Will the real Howard Roark please come forward

Howard Roark, for those unaware, is the hero of the book, "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand.

Now aside from the fact that this book so utterly and completely pisses off socialists and would be dictatorial types, it shows us an example of someone who has always fought against the mob mentality because of his insistence of living and working to his own ideals.

First of all some of the basic facts presented here are that altruism is nothing more than a disguise for controlling people "for their own good".

The idea that there is a mob mentality and that there are people who ever endeavor to manipulate the mob is central to everyday society.

Most people are conditioned to look towards others, indicated to be their "betters", to base their own opinions.

Then we have Howard Roark.  Roark is an individualist.  He looks to his own experiences and education (much of it self education) to form not only his opinions, but to set his own goals, ambitions and to see to his own values and principles.

The crowd, the mob, doesn't really figure in to his movement through the world except as an antagonist and stumbling block.

Howard Roark himself is an ideal of Rand's.  He represents what people in this country could be if left alone to live their life from government and social manipulation.

One question often asked is who in the real world might be most like Howard Roark.  The answer is everyone and no one.

Howard Roark exists as an epitome of the self driven, self guided person.  Just about everything about his character is an extreme.  Roark's movements in Rand's book are arch-typical.  No one can ever really be an exact Howard Roark because that kind of person can't exist outside of fiction.

However, the potential for every person to aspire to be like Roark in all the best ways is very possible.

One sad and disappointing aspect of our western culture has become the "end justifies the means" mentality.

In truth, it is the journey toward the end that makes the end such a reward.

We tell our children all the time that it's not winning every game that matters but how we played that is most important.

We tell our children that if we fall off the horse we need to get right back up on it and not give up.

We tell our children that if they were to quit worrying about what everyone else does or says and stay focused on their own endeavors, they will get more done and be much happier.

We tell our children these things and these things are Howard Roark.  We tell them these things then we promptly forget about them when we grow up and live our own lives.

Think for ourselves; don't let others live our lives for us; aspire to something great; don't quit just because it gets difficult; don't expect everyone else to do it for you.

All these are things we grew up hearing. These are all things, we have been told that help us "build character".

 

All of these things are Howard Roark.  WE can be Howard Roark if we work at it.  Howard is his own hero.  He rises to the occasion and accepts his defeats the same way he accepts his successes.  Quietly, passionately, respectfully and unapologetically.

Who is the real Howard Roark? I am,  you might be too.