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OrwellianReflectionDay

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a few suggestions for reflection and Discussion

Cult of Personality

A Vocabulary to Eliminate Thought

A Vocabulary to Eliminate Thought

In 1984, Big Brother is a leader who can never be wrong and is the only person who has the ability to save Oceania.  Our world has seen a cults of personalities around leaders  such as Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Kim Jong-un.  


What leaders today have the beginnings of a Cult of Personality?

A Vocabulary to Eliminate Thought

A Vocabulary to Eliminate Thought

A Vocabulary to Eliminate Thought

The "B (political) Vocabulary" of Newspeak, the official language of Oceania in 1984, consists of "two or more words, or portions of words welded together in an easily pronounceable form."  These world are designed to refer to concepts which simultaneously are clear to party adherents but prevent deep thought. 


Do any politicians, groups, or others have such words in its political vocabulary today?  (For further discussion, see "The Principles of Newspeak,"  The Appendix in Orwell's 1984.)

Complete Politicization of Life

A Vocabulary to Eliminate Thought

Complete Politicization of Life

In 1984, every aspect of life is politicized.  This includes love, marriage, family, facial expressions, and even arithmetic (2 + 2 = 5 if the party says so).  


To what degree are aspects of life that would in past years be considered non-political now become political?

Betrayal by Leaders

Control the Future by Controling the Past

Complete Politicization of Life

In Animal Farm, leaders betray those who have given them power.  For example, the leaders of he revolution in Animal Farm begin by proclaiming "All animals are equal," but end by proclaiming "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."  


What are parallels in 20th century history and today?

Factless World

Control the Future by Controling the Past

Control the Future by Controling the Past

 In 1984. history can be changed and party members engage in doublethink.  The purpose is to destroy all independent sources of fact except the party. Indeed, the end result is a public for whom 'facts just don't matter--so whatever the party says today, even if a contradiction of yesterday's infallible pronouncement, is accepted.


 What are parallels today?

Control the Future by Controling the Past

Control the Future by Controling the Past

Control the Future by Controling the Past

"Who cntrols the past controls the furure; who controls the present controls the past"  


Do any of our political leaders seek to control the past?

How to Control the Future

How to Control the Future

How to Control the Future

"Who controls the past controls the future, who controls the present controls the past"  

George Orwell 1984 p 221


Do any of our political leaders try to modify the past?

2 + 2 = ?

How to Control the Future

How to Control the Future

 

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”

George Orwell 1984


Do any of our political leaders gaslight us?

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