Volume 14, Number 8, August 2008 ARI Receives Record Donation at Summer Conference he Institute received the largest program; the annual high school essay contests; under its Fellowship for Tsingle donation in its history at this year’s campus activities and selected OAC programs; and the Study of ; John McCaskey, chair- summer conference. An anonymous donor grants and mentorship to support the careers of man of the board of the Anthem Foundation for contributed $1,000,001—surpassing the previous both new and established Objectivist academics. Objectivism Scholarship; and , professor record of $1,000,000. The news was the highlight of a conference of at the University of Texas at Austin. “This contribution will be an adrenaline shot overflowing with highlights. The event was moderated by Debi Ghate, ARI vice for cultural change,” said , ARI’s exec- Outstanding Attendance. For years Objectiv- president of Academic programs. utive director. “We are at a crucial point in history ist conferences have attracted about three hundred The panelists commented on Objectivism’s —the next twenty years will decide what effect Objectivism has on this country’s direction. If we are to have a real impact, we need the resources necessary to spread rational ideas. This contribution is a huge step in that direction.” The contribution will be dedicated to support- ing the programs within the “education funnel” (ARI’s strategy for developing New Intellectuals) in most need of funding. The contribution will be distributed to support the Free Books to Teachers

Academic panel featuring (left to right): Debi Ghate, John McCaskey, Yaron Brook, , John Allison and Tara Smith attendees. But for the past two years that number has progress over the last year within academia, and greatly increased. This year the total was 469, the discussed strategies to extend that progress in the second largest number of conference attendees ever. years ahead. Academic Panel. A regular feature of the sum- Dr. McCaskey announced the reorganization mer conference is the academic panel ARI assem- of the Anthem Foundation. As noted in the July bles to discuss the current state of Objectivism in issue of Impact, Dr. McCaskey will no longer academia—and, as in past years, it was one of the oversee day-to-day operations of the Anthem most inspiring presentations of the conference. Foundation; it has hired Ms. Ghate as its new part- Attendees at the opening reception of Objectivist Summer Conference 2008 This year’s panel comprised Dr. Brook; John time senior director. Allison, chairman and CEO of BB&T Corpora- Ms. Ghate announced Anthem’s latest New Book tion; Allan Gotthelf, a visiting professor at the continued on page 2 Announced Ayn Rand Center Launches Web Site llan Gotthelf and Greg Salmieri are editing mpact is pleased to announce the launch of a listing of local community groups A a multi-author volume on Ayn Rand, to be Inew Web site, www.aynrandcenter.org, dedi- • three complete essays by Ayn Rand published by Blackwell Publishing, Oxford (UK). cated to the work of its new public outreach and never before available online: “Man’s Ayn Rand: A Companion to Her Works and media center. The Ayn Rand Center for Individual Rights,” “Collectivized ‘Rights’” and Thought (forthcoming) will cover Ayn Rand’s Rights, which recently opened in Washington, “The Nature of Government” body of work, including her novels, her non- D.C., promotes the philosophical case for individ- • two new statements from ARI writers, fiction, and her thought from metaphysics and ual rights and laissez-faire to the public “Why Individual Rights?” and “What epistemology to her esthetics and her commen- policy and business communities, the media and We Stand For” tary on the political trends of her time. the general public. “The function of this volume,” said Drs. Gott- The Ayn Rand ARI has also helf and Salmieri, in a brief statement, “is to faci- Center’s Web site completed a rede- litate the study of Ayn Rand by the increasing features topical sign of its Web site number of non-Objectivists—many in academia— categories that (www.aynrand.org). who are beginning to take a serious interest in makes it easier The site’s new look understanding her. A typical chapter will address a than ever to locate reflects a reorga- single area of her thought, drawing on her fiction relevant ARI nization designed and nonfiction, to bring out her essential ideas and commentaries to increase ease their relation to her thought as a