The other day I watched the movie version of The Fountainhead.

It was on one of those old movie channels, and I had never seen it, although I knew that the book had been made into a movie. The movie was OK, but like all movies made from great books, could not touch the book in terms of depth of the story, etc..
I first read the book when I was a senior in high school, and have read it several times these past 22 years.

Watching the movie put me in the mood to read it again, and so the past few days I have had a Rand Fest. Finished it up last night. Man, that was a timely read.
With so many politicians spouting the need to go back to Old European Socialism in America and spewing the collectivism that Rand so devastatingly describes in her book, it was good to read the book again, and have the difference between collectivism and individualism, irrationality and reason, and socialism and capitalism outlined and defined.
This book is not about Architecture. It is about one man who is the embodiment of “The pursuit of Happiness”, standing up to and defying the all powerful arm of the collective masses.
I think the reason why the movie Ferris Buellers day off resonated so well with my generation is because of this one line at the beginning of the movie.

“Ferris: I do have a test today. that wasn’t bull***. It’s on European socialism. I mean, really, what’s the point? I’m not European. I don’t plan on being European. So who cares if they’re socialists? They could be fascist anarchists. It still doesn’t change the fact that I don’t own a car. Not that I condone fascism, or any -ism for that matter. -Ism’s in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an -ism, he should believe in himself. I quote John Lennon, “I don’t believe in The Beatles, I just believe in me.” Good point there. After all, he was the walrus. I could be the walrus. I’d still have to bum rides off people.”

I graduated in 1986, the year the movie came out and I remember my friends excitedly telling me to go see this movie and to make sure I stayed until the very end of the credits.

We all got it, even if we didn’t fully understand the political implications of what he was doing and what he stood for. Here was this kid, who figured it was more important to go spend a great day doing what HE WANTED to do with his friends, rather than take some stupid test on European Socialism.
Pursuit of Happiness.
Right?

Here is the clip of Twist and Shout, the most fun scene in the movie. What kid wouldn’t rather be in a parade than sitting in a government school for six hours a day???
I was spoon fed Socialism at every juncture during my public school years. Growing up in Detroit, where collectivism rears its ugly head at every juncture because of such a passion for unions etc…I was surrounded by socialistic minds at school and in my community. My safe haven was church once a week, and my home where the gospel was being taught lovingly and with great wisdom by my parents.


Hillary is the candidate who most closely represents a European Socialist. This new documentary found here on the web is now available for purchase.
Jenny Hatch