Photo: Slate
We recently watched part one of Atlas Shrugged on Netflix. I noticed afterward that there was a related program entitled Ayn Rand and the Prophecy of Atlas Shrugged and thought that might also be interesting. I started watching it and was fascinated by Rand's life and the background of her writings. As I watched, I found myself being convinced that individuals should be equal, and that one individual shouldn't have to sacrifice for the comfort of others. I was buying into the idea that alturism was bad.
Then it hit me as I recalled getting up at 6:00 each morning with the baby, being bitten while nursing, cooking, cooking, cleaning, and cleaning, that individual equality -- equal give and take -- is not like that at all in a family, especially a young one. I don't think a family could function if everything were equal. My kids and house would be a wreck if I didn't disregard my personal comfort and take care of them. We'd also be destitute if my husband didn't personally sacrifice "his" income for the benefit of the family.
So, it's nice in theory that we should all be equal, and it should be possible with adults, but with a family, altruism must rule or the family falls apart.