whole.” and materials by of navigation. The The chapters will be written individually Ayn Rand and site has also been or jointly by sixteen authors: Gotthelf and other authors. supplemented with Salmieri, Michael Berliner, , Commentary is many new pages of Tore Boeckmann, , Lester Hunt, broken up into five written, audio and James Lennox, Robert Mayhew, Shoshana main categories: Screen capture of the Web site of the new Ayn Rand Center for Individual Rights video content. Milgram, Fred Miller, Adam Mossoff, Jason Government & Policy, Business & , For instance, the Books and Ideas section Rheins, Tara Smith, Robert Tarr and Darryl Foreign Policy, Science & Environmentalism and contains newly written descriptions of all of Wright. The editors are working with the Culture. Each of these categories is broken up into Ayn Rand’s works. In the coming months, it will authors to ensure a highly integrated volume. a number of subcategories. also grow to include an expanded description of Dr. Gotthelf is a visiting professor at the The site also features significant new content, Ayn Rand’s philosophy. In addition, there is now a University of Pittsburgh under its Fellowship for including: new series of pages that provide guidance for stu- the Study of Objectivism. Dr. Salmieri, who just dents interested in pursuing careers in academia. completed his PhD at the University of Pittsburgh, • information on how to support ARI’s “The Web is an increasingly important tool for will be a visiting assistant professor this year at the activities through personal activism promoting Objectivism,” said Dr. Brook. “These University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. • information on how to start your own latest developments will help us take advantage of The expected publication date is 2010. Objectivist community group, and a this powerful avenue for changing the culture.” ARI Exhibits at Debate Conference RI recently exhibited at the National Forensic ALeague’s Annual Debating Championship in Las Vegas. The event took place over the course of five days, and gave two thousand students from across the country the opportunity to compete for national debate titles. “This event gave us a unique opportunity to ers, but to sacrifice oneself to them, has a talk face to face with some of the country’s most The Inhumanity of vested interest in making men view others as help- intelligent high school students,” said Marilee less pawns in constant need of saving. Men are led Dragsdahl, manager of ARI’s Education depart- Altruism to believe that the choice is (a) self-sacrificially ment. “Our goal was to show them that Ayn jumping into rivers (or furnaces) for others, or (b) Rand’s unique perspective on intellectual issues Each month Impact suggests readings and other callously watching them drown. This vicious false can help them make compelling arguments—and resources for fans of Ayn Rand’s fiction who wish alternative erases the possibility of benevolent, hopefully get them to think more about her ideas to learn more about her philosophy, Objectivism. non-sacrificial relationships. in the future.” According to Ayn Rand, “[Altruism] has indoc-

§

Introducing Objectivism nter any Ethics 101 class and one is likely trinated men with the idea that to value another At a sales conference at Random House, By Ayn Rand preceding the publication of one of the book salesmen asked me whether I could present the essenceAtlas of my Shrugged philosophy , If you want this translated into simple language, it would while standing on one foot. I did as follows: read: 1. “Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed” or “Wishing won’t make it so.” 2. “You can’t eat your cake and 1. Metaphysics have it, too.” 3. “Man is an end in himself.” 4. “Give me liberty to be bombarded with questions such as, human being is an act of selflessness, thus implying 2. Epistemology: Objective Reality or give me death.” 3. : Reason Ethics: Self-interest If you held these concepts with total consistency, as the base 4. Politics: Capitalism of your convictions, you would have a full philosophical system E to guide the course of your life. But to hold them with total consistency—to understand, to defi ne, to prove and to apply them—requires volumes of thought. Which is why philosophy “Should you help a person trapped in a fire?” that a man can have no personal interest in others— cannot be discussed while standing on one foot—nor while standing on two feet on both sides of every fence. This last is the predominant philosophical position today, particularly in the fi eld of politics. Man’s Rights My philosophy, Objectivism, holds that: 1. Reality exists as an objective absolute—facts are facts, Or, “Should you dive into treacherous waters to that to value another means to sacrifice oneself— independent of man’s feelings, wishes, hopes or fears. 2. Reason (the faculty which identifi es and integrates the material provided by man’s senses) is man’s only means of perceiving reality, his only source of knowledge, his only guide to action, and his basic means of survival. 3. Man—every man—is an end in himself, not the means save a drowning stranger?” Ayn Rand held that that any love, respect or admiration a man may feel The Nature of to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrifi cing himself to others nor sacrifi cing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of Government his life. 4. The ideal political-economic system is laissez-faire capitalism. It is a system where men deal with one this approach to ethics is a disastrous product of for others is not and cannot be a source of his own another, not as victims and executioners, nor as masters and slaves, but as traders, by free, voluntary exchange ® Institute My philosophy, in essence, is the to mutual benefi t. It is a system where no man may d by Ayn Rand obtain any values from others by resorting to physical The Ayn Ran concept of man as a heroic being, force, and no man may initiate the use of physical force 2121 Alton Parkway with his own happiness as the moral against others. The government acts only as a policeman the altruist morality. enjoyment, but is a threat to his existence, a sacrifi- Suite 250 purpose of his life, with productive that protects man’s rights; it uses physical force only in Irvine, CA 92606 achievement as his noblest activity, retaliation and only against those who initiate its use, and reason as his only absolute. such as criminals or foreign invaders. In a system of full Ph: 949-222-6550 capitalism, there should be (but, historically, has not yet Fax: 949-222-6558 been) a complete separation of state and economics, in web: www.aynrand.org —Ayn Rand the same way and for the same reasons as the separation “Consider the implications of that approach,” cial blank check signed over to his loved ones. e-mail: [email protected] of state and church. For more information, please contact Copyright ©1962 by Times-Mirror Co. Phone: 949-222-6550 Fax: : The , 2121 Alton Pa 949-222-6558 Web: www.aynrand.org e- rkway, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92606 writes Miss Rand in “The Ethics of Emergencies” “The men who accept that dichotomy but mail: [email protected]

(reprinted in The of Selfishness). “If a man choose its other side, the ultimate products of ® accepts the ethics of altruism, he suffers the fol- altruism’s dehumanizing influence, are those lowing consequences (in proportion to the degree psychopaths who do not challenge altruism’s basic of his acceptance): premise, but proclaim their rebellion against self- ARI handed out op-eds on a range of subjects “1. Lack of self-esteem—since his first con- sacrifice by announcing that they are totally indif- dealing with the debate resolutions and topics, cern in the realm of values is not how to live his ferent to anything living and would not lift a finger including foreign aid to Sub-Saharan Africa, the life, but how to sacrifice it. to help a man or a dog left mangled by a hit-and- Iraq war and more. We also gave away more “2. Lack of respect for others—since he run driver (who is usually one of their own kind).” broadly focused literature, including brochures of regards mankind as a herd of doomed beggars cry- Ayn Rand resurrects the possibility of genuine Ayn Rand’s essays “Man’s Rights,” “The Nature ing for someone’s help. good will among men by providing an alternative of Government” and “Introducing Objectivism,” “3. A nightmare view of existence—since he to this false dichotomy: one which views men, not to help students seeking to hone their debate believes that men are trapped in a ‘malevolent uni- as congenital victims, but as independent egoists craft and strengthen their arguments. Finally, we verse’ where disasters are the constant and primary able to value others for selfish reasons. brought essay contest flyers and copies of Ayn concern of their lives. For further reading on this issue (in addition Rand’s books to give away to motivated