Fri Feb 10, 2012, 10:39 PM

Kablooie (8,863 posts)

A second grader responds to Ayn Rand.

A 2nd grader was given an Ayn Rand quote to respond to.
He wrote (in case you can't read it)

"This sounds like what a bully might say. This person might care more about themself then other people. She wants to be free from rules."

98 replies, 11707 views

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98 replies	Author	Time	Post
A second grader responds to Ayn Rand. (Original post)	Kablooie	Feb 2012	OP
I love it! nt	sufrommich	Feb 2012	#1
Got that right	FrodosPet	Feb 2012	#87
Kiddo nailed it!	Ruby the Liberal	Feb 2012	#2
This message was hidden by jury decision.	ThinkAndActForMyself	Feb 2012	#61
Tis you....	CanSocDem	Feb 2012	#64
That's hilarious, but what a weird assignment.	mrs_p	Feb 2012	#3
It's typical for here in the South	Major Nikon	Feb 2012	#12
"what stupid people think smart authors sound like." I have had this EXACT thought.	DirkGently	Feb 2012	#13
Well put	jsmirman	Feb 2012	#15
So... what is smart television for smart people?	DireStrike	Feb 2012	#52
Must just be Texas and not the entire South.	Fawke Em	Feb 2012	#38
It seems to be teacher dependent	Major Nikon	Feb 2012	#39
A.R. was on the list for SC, but we chose other authors. n/t	renie408	Feb 2012	#51
This message was hidden by jury decision.	ThinkAndActForMyself	Feb 2012	#66
'a fullgrown dumbass'	SammyWinstonJack	Feb 2012	#71
12 posts and you're still here	Major Nikon	Feb 2012	#78
Oh, that's a keeper!	Lizzie Poppet	Feb 2012	#56
Her books are what smart people think smart authors sound like	ThinkAndActForMyself	Feb 2012	#63
Give it up, already.	SammyWinstonJack	Feb 2012	#73
That's pretty much what Paul Krugman said about Newt	KamaAina	Feb 2012	#77
The Ayn Rand Foundation gives her books away for free	Nevernose	Feb 2012	#98
This message was hidden by jury decision.	ThinkAndActForMyself	Feb 2012	#62
You're obviously not the sharpest bulb on the chandelier.	The Doctor.	Feb 2012	#82
well that was a rand type word salad.	Javaman	Feb 2012	#83
Special Achievement DUzy Nomination!	rocktivity	Feb 2012	#4
SMART!	elleng	Feb 2012	#5
This message was hidden by jury decision.	ThinkAndActForMyself	Feb 2012	#67
"ThinkAndActForMyself" an Ayn Rand fan.	SammyWinstonJack	Feb 2012	#79
Yes, and having 'fun' here today, methinks!	elleng	Feb 2012	#81
Hey, teabaggers & rethugs: Are You Smarter Than a 2nd Grader?	Gidney N Cloyd	Feb 2012	#6
This message was hidden by jury decision.	ThinkAndActForMyself	Feb 2012	#68
If you're a 'randian' and your day's been made you have only yourself to thank.	Gidney N Cloyd	Feb 2012	#85
So how is 3rd grade? nt	Javaman	Feb 2012	#86
Out of the mouth of babes.	southernyankeebelle	Feb 2012	#7
+1	phasma ex machina	Feb 2012	#10
I like South Park better	thelordofhell	Feb 2012	#8
I was an Ayn Rand follower in high school. Then I got out in the real world.	rhett o rick	Feb 2012	#9
Like The Man Said......	thelordofhell	Feb 2012	#30
I wasnt familar with that quote. I guess great minds think alike. lol. Thanks. nm	rhett o rick	Feb 2012	#36
This message was hidden by jury decision.	ThinkAndActForMyself	Feb 2012	#72
This is a great quote	Lunabelle	Feb 2012	#49
You're thinking of crony capitalism, not objectivism	ThinkAndActForMyself	Feb 2012	#70
Also have the lowest paid employees. nt	Javaman	Feb 2012	#90
South Park's writers are libertarians	ThinkAndActForMyself	Feb 2012	#69
and you have a link stating that the south park writers	Javaman	Feb 2012	#91
