Mike
05-24-2005, 06:07 PM
1984 is an outstanding book in which Orwell establishes a society in which the government has complete control over all aspects of life. In saying so, take a look around you. <br><br>Do you like what you see? You may be thinking that you are perfectly content with your life. You may be thinking, "Hey, at least our government is not INGSOC." You may be thinking, "I'm safe behind my wall of democracy." <br>You are not. All government that has ever existed has focused on keeping the wealthy comfortable, adn the poor desperate. People in desperacy seek refuge, and many times that is government. But what would happen if the poor were to become comfortable? It can't happen. <br><br>What keeps citizens obedient? Fear. In the United States, it may not be the fear of death or imprisonment. But it IS the fear of discomfort. Who wants to live a life struggling to keep alive? No one. And that is why we are obedient. We all follow the same path so as not to become one of "them". The lowly, discontent, desperate poor. We want to live our lives in luxury, not pain. <br><br>Our government is INGSOC in the form of democracy. The government preys off our fear not of physical punishment, but constant despair. As long as there is government, there will be deception and pain among the masses and comfort and knowledge among the few. <br><br>So take another look around you. This IS 1984. And no one but the masses can come up with a different way of life. There is no one-step precess to freedom. You have to come up with the answer yourself. Untill then, live with the knowledge that the government DOES control you, and untill all government is done away with, things will nver change. <br><br>To go into the future, we must look to the past.