coaches. “4. And, in fact, a lethargic indifference to to the essay already cited), see “The ‘Conflicts’ Attendance at ARI’s booth was excellent, ethics, a hopelessly cynical amorality—since his of Men’s Interests” in The Virtue of Selfishness as was the overall response by students. “The questions involve situations which he is not likely and the section “The Individual as the Proper students who knew about Ayn Rand were on the ever to encounter, which bear no relation to the Beneficiary of His Own Moral Action” in chapter whole enthusiastic about our presence,” said edu- actual problems of his own life and thus leave him 7 of ’s book Objectivism: The cation coordinator Meg Sullivan. “And those who to live without any moral principles whatever.” Philosophy of Ayn Rand. All of the items cited in were not familiar with her showed real curiosity Altruism’s obsession with emergencies and this column can be purchased from the Ayn Rand about her ideas. I think these are exactly the sort of disasters is no accident. Since its concern is not Bookstore. To order, please call 1-800-729-6149 students that we want to reach.” actually to teach men how to genuinely value oth- or visit www.aynrandbookstore.com. Announced,” on page 1.) ARI Receives Record Donation at Summer Conference, continued from page 1 ARI supports all these activities, directly and indirectly, by providing funding, speakers, gifts. The Anthem Foundation and BB&T have resources and support. co-sponsored a three-year Fellowship for the We thank all Objectivist professors on the Study of Objectivism in Law and Philosophy at front lines of effecting cultural change by injecting Chapman University. The recipient of this fel- Objectivism into academia. lowship is , who will be a visiting ARI Open House. ARI held a special open fellow at Chapman’s law school. Additionally, house, where conference attendees had the oppor- Greg Salmieri has accepted a one-year fel- tunity to visit our offices, located a few miles from lowship at the University of North Carolina at the conference site. ARI provided refreshments, Chapel Hill. The position is also funded by the and attendees viewed special items on display from Anthem Foundation and BB&T. (The Anthem the Ayn Rand Archives. They also had a chance to Foundation is actively seeking support for these Display of foreign translations of Ayn Rand books at ARI Open House learn about ARI’s programs and ask questions of two gifts. Please contact Ms. Ghate at dghate@ the staff. anthemfoundation.org for more information.) sophy departments in the country. Archivist hosted a hands-on Mr. Allison discussed the success of the BB&T Dr. Smith discussed a conference she orga- introduction to doing scholarly research in the programs for the study of capitalism (a total of nized on and the law, which brought continued on next page thirty-eight, so far), including a very special one, together leading non-Objectivist legal thinkers and Dr. Smith’s chair in Objectivism. Dr. Smith is Objectivist philosophers and legal scholars. the recipient of the BB&T Chair for the Study of Dr. Gotthelf announced a new book, Objectivism. The first chair of its kind, it will be Ayn Rand: A Companion to Her Works and housed in the University of Texas’s philosophy Thought (forthcoming), he is co-editing with department, which is one of the top fifteen philo- Dr. Salmieri. (See “New Book on Ayn Rand

Attendees at the OAC mixer party and graduation ceremony

Faculty of the Objectivist Summer Conference 2008 (left to right): f r o n t r o w : Richard Ralston, Marilyn George, Pat Corvini, Kara Zavarella, Shoshana Milgram, Tara Smith, Dina Schein Federman, Onkar Ghate, Harry Binswanger, b a c k r o w s : John Lewis, Ray Girn, Greg Salmieri, Eric Daniels, Keith Lockitch, , Ted Gray, Tore Boeckman, Yaron Brook Graduated students (left to right): Kyle Steele, Ole Martin Moen and [not pictured: Alex Epstein, Andrew Lewis, Edwin A. Locke, Robert Mayhew, , Sandra Shaw, Lisa VanDamme and Lin Zinser] Shabana Insaf 2 Ayn Rand in China “Taking Stock”: Donors Contribute

