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Step It Up!
by Tyson Russell

Step it up!

"Fight with the radiant certainty and the absolute rectitude that yours is the Morality of Life and that yours is the battle for any achievement, any value, any grandeur, any goodness, any joy that has ever existed on this earth..."
- Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.

Big changes are afoot! I know that if others start to be as open about their knowledge of and experience with the ideas of Ayn Rand and corollary ideas as I have been in my personal life of late, many wrong and evil things can be rid of.

It took the implicit cooperation of thousands, but as a result of mild references here and there since the 'bailout' policies were initiated by the US Government, Ayn Rand and respect for her ideas are no longer taboo. And if it is to remain that way, rather than just be a fad, her devotees need to 'come out of the closet.'

Like any significant watershed moment for things like women's equality or the acceptance of gays, now is such a time for Ayn Rand's ideas. Those who feared being chastised before for simply enjoying Rand's work no longer have to worry. The climate is right; don't be afraid to 'come out.'

Coming out of the closet in this context means going from being an implicit to an explicit admirer. This means rather than simply laughing at the TV when a 'bailout' policy is announced, you go to work the next day and when the bailout comes up at the water cooler, you mention how your knowledge of Ayn Rand's ideas helps you to understand why a 'bailout' is oh so wrong.

So what can you do to 'come out?' Here are some ideas...

1. As above, mention Rand by name, if pertinent, in the discussion of current affairs with others.

2. Get that copy of The Fountainhead out from under your bed. Display it on your bookshelf for all friends and family members to see.

3. Write about Rand. If you have been wanting to write a letter based in Rand's ideas to your local newspaper or a website, feel comfortable doing it.

4. Lower your tolerance for evil and wrongdoing. In discussion, debate, etc. simply mention that "those ideas" or "that way of thinking" is no longer acceptable and won't be tolerated by you.

5. Use them. Demonstrate to yourself how incorporating the values Rand espoused into your life does bring about a better life, your life.

and 6. Practice the concept popularized by Brian Tracy of zero-base thinking. Zero-base thinking is saying to yourself, "Knowing what I now know, what action, situation, or relationship, would I not have got into if I had to do it over." Move your life forward by truly respecting 'what you now know.'

A bonus that goes along with these actions and behaviours is that you will come across others who will 'simply come out' to you because of your demonstrated confidence.

In conclusion, the popularity of and respect for Rand's ideas are on the rise. The amount of this rise, in our time, depends on the explicit behaviour of those who respect her work. And whether this rise is to be a factor of 1, 2, or 3 is yet to be seen. However, what is certain is that a better, more joyous life for you tomorrow and future generations hangs in the balance.

Stand up! Be a person of integrity and moral confidence. Shed your fear of reprisal. And make your life an example of what ought to be.

Thank you and all the best,

Tyson Russell
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