Ask yourself, “Who am I?” This question of identity is fundamental. One’s identity encompasses a vast range of concepts, ranging from age, gender, race, name, title, philosophy, religion, nationality, etc. All of these fields compose an individual’s identity. When asking yourself this question attempt to fill all the facets of what makes your identity with discrete terms, for every word has a definite value and meaning. Language is not subjective, the meaning of a concept or word does not change simply because you choose not to recognize its meaning and attempt to give it another.
This principle extends to all of reality. For instance, suppose a group of individuals are isolated into a single room, cut off from all outer stimuli — they decide collectivity that gravity does not exist, and instead they choose to believe that it is the mighty hand of a god, that they collectively recognize, is holding them down to the face of the earth. Does this unanimous decision make gravity cease to exist? No, it does not. Instead, despite their passionate belief in their social decision, they have collectively decided to become ignorant of gravity and reality itself. Reality is objective. No individual, society, government, or ideal can change this fact. Only the real world can alter its being. That is, only through a legitimate natural change, like a shift in the magnetic poles of the earth or a dramatic alteration in the physical universe, can reality be changed — a change of nature by nature is the only means by which nature can be altered. It can never be changed because someone chooses to perceive differently than how it truly is. This holds true for individual identity. Only you, the object controlling the identity in question, can alter it. To discover the true identity, you must rationally examine it and determine what it is.
This is the purpose of my message to you in this snapshot of my thoughts, to help you understand who and what I am. The previous paragraph should give a rough idea of my philosophy in regards to the world and how I view my environment. My thought is objective — that is, pragmatic and realistic. I seek to discover real issues and their possible rational solutions. The topics that I will address in the future are issues that I deem to be relevant to me, and I will present a rational analysis and possible solutions. This will give you an objective perspective on political issues.
I am Christian T. R. Cavender, president and founder of the Objectivist Party of the District of Columbia, an affiliate branch of the Objectivist Party, USA. I was born in Nashville, Tenn., but have lived the span of my eighteen years in Murfreesboro, the geographical center of my wonderful home state and former capital. I am a politically active citizen, being a former candidate for county commissioner for Rutherford County, and a former campaign coordinating assistant for the Republican Party of my home precinct. It is my goal to help further the already heavy political awareness of the American University campus and student body, and perhaps give an alternative viewpoint that is not commonly represented in the AU community.
In short, welcome to my column.
Christian Cavender is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences and a conservative columnist for The Eagle.
edpage@theeagleonline.com
