Golden Gate Objectivists was started in 2006 because we believe the time is right to take Objectivist intellectual activism to local communities. It has been dormant for the past year or so, due to the organizers being busy with their lives – starting families, completing educations, and operating and growing businesses. We are now in the process of restarting the group, and look forward to reconnecting with existing contacts, and building more.
The statement below is taken from the original group site – www.goldengateobjectivists.com - which is no longer in operation, but to which we link here for a history.
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Over the past two decades, through the efforts of ARI and others, Objectivism has made great strides towards becoming a cultural force. University departments are headed by Objectivists, a growing cadre of young professional intellectuals are entering the market, and the mass media are taking note – inviting ARI speakers to speak on key topics on national TV and publishing OpEd pieces in record numbers.
In parallel, many Objectivists who are not professional intellectuals – doctors, lawyers, business people – have gained a strong education in Objectivist ideas through campus clubs, summer conferences, ARI online lectures and taped lectures sold through the Ayn Rand Bookstore.
Around us, many important issues need to be addressed – from how to combat terrorism to dealing with social security, from improving education to standing up for free speech in the face of Islamo-Fascist intimidation. The Left is dying as a compelling moral force, offering nothing but short–range pragmatism. The Right is picking up strength almost by default – as the only mass movement offering a moral perspective on critical decisions we need to make as individuals and as a country.
We believe that many honest people outside of Objectivism are struggleing to find compelling, non-religious, moral answers to guide their lives. Objectivism is ideally positioned to fill this intellectual vacuum.
In this context, GGO's aim is to bring the Objectivism message to our local communities. We believe we can achieve multiple goals by organizing an outreach–focused community group:
· Engage honest local non-Objectivists in discussions about Objectivist ideas.
· Leverage local knowledge and exposure to have Objectivist intellectuals speak before local groups.
· Gain exposure in local media, including newspapers, TV and online forums, by being local advocates on national topics and becoming involved in local topics with philosophical aspects.
· Re-engage and provide a forum for Objectivists who are passionate about spreading Ayn Rand's ideas but are unable to pursue intellectual activism as a full–time career.
· Serve as a catalyst and forum for local Objectivists to educate themselves in Objectivism and to socialize with like–minded people.
· Broaden the support for ARI – by reactivating 'inactive' Objectivists and by exposing financially qualified, honest non–Objectivists to the right ideas and to ARI speakers.
As this list of goals illustrates, GGO aims to go beyond the 'traditional' community group activities of discussion groups and social events. We believe that a clear, long–range purpose of promoting Objectivism in our local area will help keep participants excited and engaged, whether or not they become friends and want to spend social time together.
We believe we need a core group of 4–10 people in the San Francisco Bay Area willing to co–lead this effort – and that there should to be a dozen or more people willing to contribute their specific skills and interests.
