The White Shoe Irregular:
It was fun while it lasted.

On Thanksgiving Celebrate Producers

The Ayn Rand Institute

[Redactor's Note: The following is an unaltered press release from the Ayn Rand Institute, dated 20 November 2000. The boilerplate explains: "Founded in 1985, the Ayn Rand Institute promotes the philosophy of Ayn Rand, author of Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead."]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARINA DEL RAY, CA — Thanksgiving has traditionally been a time to thank God for good fortune. This tradition needs to be changed because human beings, not God, are responsible for the bounty we celebrate on Thanksgiving, said a senior writer for the Ayn Rand Institute.

"Thanksgiving should be divested of any religious overtones," said Andrew Bernstein. "Instead, we should turn Thanksgiving into a wholly secular celebration of production and individual ability."

"It is America's adherence to reason, not religious dogma, that has caused it to become the world's model of wealth creation," said Bernstein. "Contrary to the claims of the world's clerics, man is responsible for creating wealth and bounty — not God, nature, or luck."

Bernstein said that instead of Americans bowing their heads in humility at Thanksgiving dinner, they should raise their heads and glasses to toast themselves, their friends, and their family in celebration of a bountiful and productive year.