Posted April 12, 2013 By Faisal Moghul
Almost thirty years ago, cultural critic Neil Postman argued in Amusing Ourselves to Death that television’s gradual replacement of the printing press has created a dumbed-down culture driven by mindless entertainment. In this context, Postman claimed that Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World correctly foresaw our dystopian future, as opposed to George Orwell’s 1984.
Contrary to Postman’s critique, however, the principles of Newspeak and doublethink dominate modern political discourse. Their widespread use is a testament to Orwell’s profound insight into how language can be manipulated to restrict human thought.
WAR IS PEACE – Formulating the Language of Perpetual War
AGGRESSION IS SELF-DEFENCE – Waging Full Scale War to Prevent War
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
ACCUSATION IS GUILT– Killing You for Your Own Safety
THE GREAT SHIFT INWARD – From Enemy Combatants to Homegrown Terrorists
DISSENT IS TREASON.
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU – Argus, TrapWire, Stingray, EARS and Total Information Awareness.
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
OCEANA HAS ALWAYS NEVER BEEN AT WAR WITH EAST ASIA
On April 23, representatives from Stop Smart Meters UK spoke to British MP’s about the clear and present risks which ‘smart’ meters would impose upon British families.
