I have read pretty well everything Ayn Rand wrote -- including her "Objectivist Newsletters" and all the books she recommended in them.
I have read Leonard Peikoff's Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand and The Ominous Parallels: The End of Freedom in America.
I am painfully aware of the writings of Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh. I didn't have the stomach to read more than a summary of their 'philosophy'.
Shame that our conversation had to degenerate like this. I was hoping for something more.
Me too. Very disappointed in your political stand, but I sure appreciate your civility!
"So my question is this: how many of you TRULY love your job, are proud of your contribution to the world and can not imagine doing the same activities better if you were in charge?"
My answer is YES, without a second's hesitation, as long as you accept my definition of what my job is. Otherwise, NO, so much so that I don't and wont have one. I see a 'job' as akin to being in prison, with only a few weeks off per year (that you need to ask permission for). To me this feels too much like an excruciating waste of life.
I define my job as 'Mother.' I adore this position, and feel truly honoured and lucky to have this role. I work hard, I do my best raising and creating three glorious children who are kind, happy, fun-loving, adventurous, courteous, intelligent etc... That is my true job in this world. Society doesn't agree with me and sees it as something I should do automatically and freely without appreciation or payment, AS WELL as the kind of job that earns money and takes up almost all of your time, every day, all day, every week, month and year, on and on until one day you're almost dead and haven't lived yet. No. No! Nope. Na. Not doing that. Life is far too precious.
Having said that, I know that my lifestyle is a luxurious, middle class choice, and that if everyone did what I did the world would fall apart. But at least I'm aware of this, so the knowledge doesn't stop me. When the time comes that everyone does what I do, I'll up and change my ideas. But for now I'm honouring this fabulously lucky gift of life, by living it exactly the way I want to, without a 'job' as defined by society.