Excellent! Says it all.	JDPriestly	Feb 2012	#11
smart kid	limpyhobbler	Feb 2012	#14
The kid is Ralph Wiggum	ThinkAndActForMyself	Feb 2012	#74
The writers on the Simpsons are Liberals.	Javaman	Feb 2012	#92
Please tell me this is real	jsmirman	Feb 2012	#16
I believe it is real. I got it from a friend on Facebook.	Kablooie	Feb 2012	#29
And it's SPECTACULAR	jsmirman	Feb 2012	#33
This message was hidden by jury decision.	ThinkAndActForMyself	Feb 2012	#75
You need to take your own advice.	devilgrrl	Feb 2012	#89
Wait, who makes a 2nd grader read Ayn Rand?	white_wolf	Feb 2012	#17
Rush 2112 album was credited to 'the genius of Ayn Rand'	flexnor	Feb 2012	#18
rush 2112 lyrics	flexnor	Feb 2012	#20
Neal Peart had a severe case of youth assholism in the 70's.	2ndAmForComputers	Feb 2012	#23
my first concious exposure to ayn rand was in the late 1990s, watching 'The Fountainhead'	flexnor	Feb 2012	#24
That's good to hear	jsmirman	Feb 2012	#25
never really liked anything after 'a farewell to kings'	flexnor	Feb 2012	#28
Indeed, he went from 2112 to Territories to The Larger Bowl.	Chichiri	Feb 2012	#31
The "larger bowl" sounds like where a lot of this stuff belongs. (n/t)	thesquanderer	Feb 2012	#44
LOL...in a way I agree	Shankapotomus	Feb 2012	#88
That's weird	jsmirman	Feb 2012	#22
Actually, it was dedicated to "the genus of Ayn Rand" (sic)	Chichiri	Feb 2012	#32
Small point, but Trees was not on 2112	Nostradammit	Feb 2012	#46
that's correct, i was not clear about that	flexnor	Feb 2012	#57
Who teaches a 2nd grader Ayn Rand? Really	LynneSin	Feb 2012	#19
no shit. 2nd grader?	spanone	Feb 2012	#40
They might want to look into penmanship and sentence construction.	underpants	Feb 2012	#47
I suspect if Josie was reading Ayn Rand...	LynneSin	Feb 2012	#48
Momma has advised me that I can't comment on her "social studies" curriculim yet	underpants	Feb 2012	#50
Bully is far too generous.	white_wolf	Feb 2012	#21
Ayn Rand provided a religion of validation and absolution to Manhatton, NY	flexnor	Feb 2012	#26
Agree with the thought; not buying the notion that a 7 year old wrote it. n/t	cherokeeprogressive	Feb 2012	#27
me too	Bucky	Feb 2012	#54
Just curious, but what is the context of this quote?	Sirveri	Feb 2012	#34
it's clearly an Ayn Rand hero.	Kablooie	Feb 2012	#35
...and a child shall lead them.	Fawke Em	Feb 2012	#37
Kids do say some of the "darndest things" :) nt	Land Shark	Feb 2012	#41
K&R nt	2 Much Tribulation	Feb 2012	#42
2nd graders get it - Gopers don't! Need I say more?	jillan	Feb 2012	#43
kids are smarter than many grown-ups!	Odin2005	Feb 2012	#45
I am deeply suspicious of this.	Bucky	Feb 2012	#53
If it is genuine	RZM	Feb 2012	#76
To be fair, Rand was openly and frankly critical of ideas like cooperation and good manners.	Bucky	Feb 2012	#96
Agreed	RZM	Feb 2012	#97
I am as well.	Johnny Rico	Feb 2012	#84
Rand's quotation sums up the American empire in a nutshell	stockholmer	Feb 2012	#55
Smart kid	Pakid	Feb 2012	#58
I am shocked that schools are teaching about an atheist like Ayn Rand.	libinnyandia	Feb 2012	#59
No, the bully would be the State.	ThinkAndActForMyself	Feb 2012	#60
Anyone who parrots Teabagger talking points	The Doctor.	Feb 2012	#80
The quote reminds me of a t-shirt Homer Simpson wore circa 2003	Arugula Latte	Feb 2012	#65
Even a Second Grader Knows the Definition of a Bully	fascisthunter	Feb 2012	#93
Mind providing sourcing?	moriah	Feb 2012	#94
post it for what it is... political commentary	fascisthunter	Feb 2012	#95

Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 10:41 PM

sufrommich (13,521 posts)

1. I love it! nt

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Response to sufrommich (Reply #1)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 04:15 PM

FrodosPet (1,035 posts)

87. Got that right

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few...or of the one"

Our duty is to the human collective, not to the individual.

Just like a cancer cell, those that do what THEY want, and not what the collective NEEDS, are a dangerous malignancy to the world.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 10:42 PM

Ruby the Liberal (23,509 posts)

2. Kiddo nailed it!

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Response to Ruby the Liberal (Reply #2)

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Response to ThinkAndActForMyself (Reply #61)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:22 PM

CanSocDem (1,557 posts)

64. Tis you....

...lacking an understanding of how the world works.

.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 10:42 PM

mrs_p (1,995 posts)

3. That's hilarious, but what a weird assignment.

I've never read Rand, but by the reviews here on DU, she sounds like she writes at about the 2nd grade reading level.

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Response to mrs_p (Reply #3)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 11:50 PM

Major Nikon (9,728 posts)

12. It's typical for here in the South

One of Ayn Rand's books often makes the reading lists for Texas high school literature classes.

Her books are what stupid people think smart authors sound like.

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Response to Major Nikon (Reply #12)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 12:44 AM

DirkGently (6,688 posts)

13. "what stupid people think smart authors sound like." I have had this EXACT thought.

It's an observation we made at home one night and still laugh about. ++

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Response to Major Nikon (Reply #12)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 12:48 AM

jsmirman (4,188 posts)

15. Well put

not always in step with your style, but I like the way you put this one.

Funny it's close to what I have always said about Family Guy, "it's 'smart' television for stupid people." Of course, a kid I grew up with is a writer for the show, and the episodes of his I've seen are pretty hilarious. And he was always very funny.

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Response to jsmirman (Reply #15)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 04:48 PM

DireStrike (5,859 posts)

52. So... what is smart television for smart people?

Limit responses to basic cable, please.

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Response to Major Nikon (Reply #12)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 10:34 AM

Fawke Em (2,556 posts)

38. Must just be Texas and not the entire South.

My son has never read Rand and he's now in the seventh grade.

We're in Tennessee.

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Response to Fawke Em (Reply #38)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 10:57 AM

Major Nikon (9,728 posts)

39. It seems to be teacher dependent

One of my kids had to read Ayn Rand in high school and the other didn't. The one that did had an obvious wingnut for a teacher.

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Response to Major Nikon (Reply #39)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 03:17 PM

renie408 (9,193 posts)

51. A.R. was on the list for SC, but we chose other authors. n/t

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Response to Major Nikon (Reply #39)

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Response to ThinkAndActForMyself (Reply #66)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:33 PM

SammyWinstonJack (35,105 posts)

71. 'a fullgrown dumbass'

You. Quite clearly.

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Response to ThinkAndActForMyself (Reply #66)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:40 PM

Major Nikon (9,728 posts)

78. 12 posts and you're still here

You must type fast.

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Response to Major Nikon (Reply #12)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 06:12 PM

Lizzie Poppet (2,376 posts)

56. Oh, that's a keeper!

"Her books are what stupid people think smart authors sound like."

Simply perfect...that's a keeper!

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Response to Major Nikon (Reply #12)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:22 PM

ThinkAndActForMyself (12 posts)

63. Her books are what smart people think smart authors sound like

You have Rand confused with Karl Marx if you think that her books are what stupid people think smart authors sound like.

