You are here.
Posted on 03/20/2013 1:13:41 PM PDT by Mozilla
Maybe you’re getting confused with Bill Clinton being into socialism for the easy women.
You are here.
Orwell’s most important insight in 1984 was not how the state uses surveillance, propaganda, ritual, intimidation, etc. to obtain total control.
Rather, it was his recognition of how the state hijacks language itself and, by extension, the process of thought itself, in such a manner that it becomes impossible for its subjects to form a politically incorrect thought.
America’s government-run schools have made great contributions in preparing young adults for such a totalitarian state.
The first time I read, I thought it was an extrapolation of the USSR.
When I recently re-read it, it seemed more like an extrapolation of the US. Especially the part about the permanent “low-intensity” state of war with civilian casualties exceeding those of combatants and shifting alliances. (We have always been allied with Islamic fundamentalists - Afghanistan/Pakistan & Iraq 1976-1989. We are at war with Iraq. 1990 We condemn Islamic fundamentalists. 1990-2008 We have always been opposed to Al Qaeda. We love Islam, a ROP. We support the Muslim Brotherhood. We categorically condemn Islamic terrorists. etc etc etc)
Fixed it.
Orwell knew instinctively the genesis of tyranny. The difference between the French Revolution (which resulted in tyranny) and the American one was that one (the French) was all about the “we” as opposed to the American one, with its emphasis on the “I”. The American Revolution fought for individual rights for every person, whereas the French one fought for the rights of groups. When you have Groupthink, as we have today, it can lead to nothing but tyranny, as the individual is crushed by the tribes (groups), especially with the willing alliance of the press. Most of the progress in history has resulted in an “I” doing the unimaginable, taking risks, and inventing new ways of thinking and doing. The “we” is limited by the herd mentality. Sadly, Marshall McLuhan prophesized that electronic media would increased tribalism. He was right.
Low information voters (morons) used to recuse themselves from political discourse to handle the tougher issues of the best tasting beer, best dressed celebrity and what so and so’s batting average was.
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