“Peace Activist” Jailed for Violence
From the New Zealand Herald:A New Zealand peace activist has been jailed in Britain for eight months for attacking a rock singer leaving him in a coma. Christiaan Briggs, who acted as a human shield in Iraq, admitted punching 19-year-old singer Billy Leeson following an argument on a late night bus. [...] Briggs spent three weeks in Iraq with the Truth Justice Peace Human Shield Action Group in 2003 and was a former British Green Party candidate. [...] According to court testimony, Leeson had been on a bus coming back from a sell-out London gig when his girlfriend complained that Briggs was staring at her. Leeson told Briggs to "look elsewhere" and, after they exchanged words, got off the bus in Camden. Briggs followed and as Leeson walked off, punched him on his left cheek. [..] The singer suffered a fractured skull and had to undergo a five-hour operation during which surgeons removed a piece of bone to lessen pressure on his brain. He was in hospital for six weeks and had to learn to walk again. According to the BBC website, Briggs' defence counsel Bartholomew Cosella said Briggs was a "committed pacifist" who had devoted himself to "trying to make the world a better place". ["NZer jailed for attacking British rock singer"]Perhaps, the world would be a better place if Briggs had been put into a coma.
Restrictions on Internet Gambling Are an Infringement on Our Rights
On Oct. 13 President Bush signed into law the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, a measure restricting Internet gambling. "This measure, which requires financial institutions to block credit card and other payments to Internet wagering businesses, is an infringement on our rights," said Dr. Yaron Brook, executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute. "Gambling, when practiced responsibly, can be a totally legitimate form of entertainment. The government has no right to prohibit adults from doing it--on the Internet or anywhere else--and no right to prohibit businesses from offering gambling opportunities to potential customers.
Cartoon by Cox and Forkum.
How Britain Should Promote Assimilation
Irvine, CA--"Britain is embroiled in a fierce debate over British Muslim women who wear a niqab--an opaque veil that covers a woman's entire face. Many British Muslims have expressed outrage that a public schoolteacher was ordered to remove her veil--while many other Britons have defended the school, criticized the wearing of niqabs, and called for the greater assimilation of Muslims into British society."Britons are absolutely right to criticize the niqab," said Alex Epstein, junior fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute. "It is a demeaning, barbaric article of clothing that inculcates shame in women, depriving them of individuality and femininity.""But to criticize niqabs will not go very far in making Britain a more integrated, less balkanized nation. Britons' most powerful tool of assimilation is to understand and proudly and convincingly proclaim Western ideals. They must understand that what made the West great is individualism, reason, the pursuit of happiness--and that this is objectively superior to the tribalism, superstition, and earthly deprivation that many Muslims seek to live out and bring to Europe. Britons must reject the insidious idea of multiculturalism, which holds that all cultures are of equal value. Cultures are not of equal value: prosperity is superior to poverty, happiness is superior to misery, freedom is superior to slavery, and a visible face is superior to a slit revealing two anonymous eyes."The Media’s Mistreatment of Jeff Skilling
Irvine, CA--Upon hearing the news that former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling was sentenced to 24 years, most Americans, trusting the newspaper articles and books they have read on Enron, think that justice has been served. But, said Alex Epstein, a junior fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute, "Jeff Skilling has not gotten justice, and the media bear a major portion of the blame. "Few Americans know that during Skilling's trial, the prosecution came nowhere near proving its central allegation that Jeff Skilling engineered a conspiracy to defraud investors. Few know that Skilling, upon leaving Enron five months before its collapse, destroyed no documents, nor did anything else resembling a criminal cover-up. Few know that the prosecution, unable to prove a conspiracy, spent huge swaths of the trial taking pot-shots at Skilling with issues not even mentioned in the indictment, such as the failure of Skilling, a multi-millionaire many times over, to disclose a failed $50,000 investment to Enron's board. "The media's misportrayal of the case against Skilling long predates the trial. Ever since the fall of Enron, most of the media have treated as fact every conceivable smear against Skilling made by ax-grinding prosecutors or ex-Enron employees, while treating as absurd Skilling's claim that he neither engineered a conspiracy nor lied to investors. "There can be no doubt that the media's treatment of Skilling contributed to his conviction for a phantom conspiracy--and to the outrageous 24-year sentence that he has now received. And the mistreatment of Skilling is part of a broader trend: the trend of treating businessmen as guilty until proven innocent. Our journalists and intellectuals, accepting the idea that the pursuit of profit is morally tainted, assume that whenever anything goes wrong in business, it is the result of crooked behavior by greedy, rich CEOs--and slant their coverage accordingly. This practice is putting numerous innocent men in jail, and instilling terror throughout corporate America. "During Skilling's appeal, let us call for the media to start treating Skilling--and all businessmen--fairly."Lecture: Religion vs. Morality