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Response to ThinkAndActForMyself (Reply #63)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:35 PM

SammyWinstonJack (35,105 posts)

73. Give it up, already.

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Response to Major Nikon (Reply #12)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:39 PM

KamaAina (45,297 posts)

77. That's pretty much what Paul Krugman said about Newt

"He sounds like a stupid person's idea of what a smart person sounds like."

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Response to Major Nikon (Reply #12)

Tue Feb 21, 2012, 12:47 AM

Nevernose (8,857 posts)

98. The Ayn Rand Foundation gives her books away for free

So it's not the South, it's nationwide. For a secondary English teacher who doesn't have books or supplies, a free class set is often tempting. In fact, my wife taught Anthem last year because it was the only book available.

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Response to mrs_p (Reply #3)

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Response to ThinkAndActForMyself (Reply #62)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:48 PM

The Doctor. (17,266 posts)

82. You're obviously not the sharpest bulb on the chandelier.

Otherwise you'd have developed a social philosophy that recognizes that 'survival of the fittest' is antithetical to a civilized society.

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Response to ThinkAndActForMyself (Reply #62)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:49 PM

Javaman (40,665 posts)

83. well that was a rand type word salad.

I know you are no longer her, but I'm sure you can still read these messages.

nice fail.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 10:44 PM

rocktivity (36,633 posts)

4. Special Achievement DUzy Nomination!

Last edited Fri Feb 10, 2012, 10:45 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

This kid has got your number, Annie!

rocktivity

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 10:45 PM

elleng (40,558 posts)

5. SMART!

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Response to elleng (Reply #5)

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Response to ThinkAndActForMyself (Reply #67)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:42 PM

SammyWinstonJack (35,105 posts)

79. "ThinkAndActForMyself" an Ayn Rand fan.

How delish.

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Response to SammyWinstonJack (Reply #79)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:48 PM

elleng (40,558 posts)

81. Yes, and having 'fun' here today, methinks!

I'll 'ignore,' for the moment.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 10:49 PM

Gidney N Cloyd (10,457 posts)

6. Hey, teabaggers & rethugs: Are You Smarter Than a 2nd Grader?

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Response to Gidney N Cloyd (Reply #6)

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Response to ThinkAndActForMyself (Reply #68)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:58 PM

Gidney N Cloyd (10,457 posts)

85. If you're a 'randian' and your day's been made you have only yourself to thank.

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Response to ThinkAndActForMyself (Reply #68)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 04:09 PM

Javaman (40,665 posts)

86. So how is 3rd grade? nt

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 11:19 PM

southernyankeebelle (10,730 posts)

7. Out of the mouth of babes.

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Response to southernyankeebelle (Reply #7)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 11:40 PM

phasma ex machina (2,315 posts)

10. +1

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 11:27 PM

thelordofhell (3,810 posts)

8. I like South Park better

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Response to thelordofhell (Reply #8)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 11:31 PM

rhett o rick (26,780 posts)

9. I was an Ayn Rand follower in high school. Then I got out in the real world.

Her books are no different than Lord of the Rings. Total fantasy. But Alan Greenspan loved her and he destroyed us. Asshole.

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Response to rhett o rick (Reply #9)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 03:03 AM

thelordofhell (3,810 posts)

30. Like The Man Said......

"There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs."-----John Rogers

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Response to thelordofhell (Reply #30)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 10:30 AM

rhett o rick (26,780 posts)

36. I wasnt familar with that quote. I guess great minds think alike. lol. Thanks. nm

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Response to rhett o rick (Reply #36)

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Response to thelordofhell (Reply #30)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 03:06 PM

Lunabelle (433 posts)

49. This is a great quote

Thank you.

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Response to rhett o rick (Reply #9)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:32 PM

ThinkAndActForMyself (12 posts)

70. You're thinking of crony capitalism, not objectivism

Countries with the freest markets have the highest levels of freedom.

