John Lennon and Ayn Rand say that love is the answer. Do you agree?

[Boojatta]

In one song, Lennon wrote lyrics that perhaps exaggerated somewhat and said that "all you need" (i.e. the only thing that you need) is love.

Ayn Rand wrote this:

For once, it is I who will say that love is the answer (...). If you hold onto the vision of any value you love -- your mind, your work, your wife or husband, or your child -- and remember that that is what the enemy is after, your shudder of rebellion will give you the moral fire, the courage and the intransigence needed in this battle. What fuel can support one's fire? Love for man at his highest potential.

Quote is most of the final paragraph
in "The Age of Envy"
from The New Left: The Anti-Industrial Revolution
Copyright 1971

For some reason, I hear a slight echo of Lenin (not to be confused with Lennon) in Rand's words.

Lenin said of his favorite Beethoven sonata that:

it affects my nerves. I want to say sweet, silly things and pat the heads of people who, living in a filthy hell, can create such beauty. One can’t pat anyone on the head nowadays, they might bite your hand off. They ought to be beaten on the head, beaten mercilessly, although ideally we are against doing any violence to people.

Quoted text is available here:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/gorky-maxim/1924/01/x01.htm

[Naturyl]

1. Sigh....

But on the plus side, I like that option four makes fun of me. :)

[Boojatta]

3. You could be paranoid.

Of course, the mere fact of being paranoid wouldn't prove that they aren't out to make fun of you.

[Naturyl]

8. Exactly, lol.

Plus, I'm right. :)

[onehandle]

2. Fuck Ayn Rand! nt

[Boojatta]

4. Necrophilia with a married Objectivist who isn't one's spouse?

What do you think of the words quoted in the Original Post of this thread? For the moment, try to set aside the fact that there was a naming of names.

[angstlessk]

5. boojatta loves ayn rand...that much I know!

[Boojatta]

6. I started two GD threads. One mentions Marx and Rand. The other mentions Lennon and Rand.

However, before you jump to conclusions, you should use the following link to a thread in the DU Religion/Theology forum:

Three Commandments of Ayn Rand Worship?

[Boojatta]

15. Link...

Karl Marx and Ayn Rand say that the most important thing in life is money. Do you agree?

[Beregond2]

7. "Love for man at his highest potential."

In other words, love for something that can never exist. How convenient.

[Naturyl]

9. For Rand, "his highest potential" means...

The greatest possible level of selfishness.

And that's not an interpretation of Rand, that's what she actually says.

[Mr. Blonde]

10. Perhaps love for striving to reach that highest potential then?

On this I feel in a lot of ways she is right.

[Boojatta]

11. You agree that love is the answer?

You hate Mark David Chapman, don't you? Have you no compassion? You wouldn't take a permanent wage cut to prevent Chapman from being sentenced to death for the cold-blooded killing of Lennon, would you? Yet, Chapman is part of America. Why do you hate America?

:sarcasm:

[Mr. Blonde]

19. Sarcasm I know but

in the sense of the quote I think we can safely assume that Chapman was not even striving for his highest potential. Unless assassinating famous people is the most some people can hope for.

But yes love is usually the answer. Sometimes it is a very perverted love that is only interested in power or glory, but love all the same. I think most often those that are best remembered were driven by a love of man though. A desire to make life better for everyone.

[Ex Lurker]

12. Rand was a hack. Lennon talked a good game

but didn't walk the walk.

[Truth4Justice]

21. Lennon was a street brawler in Liverpool. I guess people can change but I always thought Lennon was

talking the peace talk of the 1960's and didn't really believe in world peace in the future. As long as greed exists I the hearts of men there will be no peace on this planet. Rand was a hypocrite I will not discuss.

[EC]

13. Ayn Rand loved no one.

" Love for man at his highest potential."

Lennon never reached his highest potential (like most of us). Ayn Rand and her ilk make sure we lowly, likely will never reach our highest potential, so in her world there is little love.

[Jack_DeLeon]

14. Actually love like all emotions and wants only cause problems....

according to my flawed understanding of Buddhism.

That being said I'm not Buddhist, and I do think love can be a very important motivator for those living in this world. It gives us reasons to continue to do things. Keeps us going gives us a reason to live and fight. I would kill people to protect those I love, or to punish those who would deprive them of their life and liberty. I also continue to work and strive to improve my self and situation so that I can give provide them with the necessities of life and some of the luxuries we enjoy in this era.

But if you arent living for this world and want to reach nirvana and nothingness, then no, love isnt important.

[tinrobot]

16. Not sure about Ayn Rand, but love is the answer.

Doesn't matter about the question.

2 + 2 = LOVE.

[galileoreloaded]

17. Love IS the answer.....

But you must have the willingness to prosecute your beliefs to make a difference. Between two parties, the most committed to a cause wins. Every time.

[Boojatta]

18. Kick

[SidDithers]

20. "Love is like oxygen...

Love is a many splendored thing
Love lifts us up where we belong
All you need is love"

You'd think the people would have had enough of silly love songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhzzpfN01sU&feature=related

Sid

[Boojatta]

22. Kick

[Boojatta]

23. Kick