Conventionally, most people believe that morality can only be based in religious faith - that in a world without God no principles of right and wrong could exist. Related to this, philosophers have long held that no objective, fact-based, rational code of values is possible. Regarding both points, this talk shows that the exact opposite is true. The purpose of morality is to guide human life on earth - and religion is utterly incapable of it. Flourishing life requires a code of secularism, rationality, egoism and freedom. Religious faith clashes with every principle of a proper moral code, and as such, has led--and can only lead to--hell on earth. The speaker, Dr. Andrew Bernstein, is a professor of philosophy at Marist College and also lectures at the State University of New York, where he was selected as Outstanding Teacher in 2004. He has given addresses at Harvard, Stanford, West Pont, Northwestern, Carnegie-Mellon, Columbia, the University of Michigan, the University of Chicago, USC, among others. He is a frequent contributor to several major newspapers as well as a frequent radio and TV commentator. He is also affiliated with the Ayn Rand Institute, where he is a Senior Writer and Speaker. He has published several books, including Heart of a Pagan, The Capitalist Manifesto: The Historic, Economic, and Philosophic Case for Laissez-Faire, and Cliffs Notes for Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, and Anthem. University of California, Los Angeles. Date: Thurs, Oct. 26, 2006 Time: 7:30 PM Location: Moore 100 http://www.ucla.edu/map/ Contact Info: info@ClubLogic.orgLecture: Global Capitalism: The Solution to World Oppression and Poverty
Global Capitalism: The Solution to World Oppression and Poverty Capitalism is the system of individual rights. The enormous success of capitalism in Asia in the 20th century's second half, and the beginning of its positive impact in contemporary Latin America add to the evidence accumulated in Europe and North America over the past 200 years: capitalism is the system of both freedom and prosperity. Conversely, capitalism's antipode -- statism in any form -- those systems that deny the principle of individual rights, necessitates both political oppression and economic destitution. The purpose of this talk is to show that and why these claims are true. This talk shows that wherever the political/economic system of capitalism is instituted on any continent in any era men's freedom and prosperity are greatly increased. This was as true of 18th century Europe as it is of 21st century Asia. From its earliest days, capitalism raised the poor's living standards and, within a century, eradicated in the Western world the ages-old scourge of child labor. At the turn of the 21st century, the enormous benefits of capitalism are beginning to be reaped in the 3rd World, especially in Asia. As Ayn Rand stated, capitalism is the ideal social system and this talk, based on three years of research for 'The Capitalist Manifesto', proves it. University of Southern California . Fri, Oct 27, 2006 Time: 6:30pm Location: SAL – 101. Contact Info: aynrand@usc.edu www.uscobjectivistclub.comNorth Korea’s Power Over the West
Irvine, CA--Speculation is rampant about North Korea's apparent test of a nuclear bomb. But one fundamental question is being ignored: How does a country so poor that it citizens die of starvation become a nuclear menace? "The basic answer," according to Elan Journo, junior fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute, "is that North Korea exploits the West's moral cowardice." "North Korea is an aggressive dictatorship that holds power by force. The regime loots its enslaved citizens and threatens to do the same to its neighbors. What have Western powers done in response to the North's longstanding pursuit of nuclear weapons? "Did they condemn the regime? Did they stand up to its bluster and seek to end the regime with a self-righteous, airtight trade embargo? Did they exhibit even an ounce of moral confidence? No; they evaded North Korea's vicious nature and appeased it with protection money. Years of Western 'diplomacy'--including gifts of oil and food--strengthened and emboldened North Korea. Whenever the North rattled its saber anew, the morally craven West responded with more diplomacy--and more bribes. This perverse cycle must end."Lecture: Destroying Islamic Totalitarianism: The West’s Moral Imperative
Monday, October 16, 2006. 6:30pm - 9:00pm; UCLA Campus: Dodd 147, Los Angeles, CA. Email: info@ClubLogic.org The Middle East has been the stage for conflict and crisis for many decades now. What philosophical principles underlie the continued hostilities and tensions? In the five years since 9/11 especially, the Middle East has been a hotbed of military conflict--ranging from the U.S. in Afghanistan and Iraq to controversies and violence surrounding Danish cartoons depicting Muhammad to Israel's attack on Hezbollah in Lebanon. No doubt, Islamic Totalitarianism poses a grave threat to the security and prosperity of Western nations, but our attempts to stop the enemy has fallen short of successful. In many ways, the Western response has only emboldened and incited terrorist organizations and governments. What historical and philosophical factors account for the present state of affairs and what do they suggest for the future? Is the war on terror really un-winnable? What should be the U.N.'s role in international policy? Should Israel have assented to the U.N.'s dictates, or should it have continued to fight Hezbollah in Lebanon? Should Iran be allowed to develop nuclear technology? What should Western countries do in the Middle East to advance the causes of freedom and liberty? In his lecture and the subsequent Q & A session, Dr. Yaron Brook undertakes these questions from a unique philosophical perspective. He will show why appeasement and U.N. sanctions are ineffective, why self-defense cannot be achieved by compromise and dialogues with those who have abandoned reason, why civilian casualties are always the responsibility of the aggressor, why Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear program, why Israel and America should be unconcerned with world opinion, why terrorist organizations and governments must be eradicated, why Israel should not have compromised its campaign against Hezbollah, and ultimately, why securing liberty requires acting on consistent, rational principles. Dr. Yaron Brook is the President and Executive Director of the Ayn Rand Institute. He is interviewed extensively by the print, radio, and television media for the Objectivist position on current events such as the war in Iraq, Internet control and censorship, and threats to freedom of speech. His recent media appearances include TV interviews on Closing Bell (CNBC) and The O'Reilly Factor (Fox News Channel). He also speaks regularly at college campuses and professional associations across the country.Western Governments Must Protect Right to Free Speech