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Response to ThinkAndActForMyself (Reply #70)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 04:26 PM

Javaman (40,665 posts)

90. Also have the lowest paid employees. nt

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Response to thelordofhell (Reply #8)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:31 PM

ThinkAndActForMyself (12 posts)

69. South Park's writers are libertarians

and they put this speech in the mouth of a retarded state thug. Look things up before making absurd statements.

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Response to ThinkAndActForMyself (Reply #69)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 04:27 PM

Javaman (40,665 posts)

91. and you have a link stating that the south park writers

are libertarians?

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 11:49 PM

JDPriestly (37,767 posts)

11. Excellent! Says it all.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 12:47 AM

limpyhobbler (6,714 posts)

14. smart kid

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Response to limpyhobbler (Reply #14)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:35 PM

ThinkAndActForMyself (12 posts)

74. The kid is Ralph Wiggum

"Me fail English? That's unpossible. Ayn Rand sounds like a bully."

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Response to ThinkAndActForMyself (Reply #74)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 04:28 PM

Javaman (40,665 posts)

92. The writers on the Simpsons are Liberals.

so what do you watch? is it either south park or the simpsons?

or should I "look it up"?

you are a clown.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 12:53 AM

jsmirman (4,188 posts)

16. Please tell me this is real

because a 2nd grader telling Ayn Rand to cram her books sideways is great, great stuff.

I overheard two college kids trying to make sense of what the fuss was about Ayn Rand. I excused myself, explained that her crap has always bugged me, and told them that people proselytizing Atlas Shrugged are just assholes looking for justification for their selfishness. And that if you encounter anyone geeked about Ayn Rand, the best thing to do is just "run." They dug it.

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Response to jsmirman (Reply #16)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 01:53 AM

Kablooie (8,863 posts)

29. I believe it is real. I got it from a friend on Facebook.

The original message said is was from a friend's son.
Of course a friend of a friend of a friend's son isn't very reliable but it sure looks and sounds real.
The fact it's a photo helps.

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Response to Kablooie (Reply #29)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 04:41 AM

jsmirman (4,188 posts)

33. And it's SPECTACULAR

sorry, I couldn't pass up the Seinfeld joke.

I was kind of imagining someone painstakingly imitating the hand of a second-grader, knowing the finished product would knock it out of the park.

But going on what you say there, well, I choose to believe. It's too great to not prefer that option.

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Response to jsmirman (Reply #16)

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Response to ThinkAndActForMyself (Reply #75)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 04:23 PM

devilgrrl (21,035 posts)

89. You need to take your own advice.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 12:57 AM

white_wolf (5,722 posts)

17. Wait, who makes a 2nd grader read Ayn Rand?

That should be child abuse. I find it very ironic, I bet if it was Marx quote parents would be up in arms over communist and atheist propaganda, despite the fact that Rand likely hated religion more than Marx did. He just seemed to think it was rather foolish and sometimes useful for rulers, Rand seems to hate it with every fiber of being. Or maybe hate is just her default setting.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 01:05 AM

flexnor (392 posts)

18. Rush 2112 album was credited to 'the genius of Ayn Rand'

Last edited Sat Feb 11, 2012, 01:14 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

on the cover

i never noticed it back then, and would have had no idea what it meant

good album though

at the time i listened to it, i didnt think of it as indulging in philosophy, i thought i was just smoking hash and blowing off home room in the north parking lot at high school

but, rand is in the lyrics in 2112 and 'tree's in particular, it screams Ayn Rand

There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the Maples want more sunlight
And the Oaks ignore their pleas

The trouble with the maples
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade?

There is trouble in the forest
And the creatures all have fled
As the maples scream 'Oppression!'
And the oaks, just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights
'The oaks are just too greedy
We will make them give us light'
Now there's no more oak oppression
For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet,
Axe,
And saw...