hich language has the most Ayn Rand Shares Instead of Cash Wtranslations? Surprisingly, the answer is Chinese, with nine: , The hat is the best type of asset to contribute to been even greater.) Paul commented, “Giving Fountainhead, Anthem, Introduction to Objectivist Wthe Ayn Rand Institute? Gifts of securities appreciated stock instead of cash means that money Epistemology, Why Businessmen Need Philosophy, and other assets that have increased in value that would have gone to taxes instead goes to ARI. , The Voice of Reason, The often make the most tax-efficient gifts, because We like that.” Ayn Rand Column and The Virtue of Selfishness. donors realize a double tax advantage: they can So Paul and Susan provided nearly $36,000 To capitalize on China’s interest in Ayn Rand, claim a deduction for the fair market value (of in support of the Institute’s efforts to create a Yaron Brook will visit China in September to assets owned more than one year), and they can meet with two Chinese think tanks and discuss culture of reason, at a “cost” to them of only Ayn Rand’s unique moral defense of capitalism. save again by avoiding long-term capital gain $18,929 ($35,910 less $12,569 tax savings One of them, Cathay Institute of Public Affairs, tax on the growth of these assets. from the deduction less $4,412 capital gain tax has arranged a program for him, including talks and Every year, dozens of Institute donors make savings = $18,929). Another way to look at this meetings with local intellectuals. Dr. Brook’s trip was gifts of securities ranging in size from $500 to contribution technique is that if they give stock made possible by the generosity of an ARI donor. $500,000. Even with the recent downturn in instead of cash, they can afford to give more This opportunity came out of ARI’s cooperation market conditions, many donors still have stock value to ARI at the same economic cost to them. with Atlas Economic Research Foundation, with and mutual funds that are worth considerably (To retain their position in the stock, they would whom ARI worked to promote the ideas of Atlas more than they paid for them. If you own simply purchase more shares with the cash they Shrugged internationally. appreciated securities and you are contributing otherwise would have donated to ARI.) And as it cash to ARI every year, you may be missing an turns out, Microsoft’s stock price at the time of opportunity for additional tax savings. their contribution was close to its peak in recent Institute Benefactors Paul Leach and years, thus maximizing the value of their gift for ARI Receives Record Donation at Susan Winokur graciously agreed to help all concerned. Summer Conference, continued from page 2 concretize this type of contribution by having In addition, Microsoft matches a portion of their most recent stock gift profiled in Impact. their employees’ charitable contributions each year, Ayn Rand Archives for professional and aspiring Paul is a Distinguished Engineer and senior thus potentially increasing the total amount ARI Ayn Rand scholars. Ms. Ghate and ARI analyst technical contributor at Microsoft, where he receives. (Many companies match their employees’ Thomas Bowden led a cultural activism workshop has worked since 1991. Susan is a retired contributions to nonprofit organizations; for for about seventy attendees interested in supporting Microsoft program manager. Both are long-time assistance from ARI in this regard, contact David ARI’s efforts to bring about a cultural renaissance. Objectivists—they met in 1972 when Susan Antonacci at 949-222-6550, ext. 202, or e-mail OAC Mixer and Graduation Ceremony. ARI sponsored taped lectures by Leonard Peikoff in [email protected].) held its third annual Objectivist Academic Center Boston and Paul was one of the Speaking for both Susan mixer. Currently, nearly 175 students are enrolled attendees. They live in Seattle and himself, regarding their in the OAC, ARI’s program for the study of Objec- and have been ARI supporters motivation for supporting the tivism; the mixer gave them a rare opportunity for twenty years. In addition to Institute, Paul said: “We see to meet face to face with other students and with their generous annual support, supporting ARI as the most faculty. This year’s mixer featured our second-ever they are also Atlantis Legacy fundamental way to create a ceremony recognizing students who completed donors, having named ARI as a better future. Through existing the undergraduate program. The graduates were beneficiary in their estate plan. ARI programs, a million students Shabana Insaf, Michael Mazza, Ole Martin Moen, In December 2007 they are exposed to Ayn Rand’s ideas Jared Rhoads and Kyle Steele. Impact congratu- donated 1,000 shares of each year, and those who want to lates them on their achievement. Microsoft stock valued at $35.91 pursue academic careers related ARI’s Intellectuals. The theme of this year’s per share, for a gift value