George Orwell ranks among the most profound social critics of the
modern era. Some of his quotations, more than a half a century old, show
the depth of understanding an enlightened mind can have about the
future.
“In our age there is no such thing as
‘keeping out of politics.’ All issues are political issues, and politics
itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.”
Though many in the modern age have the will to bury their head in the
sand when it comes to political matters, nobody can only concern
themselves with the proverbial pebble in their shoe. If one is
successful in avoiding politics, at some point the effects of the
political decisions they abstained from participating in will reach
their front door. More often than not, by that time the person has
already lost whatever
whisper of a voice the government has allowed them.
“All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.”
Examining the nightly news in the run up to almost any military
intervention will find scores of talking heads crying for blood to flow
in the streets of some city the name of which they just learned to
pronounce. Once the bullets start flying, those that clamored for war
will still be safely on set bringing you up-to-the-minute coverage of
the carnage while their
stock in Raytheon climbs.
“War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going to profit from it.”
It’s pretty self-explanatory and while it may be hard to swallow, it’s certainly true. All it takes is a quick look at who
benefited from the recent wars waged by the United States to see Orwell’s quip take life.
“The very concept of objective truth is fading out of the world. Lies will pass into history.”
My most prized books are a collection of history books from around
the world. I have an Iraqi book that recounts the glory of Saddam
Hussein’s victory over the United States in 1991. I have books from
three different nations claiming that one of their citizens was the
first to fly. As some of the most powerful nations in the world agree to
let certain facts be “
forgotten,” the trend will only get worse. History is written by the victor, and the victor will never be asked if he told the truth.
“In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
Even without commentary, the reader is probably picturing Edward
Snowden or Chelsea Manning. The revolutions of the future will not be
fought with bullets and explosives, but with little bits of data
traveling around the world destroying the false narratives with which
governments shackle their citizens.
“Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.”
Make no mistake about it; if an article does not anger someone, it is
nothing more than a public relations piece. Most of what passes for
news today is little more than an official sounding advertisement for a
product, service, or belief.
“In real life it is always the anvil that breaks the hammer…”
In every conflict, it is not the side that can inflict the most
damage, but the side that can sustain the most damage that ultimately
prevails. History is full of situations in which a military “won the
battles but lost the war.”
“The nationalist not only does not
disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a
remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them.”
Haditha. Panjwai. Maywand District. Mahmudiyah. These names probably
don’t ring a bell, but it is almost a certainty that the reader is aware
of the brutality that occurred in Benghazi. The main difference is that
in the first four incidents, those committing the acts of brutality
were wearing an American flag on their shoulder.
“Threats to freedom of speech, writing
and action, though often trivial in isolation, are cumulative in their
effect and, unless checked, lead to a general disrespect for the rights
of the citizen.”
Everyday there is a new form of censorship or a new method of forcing
people into self-censorship, and the people shrug it off because it
only relates to a small minority. By the time the people realize their
ability to express disapproval has been completely restricted, it may be
too late. That brings us to Orwell’s most haunting quote.
“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—forever.”
Once the people are indoctrinated with nationalistic beliefs, and the
infrastructure to protect them from some constantly-changing and
ever-expanding definition of an enemy is in place, there is no ability
for the people to regain liberty. By the time all of the pieces are in
place, not only is opportunity to regain freedom lost, but the will to
achieve freedom has also evaporated. The reader will truly love Big
Brother.
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