As I continue reading George Orwell’s 1984, I observe more startling revelations.
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
The above mantra is scattered thoughout the book and the statements are the “three slogans of the Party.” Let’s break it down, shall we?
War is Peace: The only way to achieve peace is through war. Which seems to be the consensus of most world leaders.
Freedom is Slavery: Look no further than the Patriot Act, and the belief that in order to be “safe and free” we must give up our fundamental rights as outlined in the Constitution and become slaves to the government. A pretty socialistic view.
Ignorance is Strength: The ignorance of the public is strength to the government. The less the people know what is going on, the more the government can do to further gain control. Through mass distractions in entertainment (televised Rock, Paper, Scissors?) and disinformation in the mainstream media, the public is kept unaware of what is happening. It eventually reaches the point where society is completely ignorant of the past and present with no hope of a future.
Also in the book, protaganist Winston Smith was employed in the Minsitry of Truth. His job was to re-write newspaper articles to make them relevant to the current time. If someone was “vaporized”, all previous information of them was erased, making it to where they don’t exist. All knowledge of the past, before the Revoloution, was forgotten and rewritten by the Party.
We have a system similar to that in the world today. As the saying goes, “History is written by the winners.” Our schools and government continue to perpetuate the lie the Christopher Colombus discovered America. History textbooks are filled with half-truths and misinformation.
The world of 1984 is a totallitarian socialist regime. “Ingsoc,” which is referenced many times, means English socialism in Newspeak. Are we heading toward Amsoc?
3 Comments
October 7, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Great article Will! I thoroughly enjoyed the read! We will all be erased eventually by our government, its just a matter of time. Yet, I still think that the Brave New World scenario will come to fruition, if it hasn’t already, quite soon.
October 7, 2008 at 10:44 pm
i have no patience for the wilfully ignorant. buy some weapons, learn some skills, wait for collapse. the illusion of freedom in a police state is the last vestigial remnant of a free country.
October 8, 2008 at 6:20 pm
someone has finally written exactly what i have been thinking ever since i have read 1984! and i also agree with chip’s brave new world concept. i think it was a great article.