Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ittvax!wxlvax!awex
From: awex@wxlvax.UUCP (Alan Wexelblat)
Newsgroups: net.philosophy
Subject: A new topic
Message-ID: <194@wxlvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 11-Nov-83 20:20:15 EST
Article-I.D.: wxlvax.194
Posted: Fri Nov 11 20:20:15 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 13-Nov-83 11:37:58 EST
Lines: 41

For those who are tired of debating Objectivism, and all others, I want to 
get some response to the following.  

What I have is a personal dilemma.  I make no excuses for its irrationality,
logical flaws, or whatever.  You are all welcome to point them out to me 
where you see them.  I am interested in ALL reactions, both pro and con.
You can send me mail, or post to the net.

Thesis:  I am a computer science major, who will soon graduate, and enter the
world of full-time employment.  For a variety of reasons (which I will 
enumerate if need be), I cannot be self-employed.  Therefore, I must work 
for some company. 

Belief: I believe that in some way, through my learning and my abilities, I can
make this world better.  I have freely chosen this responsibility, and now plan
to act on it.  Secondarily to this, I believe that I can make a fair amount of
money, thorugh what I have learned, and my abilities.  This is desirable for a
number of reasons, some selfish, some altruistic.  I will enumerate these, if
necessary.

Belief:  I oppose the extention of war.  No, I am not a pacifist in the 
strictest sense.  If you are trying to kill me, and the only way I can stop you
is to kill you, then I will probably do so (extenuating circumstances 
excepted).  I am especially opposed to the massive overkill megadeath war 
machine that America has constructed.  In a world where a handful of submarines
could wipe out civilization as we know it, our present nuclear arsenal is 
unthinkable.  I support higher pay for soldiers, but I oppose construction of 
more aircraft carriers.  I think that every senator who voted for nerve-gas 
production should be thrown out of office next election.  I realize that this
is a very subjective pick-and-choose thesis, but that's the way I feel.

Fact:  the vast majority of technical companies (and universities) are in some
way connected with building this death machine.  
Fact:  I do not want to work for such a company or university, because I do not
want to participate in this collective insanity.
Fact:  For the reasons stated above, I want to get a job in the computer 
science area.

WHAT AM I TO DO?

--Alan Wexelblat (The vanishing Philosopher)