How Do They Not Know?

The government in 1984 goes through a lot of trouble to make sure that this society stays ignorant. In my opinion, there is no such thing as Emmanuel Goldstein, Big Brother, Eastasia or Eurasia, and The Party. The person or persons running this corrupt government is making these things up. This way the society has a hero and leader to look up to and obey like Big Brother. They also have enemies to take the hate and anger out on. The government keeps a war going at all times so that "Big Brother" can save them and be a hero and a protector. They make up Goldstein so that society can live in fear of him and want Big Brother around to protect them. They also take the bad things that happen in Airstrip One out on war and Goldstein. If you are told the same thing over and over since you were born, then you believe it. What evidence does this society have that says there is no Big Brother or Party or War? If they are told that there was no such person as Syme, who is there with evidence proving the government wrong? They keep the past earased and edited to prevent any rebellion. They can control the minds of the proles by doing all of this. These people are not questioning how they live because of the fear that they could be killed for it. If you are told that there are thought police running around knowing what you are thinking, then you are going to stop thinking all together. It makes more sense to people to just agree with what they are told and to keep ignorant because it is the only way to survive. Im sure most of the people in this society do know what is really going on, but who wants to be the guinea pig? Who wants to be the first to stand up and question the government and be killed? It is survival of the fitess. You keep your mouth shut and appear as ignorant as possible and you live. In the end, the last people standing are going to be the ones like Parsons. They are the kind of ignorant people that will never question the government, but instead protect and stay by the government's side.

Part One Continued...

Something that struck me as odd in this book was the way that people watched hangings. When Winston is talking to Syme, Syme mentions that he went to the hanging earlier. He describes it as a good hanging and mentions that he hates when they tie feet together because he cant see them kicking. He also enjoys when the blue toungue sticks out. This is very strange. I also noticed that The Parsons children were excited to see a hanging earlier in the book. This could have something to do with ignorance. Maybe this society dosent realize how inhumane hanging is, and it is watched as a sport or as a form of entertainment. I think it is discusting that even the kids are happy about going to see someone killed. This is just one example of how Big Brother and the Party have Winston and the rest of these people brainwashed.
I also noticed how things are controlled. Every day, facts are destroyed and re-made. The government has the power to control the past, present, and the future. These people are listening to anything they are told, and there are no facts about the past to support that these facts are lies. The society seems to be comfortable with not thinking and with being ignorant. The government can do all of thier thinking for them. What the society dosen't know, won't hurt them. They are okay with being ignorant because they have nothing to worry about that way. If they just go along with what they are being told, then what can go wrong? I do not think Winston feels this way. I think he is uncomfortable with feeling like everything is erased and made up. He wants to know the truth and this is going to get him in trouble. Once someone gains any bit on knowledge and stops being ignorant and wants answers to questions, Big Brother gets rid of them. This way his society stays corrupted.

As Syme continues his convorsation with Winston, he mentions this dictionary he is working on. He says that soon, people won't even be able to understand how Winston and Syme are speaking to eachother. He says that Newspeak will be so advances, that every concept ever will be expressed by only one word. This way, there is no need for thought police because people wont be thinking anymore. People will have no thoughts. This proves how the government has corupted people. They are advancing everything to make sure that soon, thier society will be walking around oblivious and they can do the thinking for everyone.

Winston knows this and he wants it to end. He wants the proles to rebel and boycott and save this society. I like how Winston calls he brainwashing being unconcious. He says that these people will only be concious once they have rebelled. People will only realize how corrupted and brainwashed they are when they start going against Big Brother and finding out the truth.

Response to Blog Saftey.

I love doing blog assignments. It is really helpful to read other's thoughts and ideas. However, I do agree with saftey rules. It is a little scary that millions of random strangers can read my thoughts. I think that blogs used in school should be used only for school work. If a teacher is letting his/her students use a blog in class, then there should be restrictions. You should'nt be able to post full names or e-mail addresses or any personal information. It also should not be treated like AIM. You should'nt be talking to your friends about who Joe dumped at lunch on your 1984 blog. If the students dont abuse the priviledge of using a blog and if the teacher checks his/her student's blogs regularly to make sure the restrictions are being obeyed, then I dont see how using blogs could be a bad thing. I think they are exremely helpful and fun to work with. I like posting new ideas on my blog. It helps me get my thoughts together and figure out more. If there is bullying being written back and forth or obsene language being used, it should be noticed. These are potential dangers, along with exposing too much information about your personal life and saying racial or hurtful things about other people. I think if the students are warned about the dangers of blogging and if they are taught how to use them properly then there should'nt be any problems. I like how Mr.Hunt had the handbook for his class. It just restates the rules for his students. These rules should also apply to any other students using thier blogs for class work. You can't control what kids are doing at home from thier computers on thier personal blogs, but in school the blogs should be watched closely and kept school related.
I don't think our class would have a problem with misusing the blog postings but our rules should be similar to Mr. Hunt's. This way there are restrictions on what you can and can not say and how much personal information you post.

George Orwell 1984.

I was interested in getting started with 1984. I had knew about the background of the book and loved books with a similar plot like 1984. My first impressions were satisfying. I really enjoyed the first 30-40 pages. There is alot that pops out as strange and alot that you want to find out. I love books that make you question and books that make you want to read more for answers. This is one of those books. I have good expectations for the rest of the book and I have a feeling im not going to be able to put it down. I loved that the first 20 or so pages werent terrible. I hate that and I usually stop reading the book.
I can already relate to Winston's feelings and ideas. He has already brought up characters that make you question who they are and if they are good or bad. I have been able to form alot of opinons about Emmanuel Golstein as well. I think he was catching on to the corrupted government. I think he wanted to tell this society the truth and start letting the people think for themselves. Big Brother obviously did'nt like this. It would have ruined his dystopia and caused riots. Big Brother and the Party's way of keeping Goldstein's threat of exposure away from the public was to make Emmanuel the enemy. That is what the Two Minutes of Hate is. It is a way of letting the people release thier anger and keep the idea of hate against Emmanuel. This way no one starts to question. Big Brother has to stay seeming like the heroic leader. I also have a feeling that O'Brien is on the same page as Winston. I think he will come up alot more in the book. The thought police also made me question. Can these police get into your head somehow and know if you are starting to question the government?
The way the children in this society are used is shocking. It has a connection to the children in Africa, just not as intense. Children in Darfur are trained as soldiers in the Rebel army as young as 5 years old. They are trained to kill anyone who does not satisfy them. The children in this book are being brainwashed at very young ages as well. Thier own parents live in fear of them because these kids are "Spies." I think these children are brainwashed and talked to alot in order for them to turn thier parents in. They have to be bribed or assured that if they turn thier parents in something amazing will happen. It dosent take alot to corrupt a young mind. This government obviously plans on staying this way for a long time if they are creating generations of Spies to become Thought Police or become part of the Party. I dont think they want the threat of another Emmanuel Goldstein.
I wonder why this society is always at war? Why is the Eurasian army so terrible? If they are backing up Emmanuel Goldstein, then maybe they are the good guys. They are involved in the Two Minutes of Hate as well, so in my opinion these can be the good guys who are going to save the people in this dystopia who are living in fear.