[A_perfect_lady]

Okay, well... I got about half-way through this angry essay and got bored. I wasn't a teen when I read Ayn Rand, so I don't think she dazzled me with glamorous characters. I simply was grateful to find a point of view that did not demand that I allow myself to be guilt-tripped into either giving away money to non-working slobs, or spend my life apologizing to a deity for having been born.

The great thing about having read her is that it left me free to simply live my life. I'm a conservative, so you can't guilt-trip me about being white, or being (finally) middle class, or anything else. I don't feel guilty and I'm not giving you anything.

The great thing about being an atheist is that you can't guilt trip me into being ashamed of any "original sin" and I'm not praying to anyone or apologizing for anything.

And once you shake off all the whining, clinging demands both sides place on you, you are simply free. You go about your business using your own judgment, doing as you see fit, and as long as it isn't illegal, well... there you go. Life is simple. We complicate it with nonsense, but it's really not necessary.

[Peter ODonnell]

Let’s all post slightly larger pictures of Ayn Rand until we crash the internet.

[Lurker]

Rand had much the same effect on me, madame.

L

[stylecouncilor]

Very well said. Thanks.