Any Rand

[Paul Mackin]

Michael Kenny wrote:

>
>
> >From: Paul Mackin >To: pynchon-l at waste.org >Subject: Re: Any Rand 
> >Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 10:25:25 -0400 > >To me the interesting thing 
> about her doesn't involve her bad >writing or not very well thought 
> out philosophy but is the cult like >assemblance of her fans, who so 
> desperately need a spokesperson to >lift them from their disaffected, 
> marginalized positions in society, >someone of whom they can say on 
> reading her that it changed their >lives.Bla bla bla. > > >You also 
> hear this kind of thing about Pynchon sometimes right here >on the 
> p-list but I trust it doesn't apply to a majority of his >readers and 
> besides Pynchon is actually a good writer.
>
> You think a majority of Ayn Rand's readers are rabid, cult-like 
> followers?  Millions of people have read her books--how many 
> objectivists 'cult members' do you know of the people who have read 
> her books?
>
>
Approximately one hundred.  How many do you know?

But in your favor, I don't think, in spite of my respect for Rob, that 
Ayn Ra nd's racism is much of an issue. At this point in time the term 
is too amorphous for intelligent use. In the history of the world one 
group always pretty much distrusts and belittles the other group. Even 
back in the days when we were all one color, whatever that color 
happened to be.
If you want my opinion, the term racism should be reserved for 
"scientific" arguments that it is morally OK to treat blacks or Jews or 
any given "other"as nonhuman, with the understanding that racism always 
comes AFTER the pariah group has already been treated subhumanly. 
Probably for economic reasons. They provide cheap labor or they have 
something someone wants.
.

I consider cults very exciting. I'd like to join one but just haven't 
yet found the right fit.

P.