Washington, DC, March 20, 2010: Several "Who is John Galt?" signs bobbed provocatively above a jagged horizon of homemade signs. I edged my way through thousands chanting, "Kill the Bill," wondering how may in this immense crowd knew who John Galt was?
Face to face with Mr. Galt...
Suddenly, several individuals ahead of me moved apart. And there he was... a tall man, feet firmly planted on the hillside. The sign he held announced boldly, "I Am John Galt."
I couldn't resist. The words just popped out.. "I've been waiting to meet you all my life!"
He didn't seem surprised. How very Galt-like...
What do we know about John Galt...
Novelist Ayn Rand painted John Galt, her hero in Atlas Shrugged with a loose brush -- "A tall body in simple garments ... The sole suggestion of luxury was the color of his hair, the strands stirring in the wind like liquid gold and copper."
Readers mostly come to know Galt through the power of his mind -- his passionate speeches against the collectivists determined to crush private initiative. As for her hero's appearance, Rand left much to her readers' imagination.
Strange coincidences ...
This John Galt looked as I'd imagined he might. He had the hero's coppery hair and hazel eyes that looked directly at you. He stood erect and projected confidence.
We easily slipped into a conversation about the Russian-born Rand's respect for the laissez-fair capitalism that built America. Were she still alive, we opined, she'd be sickened that some of the disturbing events she described in Atlas Shrugged are happening today.
John Galt is a shadowy figure for much of Rand's novel. Suspence builds as "Who Is John Galt?" signs sprout up everywhere in the crumbling society. Meanwhile, leading inventors and industrialists continue to vanish. We suspect Galt has something to do with it. When we finally meet Galt, the force of his philosophy and character also magnetizes us. We understand why those who disappeared opted out of a socialistic society that has drained their gifts and efforts and given the fruits of their labors to non producers.
A profession shared ...
I turns out that this DC Galt, whose real name is Curt Lilly, is also an engineer, as was the fictional Galt. A Virginia resident and member of the Shenandoah Valley TEA Party Patriots, he's made four trips to DC since April 2009 to protest big government's encroachment on our rights.
The making of a modern day Galt ...
Curt grew up in southern California. When his dad, a bread deliveryman, was age 44, he bought a locksmith's van and all the works. Father and son learned the business together, through books, classes and, sometimes, winging it. His dad picked him up after school and they would go out on jobs. Within a couple of years, his father had created a security system business that was worth over a million dollars.
"We lived the American dream," Curt stresses. "My dad was industrious. As a kid, he had three paper routes. In his business, he did what he always had. He worked hard, was fair and communicated well. Growing up in this business, I learned the value of a strong work ethic."
Bailout set off alarm ...
George Bush's bailout of the financial companies shocked Curt Lilly into taking a stand. As an engineering student at the University of California and later in life, he had never demonstrated about anything. But after Congress set in motion the second wave of bailouts, this 45-year-old professional showed up for two tax day TEA Party rallies.
Whom he met at the TEA Party ...
"TEA Party patriots are a group of everyday Americans who feel that the Constitution has been trampled and that the time to stop the trampling is NOW. We want a smaller government that gets out of the way of people living."
What motivated him to join the movement ...
"I finally see that these people [those now in power] are serious about taking liberties and redistributing our wealth. Taking someone's wealth and redistributing it to others sucks the desire to succeed right out of that productive individual.
" I want my children to have a shot at the liberties and opportunity to earn wealth that I have had. I hope that our generation will be remembered as the one that beat back the socialists and extremists to preserve our nation."
What he hopes his activism will accomplish ...
"The TEA Party, a large group of Americans standing up for all Americans, is trying to turn the tide. We will continue fighting to overturn the current unconstitutional healthcare legislation that was forced upon us. And we will push for a smaller government that stands up for our rights -- not one that takes them away.
"We're showing the general public how important it is to be informed, educated and involved. Personal liberty and private property are absolutely essential for the American way of life to continue. Hopefully, more patriots will join us in the fight against the power hungry career politicians who are stealing our liberty and property. My greatest fear is that not enough Americans have the stomach to turn things around."
How can the will of the people prevail?
"We must educate everyone about our history -- not the politically correct version. We must get them to see that more of them have to get involved. If we are to win the fight, more of us need to:
- Demonstrate
- Attend meetings and rallies
- Meet with elected representatives and their staffs
- Engage people in conversations
- Display bumper stickers
- Volunteer to help with political races
- Help organize TEA Party events
- Start a website or blog
- Help turn out the vote
Above all, stand up for the Constitution ...
"Avoiding the enemy had led to the fact that we do not now have a voice in education and the media. Conservatives must re-engage, choosing careers in education, the media and politics.
"We have been comfortable too long. Granted, we have been busy raising families and working long hours... But we have failed to protect the Constitution which makes everything possible."
Stand up for America ...
Instead of dropping out and waiting for society to crumble so that we can rebuild like the mythological Phoenix rising from the ashes, this real life John Galt is asking his fellow citizens to stand up for America NOW.
"I don't think we are at the point where thinking and motivated citizens need to run to the mountains, as they did in Atlas Shrugged. We can still take our country back, " Curt concludes. "But it will take incredible work and sacrifice."