of to Objectivism have access to conference was cultural change. Many of the $35,910. ARI sold the shares and courses available nowhere else. sessions focused, in one way or another, on how Susan Winokur and Paul Leach immediately invested the cash Before long, tens of millions of cultural change occurs, how Ayn Rand approached proceeds in its cultural and academic programs. students will have read Ayn Rand and whole new changing the culture and how Objectivists should Paul and Susan were able to claim a charitable generations of Objectivist intellectuals will have approach it. Focusing on this theme, Yaron Brook deduction of $35,910 on their 2007 tax return, been trained—and that is going to make a major and ARI senior fellow Onkar Ghate gave a series resulting in tax savings of $12,569 ($35,910 difference in the culture. It is a source of great of lectures titled Cultural Movements: Creating x their tax rate of 35 percent). The gift was satisfaction to us that we will have helped bring Change, in which they traced the cultural ascen- accomplished with a simple letter to their broker about the next renaissance.” dency of “” economics, religion and containing transfer instructions provided by ARI. Gifts of securities in any amount are welcome environmentalism—and drew lessons on how They could have donated the same amount in at any time. For more information about donating Ayn Rand’s ideas can be spread (See “Changing cash and obtained the same tax deduction—but by appreciated stock to ARI, visit www.aynrand.org/ the Culture: Our Greatest Allies,” on page 4). A giving shares of stock, they were able to reduce stock. For assistance with your contribution, free video recording of these lectures is available their capital gain tax liability. Paul acquired the contact Kathy Cross, Gift & Estate Planning at www.aynrandcenter.org. stock in 1996 at $6.50 per share through Manager, at 732-242-9408 or [email protected]. Microsoft’s employee stock purchase plan. Had he and Susan sold the shares instead of giving them ARI is committed to providing donors with accurate to a tax-exempt organization like ARI, they would and authoritative information about their financial have had to pay a 15 percent tax on the $29.41 contributions. However, we cannot render legal or tax per share gain. That’s an additional $4,412 in tax advisory services. We urge donors to consult their own savings ($29.41 per share gain x 1,000 shares x advisors regarding the tax and legal consequences of 15 percent). (Washington has no state income tax potential gifts. We are pleased to work with donors’ or capital gain tax; if Paul and Susan lived in a advisors as well as our own to help ensure the best state that does, the tax savings would likely have result for all concerned.

Onkar Ghate and Yaron Brook during the Q-&-A session at the end of their lectures on cultural change Paul Leach and Susan Winokur’s Gift of Microsoft Stock In addition to Drs. Brook and Ghate’s lecture vs. a Hypothetical Gift of Cash series, three of ARI’s staff intellectuals gave courses at the conference. Resident fellow Keith STOCK CASH Lockitch taught a course titled “Global Warming: The Science, Politics and Philosophy.” Resident Value of gift $35,910 $35,910 fellow Elan Journo taught a course titled “The Marginal tax rate x 35% x 35% Islamic World and the West Today.” And analyst Alex Epstein taught a course titled “The Triumph Tax savings from deduction <$12,569> <$12,569> and Tragedy of the Oil Industry.” Capital gain if sold $29,410 — ARI publishing manager Richard Ralston gave a general lecture talk on “How Ayn Rand Managed Capital gain tax rate x 15% — Her Publishers and Literary Agents.” Capital tax avoided <$4,412> — Future Conferences. Locations and dates for the next three summer conferences have been Net “cost” of gift $18,929 $23,341 announced: Boston (July 3–11, 2009), Las Vegas, Nevada (tentatively, July 2–10, 2010) and Fort Benefit to ARI $35,910 $35,910 Lauderdale, Florida (July 1–9, 2011). 3 ARI Op-ed: With or Without Nukes, Is a Mortal Threat By Elan Journo

