Be selfish
One of the most interesting and profound interview ever heard comes from a comedian: Dave Rubin interviews Rucka Rucka Ali on The Dave Report
Dave Rubin is a former stand-up comedian turned political commentator and podcast host. “The Rubin Report” is one of the most interesting political podcasts you can listen too. I find it particularly compelling because of his edgy views on politics: he was born — so to say — on the left side and then he slipped slowly towards the right even if he doesn’t see himself on that side of the poltical spectrum. He’s better described by his guest on this show: he’s a “displaced leftist”, that means he’s still searching for his political home. He’s a critic of the current American left but the good thing about his weltanschauung is his attitude towards every point of view, being it on his side or the opposite.
Basically he doesn’t want to overwhelm ideas but to challange them.
That’s why his podcast is of a controvertial kind: you can listen to far-right speakers on it but it’s just because he’s an advocate of free speech. “I can agree or disagree with you but you can always express your point of view on my show”, that’s his attitude. And he’s a gentleman: how he behaves and how he truly expresses interest for every opinion is always a lesson on how a discussion should be based on the juxtaposition of opposite views to reach new levels of knowledge instead that on the oppression of the one to the other.
I started to listen to this podcast not knowing who Rucka Rucka Ali is nor expecting anything particular. I just thought it could have been funny once in a while, since The Rubin Report is always interesting as much as it is serious.
It was fun, absolutely, but after a while it became interesting indeed. Considering that Rucka Rucka Ali is a YouTube personality with a good number of followers and given that his work is basically to be funny (and he is like that), this discussion turned into one of the most interesting I’ve ever listened to.
Rucka Rucka Ali talks about philosopher and writer Ayn Rand and her book “The Fountainhead”. About capitalism compared to socialism. About the American Left and why he, a jewish born, considers it a lot more dangerous than Trump himself. Rucka Rucka Ali has eventually embraced Objectivism and its view of reality, morality, materialism and selfishness (which is good, according to Objectivism).
All this comes from a comedian. Not exactly what you’d expect but, because of this, much more interesting.
Warmly recommended.
