I don’t remember reading 1984 (but plan to) but do remember reading “animal farm” which was required in my school. I see a lot of the same things going on today in politics, politicians, & the news media that was happening on the farm. Isn’t it amazing how easy it is “they” lie to our faces while they are taking away our freedom, murdering us, & committing crimes against humanity against us?
Now would be a good time to study how previously censored, communist-controlled societies emerged out from that way of thinking. See what we can learn about what to do to lift this dystopian mental fog.
Which is worse? Disagreeing with someone or disagreeing with someone's right to disagree. Those on the wrong side of right don't even know the difference.
So there you go we are all equal. No one can change that unless you disagree. And that is your human privilege no matter we’re you are on this planet. 🌎
Great writing Jenna. Yes de facto we were more free in 1984, but our perceptions were just as managed as they are now, because Woodrow Wilson hired Edward Bernays to manage the public perceptions in about 1918.
Though the snooping tendency of government has always been present, it was limited by technology. As Louis Brandeis pointed out so many times a century ago, for many in government courts the constitution and First Amendment are but a parchment barrier. Edward Snowden the world how the government has no regard for the letter or spirit of the rule of law.
I read '1984' in the year itself. I was 17 at the time. I now realise that the freedoms that my generation enjoyed back then will never return. There was no fearmongering of 'pandemics', no hype about climate change being an 'ermergency' (when it wasn't and still isn't), in fact very little media attention to climate issues at all.
For us 1980's teenagers the main global concern was the possibility of nuclear war, as the Cowboy President, his Texan sidekick and their cronies genuinely believed that a nuclear was winnable. Then as now we were supposed to fear the Russians, but I never did and still don't. The main political issue for my generation during 1984/85 was supporting the miners in their battle with the Thatcher government.
But I'm British and most of my generation never gave a toss one way or the other about the Common Market, the EEC, unlike the current generation who obsessively support the EU. Oh well!
How disconcerting to have someone with the surname McCarthy earnestly assuring us that impositions on speech are the domain not of capitalism, but communism. But dominant social narratives are hard to disinvest oneself from.
Free speech, more important than your feelings.
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind"-Bernard Baruch - Investor (1870 - 1965)
Amen!! All the dystopian novels were prophetic- “the Truth will out”!
And 1984 Rocked! Loved my 80’s hair!😂
100% excellent article. The heart of the entire matter
I don’t remember reading 1984 (but plan to) but do remember reading “animal farm” which was required in my school. I see a lot of the same things going on today in politics, politicians, & the news media that was happening on the farm. Isn’t it amazing how easy it is “they” lie to our faces while they are taking away our freedom, murdering us, & committing crimes against humanity against us?
Every time I now hear someone utter, land of the free, I say - think again!
Now would be a good time to study how previously censored, communist-controlled societies emerged out from that way of thinking. See what we can learn about what to do to lift this dystopian mental fog.
I'm with you 99 percent. Would adjust to make it 100 percent with the following (to me it is important)
"The beauty of a Constitutional Republic [democracy] is that if you consider Wilde a pompous blowhard, you’re free to say so."
SO the big question (and I don’t have the answer): What can we do about it except leave computers and TV behind and talk to our neighbors?
Which is worse? Disagreeing with someone or disagreeing with someone's right to disagree. Those on the wrong side of right don't even know the difference.
So there you go we are all equal. No one can change that unless you disagree. And that is your human privilege no matter we’re you are on this planet. 🌎
Great writing Jenna. Yes de facto we were more free in 1984, but our perceptions were just as managed as they are now, because Woodrow Wilson hired Edward Bernays to manage the public perceptions in about 1918.
Though the snooping tendency of government has always been present, it was limited by technology. As Louis Brandeis pointed out so many times a century ago, for many in government courts the constitution and First Amendment are but a parchment barrier. Edward Snowden the world how the government has no regard for the letter or spirit of the rule of law.
Rachel Maddow or Tucker Carlson?
They weren't News Reporters.
Freedom is gone it will take decades or even a century to gain it back.
I read '1984' in the year itself. I was 17 at the time. I now realise that the freedoms that my generation enjoyed back then will never return. There was no fearmongering of 'pandemics', no hype about climate change being an 'ermergency' (when it wasn't and still isn't), in fact very little media attention to climate issues at all.
For us 1980's teenagers the main global concern was the possibility of nuclear war, as the Cowboy President, his Texan sidekick and their cronies genuinely believed that a nuclear was winnable. Then as now we were supposed to fear the Russians, but I never did and still don't. The main political issue for my generation during 1984/85 was supporting the miners in their battle with the Thatcher government.
But I'm British and most of my generation never gave a toss one way or the other about the Common Market, the EEC, unlike the current generation who obsessively support the EU. Oh well!
How disconcerting to have someone with the surname McCarthy earnestly assuring us that impositions on speech are the domain not of capitalism, but communism. But dominant social narratives are hard to disinvest oneself from.
Jenna, you’re not very funny; you’re serious. The New World Order is already here.