Ayn Rand

Why do people hate her so much?  I mean, invoking her name in some circles is tanamount to summoning a demonic clone of hitler, or pissing in their face.  Even if you don't like her philosophy, which is very understandable, she was a good writer.  It just weird how hard the dividing line between people on her is.

I think Rand was all for female equality.  Many of her books feature very strong women.  Dagny Taggart springs to mind.  The female protaganist of "the husband I bought" was also far more than a passive figure.  I think one of the other really awsome women in rand's stories was Jinx from "Good Copy".  Its important to note that rand's ideas about women, and sexuality in particular are drawn directly from herself.  In relation to the infamous "rape" scene, Rand said that it was "wishfull thinking".  Quite frankly, I think most people are put of more by the mythos that surrounds her, as none of her base ideals are really that shocking.  She did get mone cynical and hardlined as she aged.  Her non-fiction work is quite frankly appaling, and I thin it does a diservice to her ideals.  It also makes her seem very dated.  At one point she explains mental retardation and homosexuality as caused by being greedy in an altruistic society.  So yes, she was wrong in many areas.  But, think that ultimately, she had the right idea on many things.  I mean, seriously, can you really argue with the basic tenents? "1. "Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed" or "Wishing won't make it so." 2. "You can't eat your cake and have it, too." 3. "Man is an end in himself." 4. "Give me liberty or give me death.""

Makes a lot of sense to me...and as a writer, her non-fiction was worse than her fiction, and within fiction, some of her first works are better, and lack the moralistic overtones.