Oppression Photo

In this photo, a Caucasian youth is shown frowning, while holding an Ethnic Gourmet T.V. dinner. With our society's divisive focus on multiculturalism, emphasis is put on that which makes us different, instead of what unites us as Americans. This fracturing of The U.S.'s population into several smaller subcultures based on race and origin leaves those similar to the student pictured here without a sense of identity or community.

However, the problem is more complex than that. It is not the fact that "white" people frantically search for some sort of ethnic identity that is troublesome, the problem is that members of our society are encouraged to define themselves by some sort of collective grouping at all. There is no more potent of an example of idiocy than when someone supports a cause or position, not because they have decided through logical deliberation that it is the right course of action, but because it is a "cultural value", or whatever else they may call the collective mentality's will.

To define one's self by a culture or race is to abandon one's claim to their own mind. When someone allows others to dictate their own beliefs and opinions, they lose all sense of individualism and independence. The fact that one is a member of a certain race or group does not necessitate them having the same convictions and ideals as the rest of that demographic. To support something because the black community, or the Asian community, or the Irish community supports it is collectivism of the highest order, and the fact that such a mentality exists in a country that embraces intellectual freedom as much as ours is appalling to say the least. Democracy depends on the existence of a free market of ideas, and this simply cannot be achieved when people insist on not thinking for themselves.

Book Report: Conscience of a Conservative

Goldwater, Barry. Conscience of a Conservative. Victor Publishing: 1960.

Reason, Type and Setting: This book is Barry Goldwater's political manifesto, and a call for the Republican party to return to its conservative roots. I selected this book in particular because I have always had a profound interest in politics, and because Barry Goldwater was one of the foremost practitioners of conservatism, an ideology that influences world events to this day. The novel paints a stark portrait of 1950's America, the problems facing it, and two clashing political philosophies, each professing to be the nation's only hope.

Plot: The book focuses on the political issues confronting the country at the time, and conservatism's solution to each dilemma. These range from economic problems like unjust and inefficient farm subsidies, absurdly powerful unions, and extortionate taxation, to political ones, like the usurpation of state's rights by the federal government, civil rights, and the Soviet menace. All of these crises are addressed in a logical, concise manner, and unlike modern political discourse, the emphasis is not on proving that the opposition is wrong, but instead on finding a constructive solution to each problem through rational thought.

Character: Although there are no conventional protagonists or antagonists in this book. By reading it, one gets a sense about the character of the author. It is clear that the author's purpose in writing this tome was not to toe the party line, pander to a special interest group, or to engage in the rancorous demagoguery that is so common to day. Instead of conforming to his party's beliefs, he shuns them, condemning them as liberal ideology infiltrating a supposedly conservative establishment, instead of saying what will get him elected, he says what he truly believes, no matter how unpopular his positions may be, instead of slandering his political rivals, he respectfully disagrees with them on logical grounds without making any of the personal attacks that are ubiquitous in any modern campaign. It is apparent that Barry Goldwater was a man of unmatched political integrity, and who possessed a great love for his nation.

Evaluation: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I feel that it has given me a greater understanding of politics, the Constitution, and the history of our country. Reading it has renewed the zeal which I had once felt for politics, a feeling that had been extinguished by watching one unauthentic politician after another claim the title of conservative while pursuing goals that were irreconcilable with their supposed political philosophy. The message of this book is one of freedom, personal responsibility, and the ideals that so many of our countrymen have laid down their lives to defend. Although I have nothing but praise for this masterpiece of political literature, I would only recommend it to someone who has a firm grasp on the basics of political history and philosophy, and who doesn't mind reading several chapters on agricultural regulations and their impact on the free market. To someone unfamiliar with the roots of conservatism, this book may be confusing, as it contradicts many of the policies of the modern Republican party, which is frequently mistaken to be run by conservatives.

Author, Context and Trivia: Barry Goldwater has written several other books, such as: The Conscience of a Majority, The Coming Breakpoint, and With No Apologies: The Personal and Political Memoirs of United States Senator Barry M. Goldwater. Although I have read none of the author's other books, I found Conscience of a Conservative fascinating, and eagerly await reading the rest of his works.

