populations and even some that struggle today. Yet "our Savior is born" is the driving theme emotionally at which good Christians are to rejoice. Blood sacrifice is what they are cheering. And that is also the premise on which perpetual wars are justified.

    Human cooperation, division of labor, peaceful trade have made possible a quality of life where everyone can be safe, comfortable, with enough food and daily needs, a surplus of cultural creativity and pleasures. That is worth celebrating--the many individuals whose benevolent working together makes material and intellectual progress possible. Let's put the ghoulish memes behind us. Happy New Year!
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  • Posted by $ puzzlelady 7 years, 12 months ago
    I'm all for benevolence. So I tolerate that great masses of people believe that a child was born so that he could grow up to become a blood sacrifice demanded of him by his "father" so that all the rest of humanity would be "saved". What an insane concoction. But then any belief can take root and grow into incoherence when severed from its moorings in reality. It would be hilarious if not the cause of most of the miseries humans inflict on themselves and each other.

    Here's hoping the new year will see some rationality emerging from the hysteria. Happy New Year, all, and a good psycho-epistemology.
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  • Posted by Sword_of_Apollo 7 years, 12 months ago
    Thanks for posting my little blog essay. :-)
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    • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 7 years, 11 months ago
      Hello Sword_of_Apollo,
      It is good to hear from you. It is my pleasure to direct people to articles like yours. I wish I had more time to write more original articles for this blog, but I have a business to run and time is a precious commodity. Finding appropriate and worthy articles that say what I would like to are a real benefit to me and our readers. If I can increase the traffic to your blog that is a good thing too right?
      Regards,
      O.A.
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  • Posted by ProfChuck 7 years, 12 months ago
    If charity is chosen it is a blessing. If charity is imposed it is a profound evil.
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    • Posted by ewv 7 years, 12 months ago
      "What I am fighting is the idea that charity is a moral duty and a primary virtue." -- Ayn Rand.
      Choosing to take on that irrational altruist burden does not make it a blessing. Charity as a rational benevolence depends on the worthiness of the recipient and on what you can afford. It's not a matter of "choice" versus imposition of the traditional false idea. Altruism voluntarily accepted is just as evil.
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  • Posted by $ SarahMontalbano 7 years, 12 months ago
    I'm late to the party, but Merry Christmas to all! I spent the 24th, 25th, and 26th visiting family- without internet. Ah! Oh well, I survived without my favorites here in the Gulch.
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  • Posted by roneida 7 years, 12 months ago
    Again, "Merry Christmas" hopefully President Trump will be America's reward for observing , thinking and doing something about the disgusting political mess WE have allowed ourselves to create. Best wishes.
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    • Posted by ewv 7 years, 12 months ago
      "We" didn't create the mess and Trump shows no signs of fixing it https://www.galtsgulchonline.com/post...
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      • Posted by roneida 7 years, 12 months ago
        The editorial "we" is meaningless. If one is not part of the solution, heshe is part of the problem and is quilty of doing nothing but doing nothing, Pretending to be oblivious and innocent is a cop out. We are all guilty of permitting witless fools to take over our government for the last 16 years. we are lucky to get out alive with the determined enemies our incompetent leaders have shrunk away from.Political correctness and butt kissing in the hopes of being perceived as well intentioned leads to persecution for weakness.
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  • Posted by Blanco 7 years, 12 months ago
    I admire Ayn in many ways, but in what Christmas means we are diametrically opposed. As a libertarian and Christian, it is for me the time to celebrate the birth of Christ. A felicitous Christmas wish to all my fellow Gulchers!

    Blanco
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    • Posted by Sword_of_Apollo 7 years, 12 months ago
      So, you wish to celebrate the birth of someone who is supposed to have said, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even their own life--such a person cannot be my disciple"? (Luke 14:26)

      The Bible admonishes us in many places to sacrifice our worldly happiness on Earth for the sake of "treasure in heaven." (Matt. 19:21, Phil. 3:8-9, 2 Tim. 2:3-4) If you wish to live by this, then Ayn Rand shouldn't be very admirable to you.

      I recommend this post of mine: https://objectivismforintellectuals.w...
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  • Posted by $ MikeMarotta 7 years, 12 months ago
    Thanks for the link to what I assume is your own blog. I also appreciate the link to "Two Steps from Hell." I found them via Pandora.

    Merry Newtonmas!
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    • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 7 years, 12 months ago
      Hello MikeMarotta,
      Merry Newtonmas! :)
      I did not author the article. It was authored by the Gulch's, Sword_of_Apollo. We do not hear enough from Sword...
      Hope you are enjoying the holidays,
      O.A.
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