Extremists (From The Journals of Ayn Rand. In this part she is forming a female character's opinion of the main character (a male) who is frowned upon for standing by is principles regardless of the consequences that his fellow townspeople will impose.) ".... the idea of the 'extremist' is splendid. We should have more extremists--then life wouldn't be what it is. But she says that 'an extremist is always dangerous' and we all should be just in between, the 'golden mean', the balanced average.

This is a wonderful expression of the view exactly opposite from mine. What I want to show in my book is just the horror of the middle: the illogical, inconsistent, weak, tolerant, mediocre, loathsome middle. For if men were extremists they would follow each idea and feeling to it's end. They would be faithful, straight, and absolute in everything. And they wouldn't tolerate a lot of what is tolerated now. This is just what we need." I want to talk more about this.

It seems so many are wishy washy in their beliefs and in their arguments, which is totally acceptable behavior it seems. Why? Shouldn't we all be clear on our convictions instead of flim flammy about them? I see this as a weakness and a lack of self examination because when you start digging into your own beliefs and having to explain them to yourself in a way that makes sense, even to yourself, it can be a smack in the face to realize your levers aren't lined up accurately and some difficult adjustments would need to happen to get things straight.

What are your thoughts?