You'll find a full explanation at the Slog post, but here are the four proposed options for the future of Ayn Rand's portrait:
(A) We auction her off in next year’s Strangercrombie and give the proceeds to a worthy charitable cause, which would make Rand (who despised altruism) roll over in her grave.
(B) We hang it over Paul Constant’s desk, after all he’s the one who wrote in The Stranger: “If you’re over 25 and you still think her books are great, you’re (a) white and (b) an asshole.”
(C) Cut holes where her eyes are and put it over a urinal. (Paul’s idea—which really kinda makes you want to tack her up on his wall, doesn’t it?)
(D) We hold an essay contest in Slog comments under the subject: “Why This Portrait Is Rightfully Mine and No One Else’s.” No word limit.
I'm in favor of option D, although I'm in total agreement with Paul Constant's snarky assertion in option B.Full disclosure:
I loved "The Fountainhead" when I read it in high school for my honors English class. Then I read "Atlas Shrugged" in college and was still into her shtick (probably because I wasn't thinking about objectivism so much as how John Galt seemed like he'd be hot). But by the time I read "Anthem" post-college, thanks to a boyfriend who was way too into Rand's whole "looking out for #1" philosophy, I really, really wanted to tell Ayn Rand (not to mention the narcissistic BF) to shut the hell up.
So, yeah. If you're over 25 and still into Ayn Rand, you're an asshole. Or a Republican.
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