This aired last night. Burns comes in at about 11:51 minutes, and she does a great job against Stewart's predictable jabs and objections. (Read more...)
Rand used skyscrapers all the time for the reason you gave as well as the fact that they were created and built by free men.
The pyramids, on the other hand, conjure images of slaves busting their backs by the whim of a brat calling himself Ra.
Please don't take offense but I would hasten to liken your criticism to that of the post-modern liberal complaint about some of the Founding Fathers owning slaves and -- by nothing more than crude association -- vilifying America. The pyramids are great regardless. America is great regardless. Both are fascinating things created by man.
Yes, that's exactly how I read Doug. He has a fundamental hatred of human accomplishment, and that's why he questions the appropriateness of a monument to death, erected by slave labor, as a symbol of human achievement. Doug, BTW, is not only a postmodernist, he's also a Ne-o-con.
No offense taken, Ed. Here is my reasoning. When selecting for metaphors, especially while crafting a grand artistic vision, select for lack of associative baggage.
Quit calling Doug a 'NeYoKhan.' I'm not trying to portray him as one. Yet you're trying to portray me as trying to portray him as a Machiavello-NeoCon-Straussian -- and I just won't stand for that kind of skullduggery from a character like you. You have the manners of a pitbull.
Doug,
I agree and I concede the good point about the associative baggage.
I stopped by the mall I used to frequent as a teenager. The old Barnes and Noble is closed, moved to a larger nearby venue. I decided to look for Burns' book in the "Borders Express." It wasn't on the shelf. The guy behind the counter had never heard of it. Also, while they didn't stock American Scientist, they did have XXX porn. Last time I'll shop there.
Borders Express, Deptford Mall, Deptford NJ. Surely you don't lack for furry porn? (I very much doubt they carry it.)