Greetings. It's me: The world's foremost pro-American non-American. I've just finished reading the posts on this thread. I strongly disagree with Leonard Peikoff's position and practically every part of what he says and where he's coming from. From top to bottom, the whole thing is a mess. In fact I even find the original question itself quite offensive in its outlook and tone: "In view of the constant parade of jackassery which is Washington ..." Who asked this question? Was it a journalist? If so, which one? There is no link or reference. Was it Leonard Peikoff himself? Was it one of his colleagues? Was it a student at a lecture? This sort of language being publicly used to characterize the people involved in Government is hardly the tone I'd expect of someone who claims to be "The world's foremost authority on Ayn Rand's philosophy: Objectivism". It's cheap and nasty. And it's unbecoming. From its more lightweight assumptions such as "even if the two parties are both rotten" to its key assumptions "Republicans stand for religion" to its fear of America moving towards some kind of theocracy, Dr Peikoff's comments are way off the mark. "Democrats stand for socialism ... " No they don't. Sure, the Democratic Party has plenty of socialistic types of policies, but I don't see that they stand for Socialism. "Socialism—a fad of the last few centuries ... " Socialism has been a "fad"? A "fad" that has lasted a "few centuries"? Hey, that's some fad! But socialism has "been almost universally rejected for decades"? Has it been rejected? By who? Americans? The world? "Universally"? Does that mean by everyone? By the so-called left? By the intellectuals? I don't understand. Religion is "the destroyer of man since time immemorial"? I don't see how such an assertion can be made. I don't see religion as such to be a destroyer. I don't see it as the only destroyer or even as the greatest destroyer. I think its sloppy of Leonard Peikoff to lump all religions together or to treat Christianity or Christians as one consistent body. It's clear to me how destructive Islam is. But Islam is not just a religion. In what way and at what level is Christianity destructive? For one thing, Christianity as such does not, to my knowledge, advocate the use of force. After 2 years of studying Islam, I've only recently begun studying Christianity. My current project is to root out any evidence of Christian texts advocating either the use of the sword to spread its message and any evidence that Christianity advocates some combination of Church and State. So far I've found nothing. There are other issues I need to explore regarding Christianity. In particular, its position on the mind and the mind's relationship to reality. But let me point the reader to Pope Benedict XVI's amazing 9/12 speech. In this speech one of the world's leading Christian authorities: Invoked the spirit of the Ancient Greeks Criticised Kant Declared that religion/morality and coercion don't mix Leonard Peikoff claims that religion is "is now the only philosophic movement rapidly and righteously rising to take over the government." Hold on a sec! The notion that Americans could ever be moved towards a theocracyis - to put it mildly - ridiculous. Have you ever actually met an American? Have you ever listened to an American talking? Have you ever watched an American working? You should try it some day. On my two visits to the USA I made a point of chatting with as many "average Americans" as I could. This is not a people who will ever accept any sort of dictatorship - socialist, fascist, green, or theocratic. Don't be fooled by appearances. The American spirit is unique. There is nothing like it anywhere. Show me an American and I'll show you a revolutionary. Anyone who underestimates the ability and willingness of Americans to stand up and fight for liberty - their own and that of others - is in for a surprise. During my trips to the United States I met with many religious Americans. Many enthusiastically religious Americans. Driving across the USA we stopped one afternoon to have lunch at a KFC. This big guy with long hair and tatooes came up to me, gave me his card and invited me to his church. I had a pleasant chat with him. And then it struck me. It wasn't that this fellow was being wildly religious. What he was doing was being American! Americans don't wait for permission. They don't wait for things to be handed to them. They go out and get what they want. They go out and build what they need. They're self-reliant. They're high-energy. They get the job done! In America, the atheists are enthusiastic. The Scientologists are enthusiastic. The Christians are enthusiastic. The Socialists are enthusiastic. In America, they don't just play sports. They turn sports into a major event. They bring in the cheerleaders (a distinctly American phenomenon). They bring in big business and big bucks (Business is the business of America). They hype it up. They think big. They enjoy and they profit. They merchandise. They broadcast. Go! Go! Go! USA! And they do it with pride! Every American project is 1776 all over again. And that includes religion. George W Bush - whom I consider a great President - doesn't just go in to topple the Taliban or Saddam Hussein, he goes in to democratise the whole Middle East. It can be done. It should be done! I urge all American Objectivists to VOTE REPUBLICAN on Tuesday. Leonard Peikoff is out of step with all of this. Has he ever met an American?