The Berlin opera house, Deutsche Oper, has called off a production of Mozart's "Idomeneo" for fear that a scene featuring the severed head of Islam's prophet might lead to violence. This confirms the warnings, made by defenders of free speech during the Danish cartoon crisis, that the failure of Western governments to respond decisively to the death threats from offended Muslims could lead to self-censorship in the West. "This decision demonstrates the disgraceful failure of Western governments to defend our right to free speech," said Yaron Brook, executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute. "In 1989, when the Iranian Mullahs issued a fatwa calling for Muslims to murder Salman Rushdie and attack his publisher, Western governments did nothing. Last year, when violent mobs threatened the lives of the Danish cartoonists, Western governments did nothing. If a government does not ensure its citizens are able to express their views without fear of violent reprisals, free speech is dead. "Western governments must reverse their trend of appeasement and declare their commitment to ruthlessly punish anyone who attempts to violate their citizens' right to freedom of speech."Andy Roddick’s Philosophical Confusions About Selfishness
US Open Finalist Andy Roddick on why he has no self-interest in playing for his country:Andy Roddick's attempt to stretch the Davis Cup semifinals to a fifth and deciding match came up short Sunday as the American came back from two sets down, but still fell to Dmitry Tursunov 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 17-15 as Russia advances to the final against Argentina.Isn't Roddick playing for his teammates and his country? That is selfish -- if you value your teammates and you love your country -- because one does have a self-interest in the outcome.
"Being honest, I'm not feeling a whole lot of positive things right now," Roddick said. "Davis Cup losses are the toughest to take because you're not playing for selfish reasons. You feel like you let your teammates down, your country down. It's tough It's not an easy thing, especially to fight back all that way and to lose. It's tough." [emphasis added]
Angelina Jolie will play Dagney Taggart in “Atlas Shrugged” Movie Adaption
From Variety:Angelina Jolie is set to star in the film adaptation of Ayn Rand's iconic tome "Atlas Shrugged" for Lionsgate. Howard and Karen Baldwin ("Ray"), who hold the rights to Rand's most ambitious novel, are producing with Media Talent Group topper Geyer Kosinski, Jolie's manager. Jolie, a longtime fan of Rand's, was eager to play the role of Dagney Taggart, the most powerful female character in any of Rand's books. A movie version of the Russian-born author's novel, which runs more than 1,100 pages, has been long in the making. For years, producer Al Ruddy tried to bring "Atlas Shrugged" to the bigscreen, attracting the interest of Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway along the way. ["Jolie shoulders 'Atlas'", Pamela McClintock, Variety, Sep. 21, 2006]
Event: Democracy vs. Victory: Why the “Forward Strategy of Freedom” Had to Fail
After Sept. 11 the Bush administration declared that we must go on a mission to bring freedom to the Middle Eastern nations that threaten us; thus, the Forward Strategy of Freedom. According to this strategy, establishing democracies in key Muslim countries, starting with Afghanistan and Iraq, would spur a revolution in the rest of the Muslim world--a revolution that would bring free, pro-Western, anti-terrorist governments to power. But the strategy has failed. With the rise of the religious Shiites in Iraq, of Hamas and of Hezbollah, and with the electoral victories of Islamic radicals elsewhere in the Middle East, the Muslim world has grown more militant. Why has the Forward Strategy of Freedom failed, and why was failure inevitable? What are the flaws inherent in the strategy? How does it necessarily undermine victory? What motivates it and what strategy should replace it? These are the questions Dr. Brook will address in this talk. Who: Yaron Brook, president of the Ayn Rand Institute What: A talk and Q & A explaining why President Bush's strategy to bring democracy to hostile Middle Eastern nations is harmful to America Where: 1 Faneuil Hall Market Pl, Boston, MA 02109 When: Sunday, October 22, 2006, at 6:30 PM The public and media are invited. Admission is FREE.Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring — An Environmentalist Diatribe Against Science
From Dr. Keith Lockitch's op-ed "Reject Environmentalism, Not DDT":[...] Carson filled her book with misinformation--alleging, among other claims, that DDT causes cancer. Her unsubstantiated assertion that continued DDT-use would unleash a cancer epidemic generated a panicked fear of the pesticide that endures as public opinion to this day. But the scientific case against DDT was, and still is, nonexistent. Almost 60 years have passed since the malaria-spraying campaigns began--with hundreds of millions of people exposed to large concentrations of DDT--yet, according to international health scholar Amir Attaran, the scientific literature "has not even one peer reviewed, independently replicated study linking exposure to DDT with any adverse health outcome." Indeed, in a 1956 study human volunteers ate DDT every day for over two years with no ill effects then or since.