magine that your neighborhood is overrun by Corps helped create and train Hezbollah, which the decisive event. But that particular weapon— Ia gang. These brutes are wielding crowbars, hijacked a TWA airliner and which kidnapped and despite its power—cannot be the whole story, knives, and pistols in a frenzied spree of home tortured to death American citizens. Iran pulled the since we don’t worry about other countries, such break-ins and mugging and murder. Now suppose strings behind the 1983 bomb attacks on the U.S. as France and Britain, having nukes. The rarely the police reveal that their grand strategy for deal- Embassy in Lebanon and later the barracks of U.S. admitted difference is that the regime in Iran ing with this gang is to block them from getting Marines, killing 241 Americans. Iran also orches- would eagerly press the launch button. submachine guns—as if without such weapons, trated the 1996 car bombing of Khobar Towers in This fear-the-weapon-not-the-killer mentality the gang would no longer bother people. Saudi Arabia, where 19 U.S. servicemen died. refuses to understand the threat posed by Iran right Would you sleep soundly at night? There’s more: The 9/11 Commission found now. This view holds that only the concrete facts Or would you be outraged? Of course you that “senior al Qaeda operatives and trainers about Iran’s arsenal have any practical signifi- would, because this gang—even without more traveled to Iran to receive training in explosives,” cance, while its abstract, ideological goals and powerful weapons—is already a serious menace and that “8 to 10 of the 14 Saudi ‘muscle’ opera- character can be disregarded with impunity. But that must be stopped. tives traveled into or out of Iran between October whether Iran uses one nuke or attacks with more Now, what would you say if this ridiculous 2000 and February 2001.” During the Afghanistan conventional weapons, its victims are still dead. what-if scenario resembled our actual response to war, Iran welcomed fleeing al Qaeda and Taliban Our leaders’ narrow concern with Iran’s the very real threat from Iran? fighters. Today, according to the U.S. military, Iran nuclear capability cannot make the regime’s long- Ever since taking U.S. Embassy staff hostage is running training camps near Teheran for Iraqi standing hostility to America go away. Americans in 1979, the Islamist regime in Teheran has led to insurgents, who return to Iraq to practice and train should face the real character and conduct of the an international spree of bombings, hijackings, and others in their bomb-making skills. There’s also Iranian regime, before it is too late. other terrorist attacks on Americans and Western- growing evidence that Iraqi insurgents get bomb ers. Now politicians and diplomats, who put up technology from Iran. Elan Journo is a resident fellow at ARI, focusing with Iranian aggression for years, are loudly prom- What’s going on here? on foreign policy. ising to block Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. A rational assessment of Iran would have to On the campaign trail, for instance, the can- recognize that the mullahs in Teheran have been Impact is published monthly by the Ayn Rand® Institute (ARI) and is didates debate how (i.e., with or without precon- conducting a proxy war against America. The complimentary to current donors who contribute $35 or more per year. For information on how you can support ARI and to learn about ditions) they’d negotiate to dissuade Iran from inspiration for this war is Iran’s jihadist goal of our projects, please visit our Web site: www.aynrand.org. Atlantis pursuing a nuke—on the idea that without such imposing Islamic totalitarianism globally. Iran is a Legacy®, the Institute’s planned giving program, and related indicia are registered trademarks. The Ayn Rand Archives is a special a weapon in Iranian hands, everything will be leading sponsor of jihadists and the self-identified collection of the Ayn Rand Institute. Objectivist Conferences (OCON) hunky-dory. role model for exporting its Islamic revolution to and the Ayn Rand Bookstore are owned by Second Renaissance, Inc., which is operated by the Ayn Rand Institute. Second But the uncomfortable truth is that if the mul- other countries. It is the sworn enemy of the West. Renaissance, Inc., and the Ayn Rand Institute do not necessarily lahs got a nuke, Iran would not suddenly undergo We should take seriously its call to bring “Death to endorse the content of the lectures and courses offered. All photos a Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation from a friendly America!” —because it has already done so. of Ayn Rand are used by permission of the Estate of Ayn Rand. Purchases from the Ayn Rand Bookstore do not qualify as neighbor into a rabid enemy. Iran long ago proved But too many American diplomats and com- tax-deductible contributions to the Ayn Rand Institute. itself a threat that must be stopped; a nuclear arse- mentators refuse to judge Iran. Instead, they regard Editor: nal would only make it a far worse threat. its past hostility as a string of disconnected crises, Editorial Advisers: Dr. Yaron Brook, Mark Chapman, Debi Ghate, Anu Seppala Designer: Simon Federman For three decades the ayatollahs of Iran have unrelated to Iran’s ideological agenda. They avoid Printing: David Antonacci Copy Editor: Donna Montrezza been using proxies—such as Hezbollah—to carry naming the nature of the regime and behave as Headquarters: 2121 Alton Parkway, Suite 250 out murderous attacks. