Orwell in 2007
Orwell in 2007
By Robert Weiner and John Larmett
The Oregonian
Sunday 14 October 2007
In "1984," the novel that most baby boomers read in high school, George Orwell creates a theoretical modern-day government with absolute power - a state in which government, called the Party, monitors and controls every aspect of human life to the extent that even having a disloyal thought is against the law.
On Sept. 26, a federal judge in Eugene ruled that crucial parts of the USA Patriot Act are unconstitutional because they allow federal surveillance and searches of American citizens without demonstrating probable cause. U.S. District Judge Ann L. Aiken said the federal government would "amend the Bill of Rights, by giving it an interpretation that would deprive it of any real meaning."
Ruling in favor of an Oregon lawyer who challenged the act after he was mistakenly linked to the 2004 train bombings in Madrid, Spain, Aiken stated: "A shift to a nation based on extra-constitutional authority is prohibited, as well as ill advised."
Earlier in September, another federal judge, this one in New York, ordered the FBI to stop obtaining e-mail and telephone data without first securing a warrant. The secrecy provisions are "the legislative equivalent of breaking and entering, with an ominous free pass to the hijacking of constitutional values," U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero wrote.
In "1984," the Party barrages citizens with psychological stimuli designed to overwhelm the mind. The giant telescreen in every room monitors behavior. People are continuously reminded of government's surveillance, especially by omnipresent signs reading, "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU." Individuals are encouraged to spy on each other, even children on their parents, and report any instance of disloyalty to the Party - i.e., government.
"1984" is happening in 2007.
via: truthout
posted by Indigobusiness @ Tuesday, October 16, 2007
5 Comments
5 Comments:
funny that - i was having this conversation with a friend and we came to the conclusion "1984" commenced in Britain a few years ago. My mum calls it the end days...
Not sure of any specific demarcation, only that Orwell was eerily prescient in his take on the trends of society and power.
The jig is up. It's foolish to ignore, or pretend otherwise. The Hopi call it the Great Purification. I can hardly think of any wisdom tradition without a version of it.
Wouldn't want to be growing up amidst it. That's what gets to me, the children's lot.
Maybe the children will find a way beyond this madness. Thats what I hope for anyway. Children can be quite influential in a micro (home)level - I've seen it happen.
But I do get your point. There are many people concerned about the kind of world we are bringing our children into & making a decision not to.
I fear a state where so many are so disheartened that it will defeat us in the end. That seems a tragedy to me. We can make things better, right?
Buddhism says the trick is to find joy, regardless.
The Bible says to welcome the shake-up. I guess it's part of a necessary process: ironic, paradoxical and counter-intuitive as all that is. It's already painful as Hell. The gnashing-of-teeth part is a bitch on wheels.
My take is we naturally view it from our illusory lens as individuals, while it might just be
endemic to any arising intelligence, and the deeper significance of the overarching interconnectedness is hard to understand.
My solace resides in an absolute trust in the fullness of that process. Quizzical as I might be.
Collectivity arises from connectivity; people are realising this more + more (in my view).
Thank you :)
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