Why We Are Losing the War: Five Years After 9/11
The Objectivist Club at NYU Presents Why We Are Losing the War: Five Years After 9/11 with Dr. John D. Lewis Five years after Manhattan was viciously attacked by Islamic holy warriors, the world is still held hostage to their rants and their bombs. Iraq is in turmoil, Syria is emboldened, and Iran, in pursuit of nuclear weapons, intends to wipe Israel off the map and destroy the Great Satan—America. What went wrong? This lecture will show how our failure to identify the ideology of our enemies—Islamic Totalitarianism—has made it impossible to confront them. Drawing on the lessons of America's victory over Japan, this lecture will challenge us to reject our assumptions about the nature of a "just war," and to demand the removal, by force, of Islamic Totalitarianism—State Islam—from the face of the earth. Dr. John Lewis is in the Department of History and Political Science at Ashland University in Ohio. He holds a PhD in classics from the University of Cambridge, a BA in history from the University of Rhode Island, and an Anthem Fellowship for Objectivist Scholarship. He is the author of Solon the Thinker: Political Thought in Archaic Athens, and is now completing a new book, Nothing Less Than Victory: Military Offense and the Lessons of History. Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 Time: 7:30 PMLocation: Kimmel Center – Room 914 60 Washington Square South All non-NYU attendees must register by email to nyu@objectivistclubs.org
WHO Sides with Humanity Against Mosquitoes and Environmentalists
Irvine, CA--The World Health Organization, conceding that alternative methods to fight malaria have failed, will start encouraging the use of DDT around the world."For anyone who cares about human life, this is excellent news," said Dr. Yaron Brook, executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute. "The widespread use of DDT against malaria-carrying mosquitoes can prevent the infection of hundreds of millions of people every year and save millions of lives."
Before environmentalists managed to ban or severely restrict its use, DDT led to a dramatic reduction in malaria cases wherever it was used.
"The decades-long environmentalist opposition to DDT never had any basis in science: for half a century DDT use has been proven safe to humans and deadly to mosquitoes.
"The environmentalists responsible for banning or tightly restricting the use of DDT are responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of people and for the untold suffering of hundreds of millions more, most of them children.
"The environmentalists' persistent opposition to the use of DDT shows that they are indifferent to human suffering. This is because environmentalism places the ‘preservation' of nature above the requirements of human survival and prosperity. Given the choice of eradicating malarial mosquitoes with a man-made pesticide or condemning millions of people to suffering and death, committed environmentalists have consistently opted for the latter.
"Environmentalism is an anti-human ideology that must be eradicated intellectually in order to ensure that deadly diseases such as malaria can be eradicated physically."
Gene Therapy Cures Men Dying of Cancer
Irvine, CA--"Dr Steven Rosenberg and his team of scientists at the National Cancer Institute should be congratulated for developing a gene therapy that eradicated cancer from two dying men," said Dr. Yaron Brook, executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute.The successful treatment using the patients' genetically modified version of their own white blood cells is reported today in the journal Science. "Such a magnificent achievement shows the power of reason and science to unveil nature's secrets, create new life-enhancing technologies, and improve human life. "At a time when reason and science are under attack in American universities, schools and churches, this new medical treatment reminds us that these are crucial values worth defending--and that our very lives depend on successfully doing so."