The Enlightenment era of the 18th century was one of the most dynamic in history and brought forth breathtaking advances in science, industry, and the humanities that helped create the conditions leading to the birth of the first constitutional republic, the United States of America.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Read more →An understanding and defense of individual rights is of fundamental importance for those wishing to restore the republic in America, and one of the most vigorous defenders of rights was novelist/philosopher Ayn Rand.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Read more →Much of the justification for the enormous expansion of government during America’s history has been by reference to the importance of the “public interest.” As the use of the public interest in laws and policies has grown, the rights of individuals have been correspondingly diminished. This situation has occurred even though the public interest has never been defined, raising the question: why are we as individuals coming in second to an idea without a proper definition? The consequence of using the public interest in laws and policies has been an enormous increase in influence peddling and cronyism as individuals and interested parties vie to fill the vacuum created by the use of an idea without a proper definition. This podcast explains why only something that is truly universal can properly be classified as being in the public interest.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Read more →The following speech was first delivered by Alexandra York during the “Art and the Moral Imagination” conference at Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan and re-printed by Vital Speeches of the Day. Ms. York has graciously allowed it to be reprinted here to support the launching of ROAR’s website.
Read more →The Spirit of the Enlightenment in Education The defining spirit of Restore Our American Republic (ROAR) is the spirit of the Enlightenment, a time of youthful exuberance and curiosity that led to an age characterized by a celebration of the individual. As such, ROAR is opposed to the failed
Read more →With the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump a few days away, it seems appropriate to take another look at the phenomenon of his successful campaign while issuing a few cautionary comments concerning his upcoming administration. – Mike Gemmell   January 17, 2017 2016: The Year That Was and
Read more →One of the hallmarks of great fiction is when an author is able to dramatize value conflicts in order to convey an unforgettably inspiring message, one rich with meaning, while at the same time delivering a story suspenseful enough so that readers are unable to tear themselves from the pages of the work until late into the night. In my opinion, no writer in today’s world does this more consistently than Alexandra York, and her latest creation, ADAMAS, is a fitting addition to her earlier works The Innocent and Crosspoints: A Novel of Choice. With ADAMAS she has once again created a riveting, romantic suspense novel with a beautifully drawn hero and heroine who inspire us with their courageous actions while providing us with the kind of food for the mind and soul that stays with the reader long after the final page has been turned.
Read more →Following the brief discussion below concerning free speech is the main essay for this issue of “The Week in Review.” The Roots of War discusses the ideas presented in Ayn Rand’s seminal essay and why they are relevant in today’s world more than ever. – Mike Gemmell   Â
Read more →“Nothing can be loved or hated unless it is first understood.” – Leonardo Da Vinci Why Are We Lionizing Fidel Castro? I’ve decided to start this post with the following question: Why are political and cultural leaders all over the world fawning over Fidel Castro following his
Read more →Lisa VanDamme founded the VanDamme Academy in 2001 after working several years as a private homeschool teacher for two children. According to Miss VanDamme, the goal of education is the following:
“The proper goal of education is to foster the conceptual development of the child—to instill in him the knowledge and cognitive powers needed for mature life. It involves taking the whole of human knowledge, selecting that which is essential to the child’s conceptual development, presenting it in a way that allows the student to clearly grasp both the material itself and its value to his life, and thereby supplying him with both crucial knowledge and the rational thinking skills that will enable him to acquire real knowledge ever after.
Read more →