19-Nov-04

Letter to the Editor,

The lack of indignation on the part of the left regarding racist criticisms of Condoleezza Rice—some of which liken her to Aunt Jemima—should not be surprising. Many people believe that the silence of organizations such as the NAACP and prominent black “leaders” is a contradiction, when in fact they are being completely consistent.

Let’s keep in mind that the fundamental premise underlying racism is collectivism and we will see that the issue at stake here is individualism vs. collectivism. Ayn Rand identifies the relationship when she writes “collectivism means the subjugation of the individual to a group—whether to a race, class or state does not matter.” With that in mind, it should be no surprise that those who pedal racism and use it to their advantage are not going to recognize the achievements of individuals who succeed on their own and rise above it.

Notice that the rhetoric of these organizations places emphasis on the “black community” and only recognizes those who participate in and “give back” to it. Both their words and their actions show us that they place the community above the individual.

The fact that they turn a blind eye towards racist words and deeds when they are directed against independent individuals is because racism, contrary to their claims, is not their primary concern. In fact, they would rather foster it so they can use it to their advantage—at times even seeing it where it does not exist. Notice the outcry of racism by some who viewed the TV ad before the Monday Night Football game.

Since the manner in which the left chooses to cry or not cry foul is merely symptomatic of a wider issue, we should not waste our energy attempting to point out contradictions and demanding consistency and equal criticism from them. Instead, we should identify the root cause, the true nature of the battle, and fight to promote a rational philosophy, such as Ayn Rand’s Objectivism, which places the emphasis on the individual above the collective.

And let’s not fall into traps along the way by declaring that women like Condoleezza Rice should be an inspiration to other black people. This is their rhetoric, not ours. Women like Condoleezza Rice should be an inspiration to every man and woman—an example of how far one can go, each of us on our own, as individuals.

Eric J. Lakits