Individualism

Rep. Ben Nighthorse Campbell’s response (letter, Jan. 9) to the Column Right by Michael S. Berliner (“Man’s Best Came With Columbus,” Dec. 30) consists of vituperative falsehoods and exhibits a fallacy identified by Ayn Rand, known as “rewriting reality.” Campbell’s explicit rejection of individualism is only a consequence of his more fundamental rejection of reason. The discovery of reason and objectivity by the ancient Greeks is the distinguishing characteristic of Western civilization and the root of science, technology and individual rights. When men abandon reason, the only alternative is warfare among the special interests.

When such warfare becomes the norm, rather than reasoned debate and respect for the facts, what will prevent the strongest special interest group from gaining control of the political system and then declaring its proletarian, Aryan or multicultural logic superior to all others?

Dictatorship by a particular anti-reason group is the ultimate consequence of today’s political correctness movement.

JERRY KIRKPATRICK, Moreno Valley