Matthew Stinson and Doc J lay their fists down on the bleedingly Movement Objectivist list of 35 Heroes Of Freedom published by Reason.

Is it just me, or does Reason’s list of “35 Heroes of Freedom” read like it was written by the president of a high school Cbjectivist club? Racist smut-peddler Larry Flynt gets a nod, but Pope John Paul II, who fought tyrannies more profound than American obscenity law, does not. Rand (predictably) makes the cut, but Reagan, bizarrely, is left out. I could go on, but that gives the list more credit than it deserves. Well, one last thing is worth mentioning: when the Reason folks write of Nelson Mandela, “Mandela cheerfully served a prison sentence that would have left Jesus bitter and spiteful,” it speaks volumes about the libertarian establishment’s* ignorance of religion in general and Christianity in particular.

[...]* Many individual libertarians are exempted from this criticism.

I wouldn’t pull my hairs out trying to pick apart their choices. This is, rather, indicative that Movement Objectivism and the movement itself are just as vulnerable to hubris and ideological purity as everyone else.

I don’t think PJPII was not included in this list, because they are ignorant of religion in general and Christianity in particular, but because they refuse to acknowledge the works of a person whose rationale is not based on Objectivism’s premise of rational purity. Not only is this puerile, this is also almost a reflexive reaction. Narrowing my mind that way is unconscionable to me.

If the works and results alone are considered, I see no reason why PJPII isn’t included. This seems to be a case where his work and merit weren’t balanced against his offenses (of which there are many in the eyes of most). This is a case where he wasn’t even considered because he was a religious leader.

This isn’t plain ignorance. This is willful ignorance, hubris, and philosophical and ideological purity rolled into one.