Book Report: The Fountainhead

Rand, Ayn. The Fountainhead. New York, New York. The Penguin Group: 1943.
Reason, Type, and Setting: The reason I chose to read this book, is because I had read one of her other works, Atlas Shrugged, several months ago, and it was nothing short of life changing. The Fountainhead is one of her earlier books, and I wanted to see how her ideas and skill as an author had developed. The story, as with Atlas Shrugged, mainly takes place in New York. However, unlike its spiritual successor, The Fountainhead is set in the time period it was written in, namely the early forties. Although both these books are fictional, it would be inaccurate to describe them as just fiction. Her novels have been described as part thriller, part romance, and part action-adventure, all bound together by a common philosophical message that is both elegant and practical.
Plot: Although the plot of The Fountainhead is set in the world of architecture, its lessons and morals can be applied to all aspects of life. The story is that of the independent, rational, and uncompromising individual against the unthinking, brutish, and immoral collective that surrounds him. The message of the book is one of hope, emphasizing the value of personal responsibility, independent thought, individuality, and logical thinking as the path to success and happiness. As these prerequisites are available to everyone, anyone can improve themselves and accomplish their goals, while simultaneously enriching the lives of those around them. As Rand said: “My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.”
Character: The protagonist in The Fountainhead is Howard Roark, an architect. He is described as a tall, imposing man, crowned with fiery red hair. Roark is the epitomization of Rand’s idea of the ideal man. When faced with adversity and animosity on all sides, crippled by his irrational and immoral peers and an unthinking society, he never once even contemplates compromising or capitulating. Intensely logical and independent, the whole world could be set against him and he would not yield as long as he believed that his goals and beliefs were rational. Capable of creating the concrete and stone odes to man’s greatness and achievements known as skyscrapers, Roark represents the best of all men, the embodiment of human virtue; it is for men like this that our country was created. His perfection and incorruptible goodness is what makes him stand out from the throngs of imperfect, self-pitying, and unscrupulous protagonists that have proliferated the pages of modern novels. These ubiquitous “anti-heroes” seem to appeal to readers today because they anesthetize the reader’s own sense of shame for their own shortcomings and failures. They are hailed as “realistic” characters, while those like Roark are scoffed at, as they are deemed to unrealistic for readers to empathize with. However, the mere presence of the modern marvels that surround us are a testament to their existence, and this is why I was drawn to Roark. Like many of Rand’s other “ideal men” the plot of the story has no affect on Roark. It is he who changes those around them, leading by example, and condemning the immoral lifestyles of his peers not through words, but through success.
Evaluation: I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I found it captivating and inspiring, managing to entertain as well as teach. The message the author is trying to convey is one of the importance of being guided by logic, and nothing else. Everything else in her philosophy rests on that cornerstone. Once it is in place, individuality, self motivation, and success follow. By sparing the reader the theorizing and speculating about traditional philosophical questions, and skipping straight to the practical applications of her creed, Rand demonstrates the usefulness and practicality of her philosophy. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking direction in their life, a deeper understanding of themselves, their country and the world around them, or really anyone with an interest in anything, political, philosophical, or moral. I cannot understate the value of this book or any other book by Mrs. Rand. Their message is applicable to everything, be it economics, politics, love, education, or art.
Although there are some similarities between myself and the main character of The Fountainhead, I would have made several different choices than the ones he makes in the book. I believe that Roark is irrationally confrontational and abrasive to others at some points, causing people who would have been indifferent to him to begin seeking his destruction. This complicates matters for Roark, and is a problem that could have been avoided without compromising on his positions in any way.
Author and Trivia: As I said earlier, The Fountainhead was a precursor to Rand’s masterpiece, Atlas Shrugged, which was followed by other books that were primarily philosophical in nature. The Fountainhead was preceded by Anthem and We the Living. Rand, originally from Russia, was still mastering the English language when she wrote some of her earlier works, and it is astounding to behold the mastery with which she wields the tongue of her adopted nation. Having read both The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged now, I will move on to some of the author’s more philosophical works, like Philosophy: Who Needs It?, which is a collection of essays about her ideas.

Creative Writing on Photograph

We recently visited the Museum of Photographic Art in Balboa Park. While we were there, we were told to choose a photograph, and write a story about it. The picture I decided to write about showed a marble building. The structure was supported by Classical pillars, but one was missing, and had been replaced with the trunk of a tree.

The Pillar

The architect tore his hair in revulsion. He begged and pleaded, but there was nothing he could do. His work of art was no longer his property. He stared at his defaced masterpiece, trying to see it as it once was. He visualized the building, jutting out of the earth, as if it were part of the rocky outcrop on which it rested. The gleaming white marble shone in the mid-day sun, its seams so perfect, it appeared as if it had been hewn from a single piece of stone. The symmetry and geometric perfection was the product of years of careful intellectual deliberation and dedication. Now his magnum opus lay ruined, and the distraught architect felt as if a part of him had died.

The building had stood proudly for years, a monument to human capability, and a standard of excellence by which all other buildings had been measured. It was in the seventh year of the structure's existence that the problems had started. A vandal had carved a cruel groove into a formerly immaculate marble pillar, an action akin to putting a cigarette out on the canvas of a painting. Mortified, the architect had immediately ordered an identical pillar from the masons who had cut the original. Several weeks later, the new pillar had not arrived. Upon questioning the stonecutters, the designer of the damaged structure found that his order had been canceled by the owner of the building, the city, who had said that an alternative solution had been found.


