1984

[Nordmadr]

Well, I just finished actually reading the book "1984" yesterday for the first time. "Wow" is my first reaction.

I can so see the tendencies down that path already beginning in our country. The perpetual war, the media manipulation, the whole "you are with us or against us" attitude. It really sort of freaks me out.

As long as there is warm, red blood flowing in my veins...Mr. Bush...I am against you. Stick your propoganda, and truth manipulation right up your ass you power hungry fuck!!

Olaf the Viking

[Mad_Dem_X]

1. Scary, scary book

As I was reading it, I found myself underlining certain passages. I'm trying to get my sister to read it, but she is afraid to.

[bryant69]

2. You should try Brave New World

I like 1984, but I think Brave New World is the better picture of how we are evolving (if, in fact, we are evolving towards a totalitarian state).

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Dhalgren]

3. "We are the dead", Olaf, "we are the dead".

[Nordmadr]

10. How many fingers do YOU see?

2+2=4


I want to be one of the living. Reality is part perception...but we can create a better reality and world than the one they want. To create our new reality we must alter people's perception...and for that we need one thing...the ability to speak and spread truth. The ability to disagree and be heard.

Olaf the Viking

[Richard Steele]

4. Have you read "Fahrenheit 451" yet?

Some of the passages in that are just dead-on also.

[Nordmadr]

6. I've always been a big reader...but

it used to focus on fiction type stuff when I was younger. It evolved into more historical stuff, if you can't tell by my screen name, I'm into medieval history. In the last few years I have become much more aware of the political environment in this country and around the world. My starting point was "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn. I have sense read "Worse than Watergate", "The New Pearl Harbor", "A Language Older Than Words", and much more (I may not have the titles exactly right, don't have the books right in front of me). I have not read "Fahrenheit 451" or "Brave New World" yet, but I can assure you they are now on my list. I have now started reading "The Monkey Wrench Gang".

What a world we are living in now. Better hold on folks, it's going to be one hell of a ride. Time to harden your hearts some.

Olaf the Viking

Edit: Corrected spelling

[ET Awful]

7. Add "The Handmaids Tale" by Margaret Atwood to your list.

Trust me on this one :).

[Nordmadr]

9. Added :) N/T

[The Stranger]

5. War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength.

Oceania = U.S.
Eurasia = E.U.
Eastasia = China/Pacific Rim

[postulater]

8. Like my mother

Propaganda = Communist
Republicans hate Communists. Is there anything they hate more than Commies?

What if the media manipulation by Bush and company was framed as propaganda akin to Communist propaganda? And done well enough and publicly enough that even people like my mother couldn't ignore. Wouldn't Republicans then have to hate Bush?

Example: My mother has been a Republican forever, no real reason, she just is scared of change, I think. When I asked her the real reason she was voting for Bush rather than Kerry, she said 2 things. One - "Kerry is too smart" meaning she wanted a President who was dumber than she is because he wouldn't be able to do anything she wouldn't do. And two - "I don't like the idea of gay marriage." meaning she got sucked in by the morals bait.

So seems to me that many Republicans voted Bush because they fear something.

Well, if their guy is shown to be someone who they really should have been fearing all along (worse than one of those propaganda-spewing commies) it might cause them to feel betrayed and be forced to reject Bush.

They have to be made to fear what they now trust, more than they fear the unknown.

My mother will never be swayed by reasoned argument.