Yaron, Yuna and upcoming events (2022-09-21)

I had a great time as moderator and host of a speech by Yaron Brook, chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute. He later mentioned this event and also praised me on his YouTube channel.

He is in town for a huge international conference, but he took time to visit SUFS to give a talk based on his book “Equal is Unfair.”

I was the moderator. Until the students started asking questions it was up to me to ask questions and move the conversation along.

When I was young I learned about Objectivism, I read Ayn Rand’s novels and collections of essays, and was a member of the Objectivist Club at Harvard. Out of my many debates and discussions at Harvard, those were the most robust and had the least amount of name-calling and questioning of motives.

I didn’t stay with Objectivism, but yesterday was a reminder of my younger days of debating anyone.

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After moderating that event, I returned to the FSI office to meet North Korean refugee Yuna Jung. She and FSI co-founder Eunkoo Lee will be going to Manila next week to participate in the 2022 Asia Liberty Forum.

Yuna and Eunkoo talked about the logistics of the conference.

I talked with Yuna about her speech.

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September 27-28 US time, FSI will have five speakers participating in events in three different countries. Two of the events are public although you would need to check with the host organizations for registration and other information. https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/fsis-upcoming-2022-events-193509

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Happy birthday next week Songmi Han! https://www.facebook.com/donate/1678816285852971 or https://give.lovetnkr.com/Songmi-Hans-birthday for details]

FSI on Patreon:

Greenlight to Freedom on Patreon

Rich talking back

The rich are talked about very often in negative terms, but how often do the rich respond in kind? Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, who inherited most of her money but apparently has also done very well with it, recently railed against class warfare and had some advice for the non-rich : "There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire," she writes. "If you're jealous of those with more money, don't just sit there and complain. Do something to make more money yourself - spend less time drinking, or smoking and socializing and more time working." She complained about politicians raising taxes, regulations that slow investment, and other anti-business policies that harm the poor. "If you want to help the poor and our next generation, make investment, reinvenstment and businesses welcome."

Common Sense on North Korea (Korea Times, April 2, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. As interesting as Kookmin University professor Andrei Lankov’s writings are, there is nothing quite like attending one of his lectures. He can barely restrain himself behind the podium, often pointing and waving his arms. I also enjoy his unscripted speeches, but his answers in Q&A sessions are like the difference between watching Michael Jordan shoot baskets in warm-ups and an actual game. I have finally discovered the secret behind Lankov’s consistently solid analysis about North Korea: Use common sense. At an Asan Institute conference last summer, he argued that North Korea watchers should try to understand North Korea from its perspective. Don’t most people know that you must understand the mindset of others you are dealing with? Yet, common sense in theory gets ignored politically. From the North Korean perspective, nuclear weapons are the best thing they’ve got going. They will NOT give them up easily, even if President Obama ...

Park Jin welcoming remarks to FSI (and Casey Lartigue)

National Assembly member Park Jin makes the welcoming remarks at FSI's conference featuring North Korean diplomats. Park Jin | Greeting message to FSI and Casey Lartigue mention - YouTube

Random photos from today

I went walking around today. Whereas some people like to go walking in the mountains, I enjoy walking around in the city. Well, not D.C. or other cities with many homeless, crazy and/or armed people walking around... * * * Here's where I had lunch today. About $1.90 for a hamburger hamberger. * * * Ha-ha! Bet you never would have guessed that Batman is a drinking place in Korea! * * * Man Clinic? The Koreans walking by seemed to be very curious about why I was taking a photo of a "Man Clinic." They may know something I don't know...Actually, I wasn't curious enough to go in and find out what it was... * * * Right down the street from the Man Clinic...there's a Love Shop! I love the euphemism. "Love Shop" sounds much better than Sex Shop. I'm guessing that if you don't go to the "Love Shop" to buy condoms that you may need to visit the Man Clinic a short time later? * * * Nobo...

To be a good volunteer, use your brain (Korea Times, December 5, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. There is probably an unwritten rule that a celebrity offering to do volunteer work for a good cause should immediately be embraced. Well, that’s not what happened to Jeong So-dam, the glamorous Korean cable TV announcer when our paths crossed on Nov. 29. Ms. Jeong was the MC of an event about American political philosophy hosted by the Association for Economic Evolution. During my speech about American libertarianism since 1940, I discussed my volunteer work for North Korean refugees. After the speech, Jeong approached me, asking how she could help. I gave her the same tough love I give to potential volunteers by asking: “Who are you?” After all, if you are Bill Gates, then open your wallet. If you speak four languages, then help with translation work. So I first stress to potential volunteers: Use your brain. Tell us about your skills and interests so together we can figure out your initial role. Jeong was good-natured about it, rather than c...

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