One of my favorite books is Atlas Shrugged, while I have some fundamental issues with the "virtue of selfishness" I do find myself in agreement with the philosophy of objectivity...

For this book touched on some deep and compelling topics such as:

1. False forgiveness

2. Love based on fear

3. Can we really deal with contradictions

One of the topics this books raises for me is something where I have seen in the past people on whome's shoulders it seems the world rests. Those people who fix everything, carry the weight of organizations and governments and thinking and tasks... Where this is a virtue or vice (false self sacrifice) can be debated, but fact of the existence of these people and their impact on the world would be undeniable.

Of course the last line of this poem would drive Ann crazy but that is because I felt like the conclusion of her book did not offer up a believable conclusion...

The Guardian:

A dark and heavy mist surrounds his past

In burden and pain, youth lost too fast

A voice you don’t hear calls his name

A destiny so certain oft mistaken for fame

A stranger from a foreign land I came

A stranger in a foreign land I remain

A way before you by my hand I cleared

I knew your torment, I slew what you feared

A guardian; grasped in his hands, a sword

Loneliness in his eyes, justice his sole reward

He holds the purchase price of their freedom by

His bleeding wounds and his quiet inner sigh

A priest who hates religion

A statesman who hates a politician

A titan who despises unearned wealth

A lover who despises unearned love

The general who neither fears nor loves death am I

He treads with the utmost care when he must destroy

The wicked destroying the wicked is the oldest ploy

Instead weary of the irrational soul

A man of action is his role

In a seething world you will see him calm

Barbaric chaos held back by the strength of his arm

Was there mercy in the steel he sold?

Can justice exist in a pirate so bold?

In silence will he sit when falsely accused

While his name and honor they abused

Why? to protect you, the girl he loves

I carried you when you were unaware

On my knees my whisper for you was a prayer

Did you see the moon rise?

When you saw the sun set?

Will you remember my name?

Or is it easier to forget?

He fears only the look of worldly wisdom

You aimed at his innocence

He is troubled only by you

And your careless look of indifference

It’s the power you have over him -

Like Aurelius he neither loves the play

Nor despises those who do

Like Socrates a citizen of the world

And like Solomon a lover too…

How those he loved turned on him

His enemies delight to see him stumble

Even if in his strength he is humble

Like demons they dance around

In dark corners whispers and rumors abound

His face lifeless, his wounds continue to bleed

In the feeling of failure he is unable to breath

Wondering if his strength is not sufficient for this load

And why he is the only man left traveling this road

But perhaps on a lonely night when all is burning

Another silent figure will sense his yearning

Stepping out of the darkness a pirate will make him note

That there is God who loves justice and this will give him hope