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To: D. Long who wrote (4149)	12/14/2002 4:56:59 AM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 6901

For me, the touchstone of Rand's character was her relationship with Nathaniel Branden, who makes me cringe. That whole thing makes me cringe. The way he (and his wife Devers) capitalize on her memory after her death makes me cringe. Ick.

To: D. Long who wrote (4149)	12/14/2002 11:06:33 AM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6901

doesn't account for empathy, so it has no room for compassion. It accounts for both, it just starts off by saying is is not an obligation. "The Virtues of Selfishness" was the core of her writing, and the one that really made the collectivists hate her. Any type of forced group action depends on instilling guilt in you. They must make you feel you owe it. The sacrifice of the individual for the good of the group is at the core of Marxism. Objectivists have gone after the "Slavery" concept involved in the present "Community Service" programs pushed by Powell. If you want to help poor people, fine. But realize that you are doing it for selfish reasons. You would rather help poor people than do something else. It makes you feel good. But you are not obligated to do it, and you do not become better than others by doing so. If you want to spend your life bathing lepers in Bangladesh, go right ahead, just don't expect me to nominate you for Sainthood.

To: D. Long who wrote (4149)	12/16/2002 1:38:15 PM
From: FaultLine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6901

Charity to me, to use one of your examples, is compassion for one that is overcome by events beyond their control. We are rational agents responsible for our actions, but not all circumstances are "deserved" - they are the result of misfortune. Compassion is recognizing the injustice of the misfortune, and desiring to rectify that injustice. Hi D. Long; Your comments reminded me of a passage I recently read. In this brief quote, the author is discussing the fresco, Virtues and Vices of Padua, and makes an arresting comment on the virtue Charity: "Later on, when, in the course of my life, I had occasion to meet with, in convents for instance, literally saintly examples of practical charity, they have generally had the brisk, decided, undisturbed, and slightly brutal air of a busy surgeon, the face in which one can discern no commiseration, no tenderness at the sight of suffering humanity, and no fear of hurting it, the face devoid of gentleness or sympathy, the sublime face of true goodness." Swann's Way, p.81 --fl@elementsofreality.com