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Response to flexnor (Reply #18)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 01:21 AM

flexnor (392 posts)

20. rush 2112 lyrics

Last edited Sat Feb 11, 2012, 01:25 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

"We've taken care of everything
The words you hear, the songs you sing
The pictures that give pleasure to your eyes
It's one for all and all for one
We work together, common sons
Never need to wonder how or why

We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers fill the hallowed halls
We are the Priests, of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life are held within our walls

Look around at this world we've made
Equality our stock in trade
Come and join the Brotherhood of Man
Oh, what a nice, contented world
Let the banners be unfurled
Hold the Red Star proudly high in hand

We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers fill the hallowed halls
We are the Priests, of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life are held within our walls

"

both sets of lyrics scream the Ayn Rand creed of "I am an exceptional individual, and I could make life a utopia for all, if i just didnt have to listen to you lessor average beings"

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Response to flexnor (Reply #20)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 01:26 AM

2ndAmForComputers (3,309 posts)

23. Neal Peart had a severe case of youth assholism in the 70's.

I hear he's gotten better.

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Response to 2ndAmForComputers (Reply #23)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 01:39 AM

flexnor (392 posts)

24. my first concious exposure to ayn rand was in the late 1990s, watching 'The Fountainhead'

with gary cooper, 1948 movie

architech doesnt like modifications made to his 'exceptional' building, so he blows it up

(overlooking the minor detail that the materials he destroyed were not his)

realy found it repulsive, and odd for the 1940s, and was greatly surprised that it was a movement that lived into today (and actually dominated the time, via allan greenspan, a statist who destroyed anyone who didnt dance to the asset class he favored at the moment

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Response to 2ndAmForComputers (Reply #23)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 01:44 AM

jsmirman (4,188 posts)

25. That's good to hear

as I was saying, not much of a Rush fan (just don't care for the music), but it seems like they've been pretty philanthropic in the recent past.

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Response to jsmirman (Reply #25)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 01:50 AM

flexnor (392 posts)

28. never really liked anything after 'a farewell to kings'

seemed like once they made it to commercial radio, they lost their edge

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Response to 2ndAmForComputers (Reply #23)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 03:41 AM

Chichiri (2,987 posts)

31. Indeed, he went from 2112 to Territories to The Larger Bowl.

That's evolution.

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Response to Chichiri (Reply #31)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 02:01 PM

thesquanderer (1,115 posts)

44. The "larger bowl" sounds like where a lot of this stuff belongs. (n/t)

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Response to thesquanderer (Reply #44)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 04:21 PM

Shankapotomus (2,327 posts)

88. LOL...in a way I agree

But the song does do quite a job at vindicating Peart's past lyrical-philosophical sins. It's a huge leap.

Incidentally, for the others in this thread, I beleive the dedication on 2112 was "to the genus of Ayn Rand" not genius. Still a unattractive tip of the hat to her but not as bad had it been "genius". The lady was batshit crazy.

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Response to flexnor (Reply #18)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 01:25 AM

jsmirman (4,188 posts)

22. That's weird

never been a fan of Rush, but that's weird.

Apparently, Neil Peart was reading Anthem, and he says he realized after the album was over that a lot of it had come from the book. And that he didn't want to plagiarize, so he credited Ayn Rand (I just looked this up, I wouldn't know anything about any of this - it's from an online Rush FAQ: http://www.nimitz.net/rush/faq2ans.html#62).

Now Anthem is the shittiest of the shitty. I took a speed reading course because I read slow as molasses, and Anthem was the book they gave us at the end of the day. Sure I could read it in like 25 minutes and understand it. Why? Because it was about one single, solitary, not at all complicated thought. And because it was so shitty. Btw? I still read slow as molasses, but apparently, I can skim/scan Ayn Rand's crap like nobody's business. True story.

I don't know if it's reason to dislike Rush, though. It seems like they are pretty damn philanthropic, which, I would think means they're not Ayn Randists, no?

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Response to flexnor (Reply #18)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 03:43 AM

Chichiri (2,987 posts)

32. Actually, it was dedicated to "the genus of Ayn Rand" (sic)

I call it a youthful indiscretion. We all have them.

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Response to flexnor (Reply #18)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 03:01 PM

Nostradammit (2,920 posts)

46. Small point, but Trees was not on 2112

It came from "Hemispheres."

Neil has really changed his tone since then, probably spurred by the personal tragedies he has suffered.