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard if its acquisition of a would be Irvine, CA 92606-4926 Phone: 949-222-6550 Fax: 949-222-6558 © The Ayn Rand Institute 2008. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced without permission. Changing the Culture: Our Greatest Allies By Yaron Brook have said many times that the goal of the destruction,” she writes, “she will be saved I Institute is to create a culture of reason, and by her sense of life.” that to achieve that goal we have to spread The ideal world that Objectivism offers rational ideas—Ayn Rand’s philosophy. But is much more appealing to Americans than how do we get there? What can we do? the bleak world offered by the environmental- For those interested in my full answer to ists and religionists. Their visions clash with that question, I urge you to listen to the three- both reality and the American sense of life, part lecture series Cultural Movements: Creat- whereas our vision fits with both. Think of ing Change. The lectures, given by me and the advantage we have fighting for a world of Onkar Ghate at Objectivist Summer Confer- wealth, freedom and happiness—rather than a ence 2008, examine the rise of global markets, return to the Dark Ages or the Stone Age. environmentalism and religion in the late-twen- Objectivism gives philosophical voice to tieth and early-twenty-first centuries. Having the American sense of life. It explains why examined these movements, we extract what Americans are right to resent being pushed we can learn from them in regard to changing a around, right not to view themselves as ser- culture. You can view free video recordings of vants, right to admire achievement, right to these lectures at www.aynrandcenter.org. feel at home in the world, right to be happy, Here I want to mention one important and right to be the most reality-oriented aspect of my answer. people on earth. It is easy, when looking at the challenge As the philosophy for living on earth, before us, to become frustrated and demoral- Objectivism is the . It ized. In particular, as we witness the rise of the completes the achievement of the Founding anti-reason ideologies of religion and environ- Fathers by defending the individual’s right to mentalism—with their millions of adherents, life and the pursuit of happiness. It provides and their ability to count on 2,000 years of the moral and philosophical justification for corrupt philosophy—it might even be tempting the American system of government. We to give up the fight for a rational culture. must communicate this message aggressively That would be a mistake. To be sure, to Americans. there are plenty of challenges involved in This approach has been used with success changing the culture. It will take a lot of on particular issues. The abolition movement, time, effort, money and personnel. But we for example, argued that the ideas of the Dec- have two crucial allies on our side, two allies laration of Independence required an end to that our opponents do not have: reality and slavery. They were right, they were persistent, the American sense of life. and they won. The fact that we have reality on our What this and other such movements did side—and that fact’s importance—speaks for for particular causes, we must do for the ideal itself. But what about the American sense of that is America. In doggedly and persistently life? What is it, and how does it help us? spreading true philosophical ideas, our task In her article “Don’t Let It Go,” in really amounts to a simple one: to help Ameri- Philosophy: Who Needs It, Ayn Rand argues cans translate their sense of life into concep- that a nation’s sense of life—its undefined tual terms. Our mission, in other words, is to philosophy—can help predict its future convince Americans to save America. What course. “If America is to be saved from could be easier or more rewarding than that?

4