At a time when a highly infectious biological virus, the coronavirus, is spreading – as is an equally infectious psychological virus, panic – I wanted to take the opportunity to reach out with a message on what we at The Atlas Society are doing to respond to both.
First, we are recommitting to core values, including reason, productivity, benevolent self-interest, and achievement. Reason starts with a recognition that reality exists, that A is A – and in a time when our best epidemiological understanding of the “A” of COVID-19 is evolving, we are taking individual measures with each member of our team to be safe so that we can continue to ramp up the increased impact The Atlas Society has had in engaging the next generation with the ideas of Ayn Rand in creative ways.
Far from backing down or slowing work on any project, we are doubling down on productivity, and taking advantage of this time to work on large-scale projects that require time and thought, such as writing The Pocket Guide to Postmodernism, speeding production of RED PAWN: The Graphic Novel and moving forward on a Hebrew translation of ANTHEM: The Graphic Novel. You’ll hear from me in the coming months with updates on the progress of these projects – and more.
Just as Sir Isaac Newton made some of his greatest discoveries in math and physics while self-quarantined during the Great Plague of London (which decimated nearly a quarter of the city's population in 1665-1666), we are inspired to increase our impact – with new videos, new publications, and new online learning content – in the weeks and months ahead, so that as the current crisis runs its course, The Atlas Society will emerge even stronger and more committed than before.
Fortunately we are already uniquely positioned to increase impact with minimal disruption thanks to four factors:
That attitude was most magnificently articulated in Ayn Rand’s favorite poem, which she requested to be read by David Kelley, Ph.D, at her memorial as the only form of eulogy. That poem, of course, is Rudyard Kipling’s immortal paean to perseverance: “If.” It’s worth revisiting in full – and repeating as a daily meditation – in the weeks ahead. I hope you will join me, and “keep your head when all about you/ Are losing theirs and blaming it on you/ ...trust yourself when all men doubt you/ But make allowance for their doubting too/ ….or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,/ And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools.”
We have the tools, we have the team, and we have the conviction and confidence to conquer adversity, and emerge stronger than ever before. And we never forget that the work is made possible by the donors who continue to invest in The Atlas Society, for which we’re profoundly grateful. Please help us provide a return on that investment and support our commitment to sharing Objectivist principles with young people by donating to our work today through our secure online portal.
Thank you for your continued partnership, which allows our work to continue because we have conviction that individual ingenuity, innovation, and the resilience of our free market will pull us through. While the government takes appropriate measures to protect safety, we will relentlessly teach young people that it is the entrepreneurs, the scientists, the artists – all the men and women of creative ability – who are responsible for advancing civilization, and we will continue to defend the principles that make true progress possible.
Grit, grace and gratitude,
Jennifer Anju Grossman
Jennifer Anju Grossman (JAG) se convirtió en directora ejecutiva de la Sociedad Atlas en marzo de 2016. Desde entonces, ha cambiado el enfoque de la organización para que los jóvenes se interesen por las ideas de Ayn Rand de manera creativa. Antes de unirse a The Atlas Society, se desempeñó como vicepresidenta sénior de Dole Food Company y creó el Instituto de Nutrición de Dole, una organización de investigación y educación, a instancias del presidente de Dole, David H. Murdock. También se desempeñó como directora de educación en el Instituto Cato y trabajó en estrecha colaboración con el fallecido filántropo Theodore J. Forstmann para crear el Fondo de Becas para Niños. Como redactora de discursos para el presidente George H. W. Bush, Grossman ha escrito para publicaciones nacionales y locales. Se graduó con honores en Harvard.