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Response to Nostradammit (Reply #46)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 07:00 PM

flexnor (392 posts)

57. that's correct, i was not clear about that

i was just picking 2 sets of lyrics that i thought had the strongest ayn rand flavor to them

and when i wrote genius of ayn rand, i was (wrongly) correcting what i thought was a typo in wikipedia (should have had more faith in wiki)

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 01:09 AM

LynneSin (89,793 posts)

19. Who teaches a 2nd grader Ayn Rand? Really

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Response to LynneSin (Reply #19)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 10:59 AM

spanone (72,141 posts)

40. no shit. 2nd grader?

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Response to LynneSin (Reply #19)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 03:03 PM

underpants (105,621 posts)

47. They might want to look into penmanship and sentence construction.

Josie is in first grade and I would never let her turn that in.

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Response to underpants (Reply #47)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 03:05 PM

LynneSin (89,793 posts)

48. I suspect if Josie was reading Ayn Rand...

the teachers would have a visit from Josie's dad.

Wow, I remember when your daughter was born - I can't believe she's in first grade now!

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Response to LynneSin (Reply #48)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 03:13 PM

underpants (105,621 posts)

50. Momma has advised me that I can't comment on her "social studies" curriculim yet

Last edited Sat Feb 11, 2012, 03:13 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Columbus?
the Pilgrims?
The pledge?

Sorry but I read Howard Zinn and have educated myself.....but this is how they get it started. Drill it in until doubting it seems strange.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 01:23 AM

white_wolf (5,722 posts)

21. Bully is far too generous.

Those are the words of a wannabe tyrant.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 01:47 AM

flexnor (392 posts)

26. Ayn Rand provided a religion of validation and absolution to Manhatton, NY

and that's why it took off the way it did - it helped people feel good and right for feeling the way they already did

and it's why most ayn rand adhearents today are often described by one word - 'asshole'

"quit feeling guilty about being superior to everyone else - quit letting the feeling of responsibilty hold you back!"

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 01:49 AM

cherokeeprogressive (14,980 posts)

27. Agree with the thought; not buying the notion that a 7 year old wrote it. n/t

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Response to cherokeeprogressive (Reply #27)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 05:19 PM

Bucky (41,541 posts)

54. me too

Seems a little cooked.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 06:07 AM

Sirveri (4,249 posts)

34. Just curious, but what is the context of this quote?

Seeing as how I don't read garbage like this I have no clue what it is since it's totally out of context. Said by the villain or the hero?

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Response to Sirveri (Reply #34)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 07:31 AM

Kablooie (8,863 posts)

35. it's clearly an Ayn Rand hero.

Her villains are all weak willed, altruistic humanitarians.

Her view is that to care for others negates your own self and thereby destroys your own worth as a human being.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 10:33 AM

Fawke Em (2,556 posts)

37. ...and a child shall lead them.

LOL!

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 12:41 PM

Land Shark (5,812 posts)

41. Kids do say some of the "darndest things" :) nt

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 12:54 PM

2 Much Tribulation (539 posts)

42. K&R nt

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 01:07 PM

jillan (31,392 posts)

43. 2nd graders get it - Gopers don't! Need I say more?

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 03:00 PM

Odin2005 (48,255 posts)

45. kids are smarter than many grown-ups!

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 05:18 PM

Bucky (41,541 posts)

53. I am deeply suspicious of this.

What teacher, even a Randhead teacher, gives second graders Atlas Shrug quotes to comment on? And having graded hundreds of elementary school paragraphs in my time, I gotta say that this "kid"'s response seems a little too well crafted. If a child wrote the letters, I suspect that she or he was coached by a parent--like that kid whose mom got him to confront Bachmann over her nonsensical opposition to gay parenting.

I loath Ayn Rand, but I dislike people who use their kids to make a political point more.

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Response to Bucky (Reply #53)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:38 PM

RZM (8,298 posts)

76. If it is genuine

It was almost certainly devised by a teacher who is not a fan of Rand. The quote is rather off-putting and goes against what children are taught in school (obey the rules, respect your parents/teacher/each other etc.). If it's real, this probably was exactly the response the teacher was trying to elicit.

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Response to RZM (Reply #76)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 11:04 PM

Bucky (41,541 posts)

96. To be fair, Rand was openly and frankly critical of ideas like cooperation and good manners.

It's hard to conceive a more openly amoral philosophy--indeed, Randism is a perfectly amoral philosophy and makes no apologies. What I don't get is how it suckers in so many self described Christians. It is directly anti-Christian, anti-Gold Rule.

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Response to Bucky (Reply #96)

Tue Feb 21, 2012, 12:28 AM

RZM (8,298 posts)

97. Agreed

But it's right wing and individualist. So that trumps everything else. Russian Jewish atheism be damned, they say (if they even know that about her).

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Response to Bucky (Reply #53)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:56 PM

Johnny Rico (1,438 posts)

84. I am as well.

Even if it is real (doubtful), I've never bought the "Oh, children are just so wise!" line of thinking.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 06:07 PM

stockholmer (3,751 posts)

55. Rand's quotation sums up the American empire in a nutshell

"Furthermore, we have about 50% of the world's wealth but only 6.3% of its population. This disparity is particularly great as between ourselves and the peoples of Asia."

"In this situation, we cannot fail to be the object of envy and resentment. Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity without positive detriment to our national security."

"To do so, we will have to dispense with all sentimentality and day-dreaming; and our attention will have to be concentrated everywhere on our immediate national objectives. We need not deceive ourselves that we can afford today the luxury of altruism and world-benefaction."

"We should dispense with the aspiration to "be liked" or to be regarded as the repository of a high-minded international altruism. We should stop putting ourselves in the position of being our brothers' keeper and refrain from offering moral and ideological advice."

"We should cease to talk about vague and—for the Far East—unreal objectives such as human rights, the raising of the living standards, and democratization."

"The day is not far off when we are going to have to deal in straight power concepts. The less we are then hampered by idealistic slogans, the better."

—George F. Kennan, Policy Planning Study 23 (PPS/23), Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS), 1948

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Memo_PPS23_by_George_Kennan

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 07:14 PM

Pakid (205 posts)

58. Smart kid

This kid has a good head on his or her shoulder. It a sad day when a 2nd grader has a better grasp of reality than the whole Republican party!!!!

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Sat Feb 11, 2012, 10:34 PM

libinnyandia (1,374 posts)

59. I am shocked that schools are teaching about an atheist like Ayn Rand.

I did read Atlas Shrugged when I was a college freshman 45 years ago. I was already a liberal and was appalled about her cult of selfishness.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:15 PM

ThinkAndActForMyself (12 posts)

60. No, the bully would be the State.

Actually, the State is worse than a bully. A bully merely steals your lunch money. The State steals your lunch money, and continues to whittle down your hard-earned paycheck.

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Response to ThinkAndActForMyself (Reply #60)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:45 PM

The Doctor. (17,266 posts)

80. Anyone who parrots Teabagger talking points

isn't someone who can claim to 'Think for himself'.

Enjoy your stay.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:22 PM

Arugula Latte (40,215 posts)

65. The quote reminds me of a t-shirt Homer Simpson wore circa 2003

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 04:43 PM

fascisthunter (28,608 posts)

93. Even a Second Grader Knows the Definition of a Bully

That's what I take from this, not that an actual second grader wrote this. Spot on though.... the Me, Myself and I sociopath, claiming greed is a virtue of some sort.

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Response to Kablooie (Original post)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 04:50 PM

moriah (3,120 posts)

94. Mind providing sourcing?

I love this but can't find it anywhere else, and before I post it to FB (where my conservative and Rand-loving friends will tear it to shreds) I'd like to know more about where this came from. I always try to know about the sources before I post things, to head it off at the pass, if you know what I mean...

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Response to moriah (Reply #94)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 04:55 PM

fascisthunter (28,608 posts)

95. post it for what it is... political commentary

that even a 2nd grader knows Ayn Rand's perception is that of a bully.

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