I am new to Objectivist Living. I was an Objectivist in the 1970's. I remember how exciting it was then and like so many others imagined a world where Objectivism would prevail. I later left the movement because I felt it was so judgemental that people wouldn't have a chance to learn what it was really like. I think Ayn Rand was the cause and the seed of that animosity toward certain people. I read the topics above and thought to myself, my god, what has Objectivism become? I now understand why Objectivism didn't become what I thought it could. What a shame. It seems strange to me that a philosophy of reason could be overwhelmed by emotion. Passion is important, no doubt about it, but look what it has turned many in the Objectivist movement into. When I read what some Objectivists advocate, I fine myself left with one question - Where is the reason? It's like a paradox to me. A philosophy of reason becomes a movement by many adherents into something that could promote the killing of innocent humans. Yes, there is collateral damage in war, but when I look at the ideas from the other groups of Objectivists... Wow. They are blinded by their emotions and they don't know it. The feeling I got from Objectivism in the 1970's was the love of life. That was at the base of the movement along with the concept of Individual Rights. Now... I can only shake my head in disbelief. What happened to those wonderful ideas? Where did things go so wrong? What can be done to get back on course? In a way, I feel that we need a George Bush for the movement. What? A George Bush? Yes, but only in regard to one part of what George Bush became after 9/11. He became a man who saw what needed to be done and has done it to a remarkable level. No, I don't like so many parts of his administration. In fact, there are only two courses of action I approve of. One is his fight in the war on terror and the other are the tax cuts he put in place. When I say we need a George Bush for Objectivism, I am talking only about finding a leader who sees important issues with great clarity and takes decisive action like George Bush did in his fight against Islamic Facists. There has not been a successful attack on American soil since 9/11. After that attack, we all felt a successful attack would happen again, and happen in less than five years. In that regard, George Bush has been very successful. It will be interesting to see if Objectivism finds those people who can lead the movement and teach others what Objectivism was meant to be, what I saw in the 1970's. Ed Kalski