September 16, 2007 @ 10:47 am | Category: existential questions
Here is an article from the The New York Times on the social influence philosopher Ayn Rand has had on American business. If you, like me, had written off Ayn Rand as an ineffective philosopher and an even worse novelist, think again. Sometimes simple ideas are the ones that survive. Rand advocated for an individual’s responsibility to pursue their own interest with abandon. Her everybody-else-be-dammed attitude has survived, and her book Atlas Shrugged remains a best seller. Perhaps her ideas have stuck in the American mind because they’re shrouded in the idea of hard work, excellence, and personal merit. Rand’s ideas are an impressive combination of the Puritan work ethic and secularism devoid of that other Puritan idea– grace. Of course, if you believe in God’s unmerited favor, it’s hard to maintain the position that you are self-made, and therefore unaccountable.
Add Comment
September 5, 2007 @ 9:47 am | Category: work, family/relationships
Read this article in U.S. News about how mothers are rejecting both the full-time career and the soccer mom model. It’s about time that we recognize something that has been going on for all of women’s history. Very few women have had the opportunity, or the inclination, to be full-time homemakers. Most women prefer to nurture their families and be industrious. Except for the upper classes, historically most have worked on the farm, or in a cottage industry, and when they could get away with it they ventured right out into the market place with their wares. The key to success is based on flexible expectations on what makes a good mother, more egalitarian marriages and general community support. Maybe now we can stop reading articles about the mommy wars.
1 Comment
September 4, 2007 @ 9:34 am | Category: media, family/relationships
Talk radio has been buzzing with discussions on the Michael Vick animal cruelty case. Many listeners are bemoaning the punishment of Vick as excessive. One was outraged that Vick had abused dogs, and it would be more understandable if he had slapped his wife. Really! Finally, somebody is saying what I have been thinking. An essay at women’s e-news points out that many professional athletes are notorious for beating up their wives, (remember O.J.) but we aren’t running them out of sport for that. I guess in the minds of most people a dog is innocent while a woman probably did something to deserve it.
Add Comment
