Ayn Rand on Israel and the Arabs

Liberals are completely baffled why Ayn Rand exerts such a powerful influence on contemporary Conservative world view and philosophy. In the next few months, we will be posting articles, videos, reviews, and book excerpts from Ayn Rand's works. My objective is simple - to be able to clarify for myself the system, meaning, and significance of her philosophy in relation to my own personal beliefs. Hopefully, some readers will also find value in this endeavor.

In this interview (video below) with Phil Donahue in New York in 1979, author and philosopher Ayn Rand explained her views on which side one should choose in the Middle East conflict. Watch:



Here's an excerpt from the interview:

Woman: I'd like to know your opinion on United States foreign policy and what's happening in the Middle East right now.

Ayn Rand: "Right now? I'm not sure we know what's happening. I think the United States' foreign policy has been disgraceful for years, for decades. I would say roughly since the New Deal and in part, even before that.

"But, if you mean whose side should one be on, Israel or the Arabs, I would certainly say Israel because it's the advanced, technological, civilized country amidst a group of almost totally primitive savages who have not changed for years, and who are racist, and who resent Israel because it brings the industry and intelligence and modern technology into their stagnation."

Phil Donahue: I just have one point that I think should be made Ms. Rand, time fleeting here. Your characterization of the situation in the Middle East came down rather gratuitously and in a very angry way on the Arabs and without discussing the merits of either side in the most complicated and painful collision of cultures and peoples in our world. Why couldn't the millions of men, women, and children who are Arab who find themselves in this desperate conflict and look around wondering where peace will be, why can't they be angry with you for your characterization of them, your slap at them, your roundhouse criticism of them? When you don't seem to be able to tolerate a questioner who suggests that she disagrees with you? You do not accept any criticism unless you level it.

Ayn Rand: No, I don't resort to terrorism. I don't go around murdering my opponents, innocent women and children. That is what I have against the Arabs. That takes the conflict out of the sphere of civilized conflict and makes it murderous. And anyone, private citizens who resort to force is a monster and that's what makes me condemn and despise them.

To be honest, I was shocked when I watched this video for the first time. I've been a fan of Ms. Rand since about twenty years ago when I first read "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged." As a conservative, I'm also an ardent supporter of Israel but her blanket description of all Arabs as "primitive savages" is quite simply beyond the pale. It's pure virulent racism that has no place in civilized discussions, in my opinion. I'm wondering if there will be other nasty surprises along the way as I sift through Ayn Rand's work and the available documentations on her as a person and as a philosopher. Would I end up admiring her work and despising her as a person?

Ayn Rand ( /ˈaɪn ˈrænd/;[1] born Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum, February 2 [O.S. January 20] 1905 – March 6, 1982), was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher,[2] playwright, and screenwriter. She is known for her two best-selling novels and for developing a philosophical system she called Objectivism. (Wikipedia)

Her best known publications are "The Fountainhead," "The God of the Machine," and "Atlas Shrugged." We shall be discussing her work in our future posts.