-Caveat Lector- from: http://www.zolatimes.com/V3.18/pageone.html <A HREF="http://www.zolatimes.com/V3.18/pageone.html">Laissez Faire City Times - Volume 3 Issue 18 </A> ----- Laissez Faire City Times May 3, 1999 - Volume 3, Issue 18 Editor & Chief: Emile Zola ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Placing 'Me' Before 'We': Ayn Rand's Anthem by Michael R. Allen Ayn Rand's classic story of one man's desire to become an individual in a nameless society presents a compelling refutation of collectivism in all forms. The hero, labeled "Equality 7-2521" by the State, chooses to challenge conventional authority as he learns the joys of experimentation and discovery, the ecstasy of human love, the challenge and fairness of liberty, and the happiness of self-interest. Equality 7-2521 keeps a diary that is the book itself, and in this journal he writes three unique phrases, which will be discussed individually in the remainder of this essay. I."My happiness needs no higher aim to vindicate it. My happiness is not the means to an end. It is the end." In the tale, this thought drives the entire actions of Equality 7-2521 as he progresses in his attempt to become an individual. His happiness is not satisfied when he must share it universally with all men. Not every man can be as happy as the next, and therefore the forced brotherhood of all men will only deplete the spirits of those who are successful. In Anthem, Rand tells of Equality's joy when he "discovers" electricity. At that moment he knows that the joy of discovery is only his to relish, and that it cannot be shared or manipulated by any other man. In that regard, his own well-being is the end of his striving; he has fulfilled his wishes. To say that his happiness was only the means to, say, world peace would be to abolish his status as an independent body. An individual's happiness is the culmination of patience, work, and physical or material expenditure. Such happiness is self-contained, as there is no possible way for a human to know the feelings of another. The fulfillment of one's desires cannot be anything but the end, as the individual sets his own goals and, when they are achieved, has reached the finishing point of an endeavor. (The only conceivable way in which individual happiness could be seen as a means to another goal would be if that goal were the complete happiness of society—in which case the individual would again be placed in subservience to a group.) Man's sovereign rights would be infringed upon if he were seen as a unit in a broader plan rather than as a self-contained human being. II."We know that we are evil, but there is no will in us and no power to resist it." This sentence has a powerful meaning in the story. Equality 7-2521 is not evil in the traditional sense of right versus wrong, but he is evil in the sense that he refuses to join the collectivist program of the rulers. They view him as evil, and he does not wish to change his beliefs or resist the emergence of latent individualism. He dares to love, to take a name, to invent something alone, and, worst of all, he dares to find happiness in solitude rather than with a group. To the dictators of this fictional society, his evils are breaches of the spirit of groupthink. In the story, he at first doubts his opinions and beliefs, but he finally accepts that they will not leave his mind, and his destiny is sealed. In his recognition of his core belief (individual freedom), he becomes aware that he cannot resist pursuing this immutable sense of freedom. Briefly, this sentence is the summary of man's existence. Man knows he is selfish, and those who allow self-interest to permeate their being are often called greedy or evil. However, without selfishness man is reduced from an advanced mind to a mere member of a group of animals that lack personal expression. As in the society of the story, those who defy the conventional wisdom today are not treated with respect. Modern culture has focused on compassion and charity as the ultimate expressions of mankind's love, but it has failed to acknowledge that self-love is one of the primary aspects of freedom and self-governance. III."The word 'We' . . . must never be placed first within man's soul." Equality 7-2521 deals with the totalitarian wrath of the horrible society in which he lives. This bleak and depressing world is the direct result of the end of individualism. Because an individual cannot accomplish great things, no further inventions can be made. Because man must work for his fellow man and not himself, he does not earn wages and has to live in barren communes and perform tasks to which he is assigned. Since this society believes that man must never be alone, the pronoun "I" has been eradicated and people made into couples ("we"). This fictional society reinforces the good of the group in every imaginable facet of life. There is no time when one is allowed to read, write, or think independently. One is punished for thinking on his own, and this tragic state of affairs leads Equality 7-2521 to escape this insane world in order to lead a new society. His own experience with totalitarianism has led him to yearn for rugged individualism and unfettered self-development. In turn, happiness can come to him and make him complete. In worshipping the word "we," man unwisely believes that compassion is the antithesis of selfishness. Some men believe that they must toil selflessly in order for society to benefit from their labor. On the contrary, most of society's advancements, from Shakespeare's plays to Edison's light bulbs, have been developed by individuals who had some self-interest at heart. However, the creator of a product is justly entitled to his own happiness, and therefore it is at his discretion that his invention is distributed. One who creates a great thing cannot be forced to share it with mankind unless he desires. In most cases, it is in the self-interest of the originator that his creation be distributed freely. Thus, man is no longer a free man when he thinks of the group's interest above his own. It is fine for someone to be compassionate, but it is foolish to place the happiness of anyone else in front of your own. When men choose to follow groupthink, they forfeit their identities, and the end result is a world without freedom or creativity. Mankind is composed of sovereign individuals, and each person only has one obligation to self: think of "me" before "we." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Michael R. Allen is the editor and publisher of SpinTech Magazine. His regular column is "Strange Disposed Times." -30- from The Laissez Faire City Times, Vol 3, No 18, May 3, 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Published by Laissez Faire City Netcasting Group, Inc. Copyright 1998 - Trademark Registered with LFC Public Registrar All Rights Reserved ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, Omnia Bona Bonis, All My Relations. Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End Kris DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. 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