Thanks but no thanks! I prefer to take my facts and impressions of celebrated lives from evidence given by those who are knowledgeable and objective. This propaganda piece written by Hari is of no value.
"In 2011, Hari was accused of plagiarism and eventually admitted to it. He was suspended from The Independent and surrendered his 2008 Orwell Prize. He also admitted to making Wikipedia edits, under a pseudonym, to attack his critics, and has said that he plans to undergo training in journalism ethics."
en.wikipedia.org
His entire paper is contrived propaganda--untrue and deliberately misleading, fraudulent, and manipulative. And might I add...reprehensible.
In contrast to that propaganda piece we have real people respected the world over who knew Ayn Rand personally for most of her life. Does this sound like a liar or a sociopath to you??
facetsofaynrand.com
"Are they lying about her not liking democracy???"
I do not know who "they" are but it is neither mean nor sociopathic to critique the drawbacks of democracy as Ayn did. It was democracy that "legally" murdered Socrates.
"The American system is not a democracy. It is a constitutional republic. A democracy, if you attach meaning to terms, is a system of unlimited majority rule; the classic example is ancient Athens. And the symbol of it is the fate of Socrates, who was put to death legally, because the majority didn’t like what he was saying, although he had initiated no force and had violated no one’s rights.
Democracy, in short, is a form of collectivism, which denies individual rights: the majority can do whatever it wants with no restrictions. In principle, the democratic government is all-powerful. Democracy is a totalitarian manifestation; it is not a form of freedom . . . .
The American system is a constitutionally limited republic, restricted to the protection of individual rights. In such a system, majority rule is applicable only to lesser details, such as the selection of certain personnel. But the majority has no say over the basic principles governing the government. It has no power to ask for or gain the infringement of individual rights."
Ayn Rand
As to whether she called someone vermin, I could not say offhand because it is a valid and a good word when used correctly. know it is used in the bible. I know I have used it and I doubt I know anyone who has not used it. I would have no problem likening the propagandist you linked as displaying qualities of an obligate ectoparasite. If you show me the passage you are referring to in her own words, I would surely be glad to comment.
How about you? Have you ever called someone a gnat or a pest or a louse or vermin? Was it justified? |
