Objectively mystical

Respecting the rights of others.

The actor Gary Cooper was born 124 years ago today. He was immortalized in the 1930 Irving Berlin song "Puttin' on the Ritz," and according to Wikipedia, Cooper had leading roles in 84 films. At IMDB, I recognize six titles and have seen four: the biopics Pride of the Yankees (about Lou Gehrig) and Sergeant York, High Noon, and The Fountainhead.

I've seen High Noon twice and changed my mind about it since I first saw it. The first time, as a teenager, I thought it was a tale about cowardice against standing up for what's right. I think this was the intention of the screenwriter, and I've heard that it was a parable about McCarthyism. In later years, however, I thought the supposed cowards were correct: Marshall Will Kane's problem wasn't theirs, and he should have just left town. But now, I'm more likely to interpret High Noon as a parable about facing your problems head-on.

Cooper's other fictional role that I saw was as the architect Howard Roark in The Fountainhead. I rewatched his famous speech, which I recommend you watch before reading further:

My metaphysical viewpoints are mystical, and the author/screenwriter of The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand, was famously materialistic and anti-mystical. But I often encounter quotes by her or her former disciple Nathaniel Branden that align closely with the idea that all the power is within you, and I agree. Jesus quotes the psalmist who wrote, "I said, 'You are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High.'"

In my understanding, your power to create with your mind makes you a god.

The idea of "namaste," or "the divinity within me greets the divinity within you," means that I respect your dignity, which includes the rights and freedoms inherent in being a creator, or god. Rand, too, respected your rights and freedoms. It's inherent in Roark's speech. As Rand wrote elsewhere, "I will not sacrifice myself to anyone – nor sacrifice anyone to myself."

It's not my business whether you are otherwise compassionate or kind. That's a matter of your consciousness and not my territory. And you don't have to like another person or respect their values, tastes, or choices, as long as you respect their rights.

You may not be the "good Samaritan" (Luke 10:30-37), but don't be the robber. Respect the stranger's rights as if they were your spouse or sibling.

If you are willing to sacrifice yourself for the welfare of another person, an idea, an institution, or your country, you are within your rights to do so. I may praise you for it. But if you use physical force to make another person sacrifice, you are a criminal. When the state forces people to make sacrifices, it acts criminally, even if the people in charge were democratically elected.

Whether or not you recognize the divinity in yourself or others, to have basic respect for others means that you will not force them to conform to your opinions of what is good for society. It doesn't matter if you use the force yourself or hand that responsibility to the police.

We are all creators. Let us be free to create.

James Leroy Wilson writes The MVP Chase (subscribe) and JL Cells (subscribe). Thank you for your subscriptions and support! You can contact James for writing, editing, research, and other work at jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.