Pendragons Princess

I had a wonderful childfree Christmas with my husband this year. We went mountain biking together and had a Christmas picnic lunch (the weather was only 57 degrees, not bad at this time of the year in the desert. So for the picnic we had it bento style: teriyaki chicken with mixed veggies, a green salad, and clementine oranges with chocolates for dessert. The sky was slightly overcast but at least it did not rain. It would have been quite a ride back home if it did - five miles bicycling. Then we had the rest of the day to ourselves in peace and quiet that can only be experienced in heaven. It was a great holiday for us.

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One famous childfree person whose philosophy is probably better known in the western world than her childfree status is Ayn Rand. Ayn was a Russian immigrant who came to the United States to become an author and screenwriter. Those familiar with her name have probably read “The Fountainhead” or some of her other works. Her philosophy known as objectivism, despite its controversiality, has actually rung true with many Americans since the philosophy is inherent in our Constitution: “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Not surprisingly this philosophy is very close to that of David Seabury (”The Art of Selfishness”) and Leo Louis Martello (”How to Prevent Psychic Blackmail.”) Martello openly admired her philosophy. Objectivism is controversial of course to our Judeo-Christian heritage that demands sacrificial altruism from every living person: it states that one exists only to continually sacrifice for others, whether other appreciate the sacrifices or not, or even throw it back into your face. Objectivism states that one has a right to pursue interests and to grow as an individual person through education. Not surprisingly, Ayn rejected the collectivist mentality of the Communist Bolsheviks before she left Russia for the states. But back to her childfree status for a moment: her choice to be childfree is consistent with the objectivist philosophy. The whole notion of slaving and sacrificing for children is strictly Judeo-Christian in nature. Of course, people with kids will never admit they will never gain anything positive from having kids, but that’s normal. It is still taboo for a parent to speak ill of offspring in our society, even if Junior has an extensive rap sheet by the sixteenth birthday.

I didn’t learn anything about objectivist philosophy until my early adult years and why this philosophy is neccesary for survival. Those who become successful in life do so on objectivist principles. People who simply live only to please others will only wind up a zero, as the proverb “He who trim himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away.” goes. Ricky Nelson summed it succintly in his song “Garden Party.” One really cannot please everyone so you are better off trying to please yourself through positive selfishness. The Judeo-Christianists do not like to hear that but when one takes a look at prominent preachers like Mike Murdock, Benny Hinn, Oral Roberts, and Jimmy Bakker, one cannot help but wonder if these figures also subscribe to objectivism in the closet.