The history of man , as presented in the Old Testament , suggests a self-actualization philosophy . Man can reach his potential when he develops his powers of reason and love for mankind. In doing so, man's able to preserve individuality and integrity while pursuing values of justice and universal peace in spite of his weakness, and moral failings. Yet, his days are numbered "end of days" with the coming of the Messiah. Centuries later Christian thinkers, with the rise of the universities in Paris and Bologna, suggested that the social order must encompass the spiritual principles of Christianity. However, today's reality is different. Man experiences anxiety, frustration, anger and resentment with a sour mood. Common sense is not apparent with the threat of nuclear war, climate change, political ineptness and authoritarianism. On the other hand, indictments of Trump are associated with hope. This essay depicts a few ideas found in George Orwell's 1984.
Before the World Wars, Stalin, Hitler, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there were positive utopias written such as Thomas More’s Utopia . More’s book critically penetrated the irrationality and injustice in society, but did not suggest we are in the period of " end of days." Subsequently, Huxley's Brave New World, published in 1932 and George Orwell's 1984, published in 1949 presented an opinion that did not suggest that man's nature was relative , a blank sheet of paper that can be modified at will. Instead, they insisted the nature of man is driven to fight hopelessness and powerlessness in his quest for freedom, integrity, justice, truth, love and solidarity. However , both authors acknowledged that society imposed mass suggestions , hypnosis for the populace; drugs, torture, and brainwashing. Yet, the paradox exists. Although we’ve had tremendous advances in science, technology , food production, and health , we remain faced with loss of individuality with the dangers of bureaucracy, automation, income inequality and artificial intelligence,
In 1984, there were three dictatorial powers situated in European Russia, Western Europe and North America. Despite the agreement that no more nuclear bombs should be dropped, the three existing powers continued to produce and store weapons of destruction . They “believed” that peace would be “maintained" by having nuclear weapons but did not trust the others to keep the peace . What a projection !
The concept of war was related to arms production . In 1984 , it was believed that weaponry production was both a necessity and necessary for the economic system to function properly. Today, there’s a constant review and preparation for war, as well as the constant fear of being attacked with plans to annihilate one's opponents . How is striving for freedom and continuing to find and look for new technologies to destroy the enemy related to peace ? In other words, to not trust and arm in order for peace is propaganda . Today ,we and our allies are supplying Ukraine in its fight against Russia . We are told that providing these weapons will lead to a safer world . For whom I ask ?
We have the Republican cult talking about truth by destroying something called woke . They do not even pretend that this is going to make individuals happier or safer . Orwell used doublethink accurately. We currently have many examples of "Doublethink." Doublethink is the ability to hold two contradictory feelings in one's mind simultaneously, and accept both of them at the same time . The unconscious is also apparent because not going along with doublethink propaganda can bring a feeling of falsity and guilt. Current examples of doublethink include having the biggest military budget in the world = peace; censorship = enlightenment; slavery =freedom and skill development ; January 6 = patriotism; Abortion = killing ; 2020 election=fraud . Do not forget to believe a pathological liar when he said the election was rigged and fraudulent .
Statistically, books targeted for censorship in America's libraries in 2022 were nearly 40% over 2021 with 40% of those pertaining to LGBTQ according to the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom. In San Diego, 2 neighborhood residents of one Library branch informed the manager of that Library that they checked out nearly all of the books in the Pride display and would not return them unless the library permanently removed them because they considered it "inappropriate content." Another example of censorship was from a group called Catholic Vote. This group is not affiliated with the Catholic Church. They have a campaign that describes LGBTQ characters and families as pornographic and obscene and should not be available for young library patrons. The role of public libraries is to provide a place to find information , art, etc. for anyone in the community .
Orwell also described the ability to manipulate the historical past by removing or erasing evidence of it. In other words, there was no objective fact , but only the existence of information provided by the party . The power structure of the party determined and controlled the truth.. The sensors in essence, propagated learning, thinking and memory.. We have book bannings and have eliminated certain subjects and classes by a small minority especially regarding slavery . Orwell wrote “ Who controls the past controls the future and Who controls the present controls the past. “
Individuals, many of whom , now think the opposite of what is true and they're not aware of the discrepancy between falsehoods , reality or between truth and falsehoods . Are we the number one country in the world ? World rankings of countries tell another story. It’s just another illusion . What about the Christian view regarding killing as evil or more evil than being killed ? Jesus preached love thy neighbor ; blessed are the poor ; the 10 Commandments etc. A Christian Mike Pence did not say Trump’s actions on January 6 were criminal. What type of Christian is Pence ?
The authoritarians have no trouble with doublethink, because they believe that man is frail, cowardly , wants to escape from freedom and therefore is unable to face the truth. The aim of authoritarianism is not truth but power .Power not as a means, but as an end which means man's capacity to inflict unlimited pain-and-suffering on other human beings.
Examples of power and misleading are a CEO’s “truth”. CEO’s have no trouble telling the shareholders and others that their product is the best and better than the competition, regardless of objective reality or even proof. CEOs have no trouble leaving one company and going to the other and allowing the truth to change from product to product. The new product becomes the best, the state-of-the-art etc.. The new truth will be as true as the old one. It’s the same with advertising. These products are advertised with a testimonial paid to some individual that says this product did wonders. Once again there is no objective evidence that demonstrates one product is better than another product. It's all about marketing, profit and possessing . Take for example that 71 million people or so that voted for Trump in 2020. So ,with the belief that the election was stolen , there was a consensus. How can 71 million be wrong about that lie ? Truth and accuracy is not at all objective judgment, but a brain washing technique.
We have a number of authoritarian leaders throughout the world as in Russia: Turkey; North Korea; China; Hungary; Iran ; Saudi Arabia and others. How long will our world continue to have these mad men as leaders ? Have we lost our power of individuality, love, rationality, reason, and humanity. ? Are we unaware of all the doublethink ? Reality is what the cult preaches. For example, Republicans have a script that they all follow such as Biden is evil or they are not scientists so they have no opinion re climate change. In fact, these Republican characters all repeat, robotically the same phraseology over and over again. After a while, the lie has a numbing effect and becomes effective ?
It's only been 74 years since Orwell's prediction. Brilliantly, Orwell’s insights depict the history of man which permitted him to predict the repetition of irrationality and susceptibility . Hopefully, man's human nature is not relative so we can prevail and overcome fear, short sightedness, hate, poverty and madness .
PS
A book must be the ax for the frozen sea inside us, said Franz Kafka.
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