October 5, 2005

'1984': Sound Familiar? part 5

Keep in mind that in George Orwell's "1984", the seven contenants have merged into three superstates:

"...the conditions of life in all three superstates are very much the same. In Oceania the prevailing philosophy is called, Ingsoc, in Eurasia it is called Neo-Bolshevism, and in Eastasia it is called by a Chinese name usually translated as Dead-worship, but perhaps better rendered as Obliteration of the Self. The citizen of Oceania is not allowed to know anything of the tenets of the other two philosophies, but he is taught to execrate them as barbarous outrages upon morality and common sense. Actually the three philosophies are barely distinguishable, and the social systems which they support are not distinguishable at all. Everywhere there is the same pyramidal structure, the same worship of a semi-divine leader, the same economy existing by and for continious warfare."

Well, sound familiar to you?

No comments: