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Rex Tillerson's favorite book in college: Atlas Shrugged (Original Post) dgauss Dec 2016 OP
So greed safeinOhio Dec 2016 #1
Another version of kipling's "the white man's burden" bhikkhu Dec 2016 #2
Not fair Bucky Dec 2016 #8
In context, it was about playing the suffering unappreciated hero bhikkhu Dec 2016 #9
Yeah, I teach that poem every year in my world history class Bucky Dec 2016 #13
Of course MFM008 Dec 2016 #3
oy vey. how twisted is his soul? pansypoo53219 Dec 2016 #4
It only takes two eyes and a brain to read Atlas Shrugged. Gravitycollapse Dec 2016 #5
It's such a bad book MountCleaners Dec 2016 #6
well, of course it is Bucky Dec 2016 #7
What do all the Trump nominees have in common? smirkymonkey Dec 2016 #10
He'll find a soul mate in Paul Ryan lunatica Dec 2016 #11
Selfishness. Objectivism. Lack of empathy. Roland99 Dec 2016 #12

bhikkhu

(10,707 posts)
2. Another version of kipling's "the white man's burden"
Mon Dec 26, 2016, 04:01 AM
Dec 2016

“If you saw Atlas, the giant who holds the world on his shoulders, if you saw that he stood, blood running down his chest, his knees buckling, his arms trembling but still trying to hold the world aloft with the last of his strength, and the greater his effort the heavier the world bore down upon his shoulders - What would you tell him?"

I…don't know. What…could he do? What would you tell him?"

To shrug.”

Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

I think the repugs are recycling the old view of themselves as the heroic upholders of the world, the unappreciated masters who lift humanity from its natural condition of brutish misery. That sort of thinking mostly passed a hundred years ago, with the "great war", but even the most banal criminal would like to see himself as a tragic hero/victim.

Bucky

(53,759 posts)
8. Not fair
Mon Dec 26, 2016, 12:21 PM
Dec 2016

as twisted and evil as it is, The White Man's Burden is at least about helping other people out

bhikkhu

(10,707 posts)
9. In context, it was about playing the suffering unappreciated hero
Mon Dec 26, 2016, 03:33 PM
Dec 2016

while slaughtering an enemy that resisted conquest, just wishing to be free of overlords. The poem was written at the height of european colonialism, and provided a compelling narrative justifying it.

Why didn't the Filipino people understand our virtuous intent? Why didn't the Congo welcome Leopold with open arms? Why didn't the Bengalis realize that Britain needed their crops for a higher purpose, and starve to death peacefully?

And so on...Kipling's poem was a compelling narrative, of the sort that masks a rotting soul. If you commit atrocities, its the sort of narrative that allows you to still look in the mirror and wax your mustache, with a glimmer in your eye, sad that you are so unappreciated.

"Take up the White Man’s burden—

And reap his old reward:

The blame of those ye better

The hate of those ye guard— "

In context, the poem urged a European style colonialism in the Phillipines, after we intervened in the Philippine war and helped them drive out the Spanish (not an especially hard task). Then we installed our own rulership rather than allow self-government. The Filipinos continued their long fight for freedom, and we killed about 25% of the population before they were subdued.

Bucky

(53,759 posts)
13. Yeah, I teach that poem every year in my world history class
Mon Dec 26, 2016, 06:31 PM
Dec 2016

I guess you didn't catch the lefthanded compliment

 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
10. What do all the Trump nominees have in common?
Mon Dec 26, 2016, 05:46 PM
Dec 2016

They are all aficionados of extremely bad literature. WTF? How can anyone think that Ayn Rand is even a nominally decent writer? She is dreadful as a writer and even worse as a philosopher. What is wrong with these people?

Roland99

(53,342 posts)
12. Selfishness. Objectivism. Lack of empathy.
Mon Dec 26, 2016, 06:25 PM
Dec 2016

Considering Rand was likely lashing out against the dictatorial Soviet Union, it's understandable an impressionistic mind would lash out in an opposing manner: all about the self.

Yet she was quite the hypocrite; collecting Social Security and applying for Medicare.

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