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 Suppose you're reading a novel in which the hero seems to be an individualist, and you have been starved for such a novel. In the first chapter, the hero turns down a very good job, rather than conform to the ideas of others. You feel a strong emotion of admiration and pleasure, and this emotion, quite validly, is important to you. It's the kind of emotion you do want to feel. Well, at this point, you can do one of two things. You can continue to perceive, to see what the book is about, to judge what you've been reading — or you can lose yourself in the pleasure you feel, focus only on it, look only for ways to maintain it, ignoring and evading any evidence that might contradict it. Then, as you continue to read the novel, the hero is shown establishing a socialistic cooperative, which, he says, will once and for all solve the problem of jobs for everyone. Well, if your mind is functioning rationally, you will perceive that you have made a mistake — that is, that whatever this book is preaching it isn't individualism. But, if you've focused on maintaining your emotion at any price, then you'll rationalize it by any means possible. You'll tell yourself that the hero really believes in his ideal, and this makes him an individualist; or that he's fighting for his idea, and this makes him an individualist, so that he's still a hero, et cetera, etc., etc. And you can read the whole book this way, reading into it what you want to find, explaining away what doesn't fit your desires, blinding yourself, destroying your perception for the sake of your emotion. A year later you might read the same book in a different mood and ask yourself, in helpless amazement: "Why did I think what I thought?"
Barbara Branden
"Efficient Thinking" The Vision of Ayn Rand
"After Obama's election, I felt as close to hopelessness about this country's future as I've ever felt. But now I see a possible ray of hope. It may be that Republicans -- since at this point they have nothing to lose, and in the face of the disaster to which Obama is leading us -- will finally return to to the principles that once animated their party, and particularly to the defense of capitalism. And it might even happen that the controls Obama will establish, with their concomitant impoverishment of the country, will awaken the American voter to the fact that freedom is to his best interest, not entitlements and Big Brother. If both those things were to happen, then the long agony that faces us will have been worthwhile."
Barbara Branden
Palin's ignorance of the fruit fly is exceeded only by Obama's ignorance of economics, history, diplomacy, the American Constitution, the Bill of Rights, freedom, justice, common sense, and morality.
Barbara Branden
http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=6184&view=findpost&p=58851
Jody, you asked James: "Then what exactly is your quarrel James?" Here is the response he attempted to post, but his posts are not being accepted (nor are mine):
Barbara Branden
private email
I am so fortunate to have found, on Solo and elsewhere, people who are self-aware, women who have earned the right to be treated as equals, individuals who recognize and appreciate my value. These are the people who have everything to do with me; they enrich my life and I rejoice in their existence.
Barbara Branden
Jennifer Iannolo's New Mantra
Taking authorial responsibility for your post is a basic courtesy, so please sign each of your postings.I discourage the use of pseudonyms. Such a practice greatly reduces the value of a posting, and lowers the quality of the list as well. Being responsible for the words that you post is a basic tenet of communication.
Barbara Branden
Another web site
Fortunately, Solo is not respectable.
Barbara Branden
On Writing forum thread - Post 7
SOLO has given me something I badly needed. And that is contact with Objectivists and/or Objectivist fellow travelers who have none of the intellectual rigidity and emotional repression, none of the spiritual straitjacket of duty, that are so prevalent elsewhere. So many of you appear to have taken the best of Ayn Rand and Objectivism, and left the rest. It is a great joy to me to see it. [SOLOHQ, Going Home thread, March 7]
Barbara Branden
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