The architect had hurried back to the monument he had labored so hard to create to see what marvel of technology had allowed them to repair or replace the pillar without constructing a new one entirely. When the building came into view, its designer gasped in horror. His once perfect construction had been desecrated. Where the damaged pillar once stood, a tree trunk had been put into place, its roots still caked with mud. Horrified, the architect rushed up to one of the buildings occupants, and demanded to know what the purpose of the tree was. "Oh its really quite noble," said the man, admiring the clumps of dirt that now lay strewn across the once spotless marble floor. "The tree represents a fusion of the new with the old, modern technology with the primitive wisdom our society has strayed so far away from. It's really a superb improvement to those horrid marble pillars. They looked so unauthentic, so man made." The man scoffed and continued on his way, leaving the architect motionless, stupefied by the explanation. He stood there for a long time, his confused expression never changing. He stared at the tree, as if he was trying to bore a hole through it with his gaze. The tree, unaffected, stubbornly remained.

Several years passed. The architect had moved on to create new buildings, never returning to his raped masterpiece. The tree at first bore the weight of the marble roof stoically, but as the trunk dried out in the intense summer sun, the wood of the tree became brittle, and began to crumble under the immense load. The roof began to sag on one side,the soft marble stone warping slowly. The resulting crease in the roof began to collect debris, adding to the already massive weight supported by the tree. The demise of the building was a slow and painful one. When the roof eventually collapsed, the structure was abandoned, as architects of the caliber of the creator of the building were few and far between, and those who were available refused to work for the city, as they had heard of their treatment of their colleague. So the building was never repaired, and as it was now structurally compromised, few ventured near it. The forest surrounding the city began to reclaim the land, and as each part of the structure fell into disrepair, more foliage arose to take its place. Soon the once proud marvel of architectural design had been reduced to no more than a moss covered heap, indistinguishable from any other hill in the forest.

Ethics Problem

As each person's life is his or her own property and responsibility, and therefore no one can lay claim to the life of another for any form of involuntary support, their is no logical justification for one to hinder themselves from reaching their goals to prolong the life of another, as long as they did not cause the second party to be in a life threatening situation in the first place. That, along with voluntarily aiding the ailing person for your own selfish reasons are the only logical, and therefore moral exceptions.

Current Events: Japanese Economy Shifting Towards American Values

Historically, Japan has been a nation that attached too much value to its past and traditions. This caused the island nation to be at the mercy of its more advanced trading partners for hundreds of years until they finally dispensed with their archaic policy of isolationism and maintaining cultural purity and industrialized. Now, one of the last remnants of Japan's feudal past is being swept away in the shape of economic reforms. Previously, the Japanese government had its hand in much of the country's industries, especially banking. This expansive and inefficient bureaucratic intrusion has hindered business and caused the national debt to spiral out of control. Currently the governmental debt of Japan is estimated at 180% of their GDP, by for the highest out of any developed economy. This will lead to an increase in the already high tax rate just to keep the debt at the same level it is now. However, Japan is taking steps to reverse the damage. Deregulation and economic reforms that should bring their struggling economy closer to a free market model, coupled with the dismantling of the governmental banking monopoly has caused corporations to post record profits, and has stimulated economic growth. Unfortunately, these improvements may be short lived, as the Japanese will also have to deal with their aging population and the rapidly shrinking labor pool.

Vocab 9

ag·gra·vate: to rouse to displeasure or anger by usually persistent and often petty goading
With the first election that I will be eligible to vote in nearing, I have made a concerted effort to scrutinize all of the presidential candidates, and one of the best means to do so is to watch the televised debate so that you can compare their policies side by side. Unfortunately, this once noble democratic tradition has been trivialized by the advent of the "YouTube Debates". Instead of political experts carefully crafting questions that cannot be easily evaded or deflected, and that give the viewers valuable information about a candidate's ideology, now both the Democratic and the Republican candidates have been forced to endure a barrage of questions from the general public, ranging from the inane, to the downright idiotic. This shameful display of networks pandering to the immature, ill informed, and insipid youth demographic mars the proud history of the presidential debate and disrupts the political process. Needless to say, I find the YouTube debates extremely aggravating.

ad·verse: opposed to one's interests; causing harm.
Allergies to some foods, such as peanuts or shellfish, and some varieties of medicine can cause a person to go into anaphylactic shock, a severe allergic reaction characterized by rapid inflammation of the tissues near where the allergen entered the body, and the constriction of the airways. This adverse reaction can be treated by administering adrenaline (a.k.a. epinephrine) to the victim. People allergic to bees often carry an "EpiPen" with them, a pocket sized syringe containing a dose of adrenaline that could stave off anaphylaxis should they be stung.

dis·in·ter·est·ed: not having the mind or feelings engaged : not interested
I am not going to make a myspace. Stop asking. I am disinterested.

averse: having an active feeling of repugnance or distaste
Aversion therapy is a form of behavioral modification utilizing conditioning techniques in which a habit or activity that is undesirable (like smoking or nail biting) becomes associated with a negative stimulus, usually pain. Whenever the subject of an aversion therapy treatment program has an urge to conduct whatever activity they are attempting to refrain from doing, pain is administered (this can be from something as harmless as snapping a rubber band on your wrist to more extreme measures, such as electrical shocks) until the idea of pain and the activity become indistinguishable, and the subject becomes averse to it.