Irony and More ''1984'' - America's Children Are Becoming Orwell's Children
I read this op-ed piece over at Old American Century and thought it pretty much hit the nail on the head.
by August Keso, March 4th, 2006
"With those children [Winston] thought, that wretched woman must lead a life of terror. Another year, two years, and they would be watching her night and day for symptoms of unorthodoxy. Nearly all children nowadays were horrible. What was worst of all was that by means of such organizations as the Spies they were systematically turned into ungovernable little savages, and yet this produced in them no tendency whatever to rebel against the discipline of the Party." -- George Orwell, "1984"
The irony should be lost on no one. A high school teacher in Aurora, Colorado, told his class that there were similarities between Bush's State of the Union rhetoric and things Hitler used to say. The teacher's name is Jay Bennish and he was immediately placed on administrative leave. Yet, the irony is dwarfed when compared to the ultimate Orwellian circumstances surrounding Bennish's personal nightmare.
Bennish quoted part of Bush's State of the Union Address, "It is our duty as Americans to use the military to go out in the world and make the world like us," the President said. This, Bennish told his students, "Sounds a lot like what Adolph Hitler used to say."
"'Now I'm not saying that Bush and Hitler are exactly the same, obviously they're not, OK,' Jay Bennish was heard saying on a recording of his class lecture on the day after Bush's State of the Union Address. 'But there are eerie similarities to the tones that they use.'"
"According to the transcript, Bennish concluded by telling his students: 'I'm not implying in any way you should agree with me.... What I'm trying to do is to get you to ... think about these issues more in depth.' He thanked them for asking questions."
Of Bennish's comments School Superintendent Monte Moses said, "All discussion must be fair and balanced." Yes, "fair and balanced," which is "doublespeak" for grossly favorable to "Big Brother." Wonder from whom, or more precisely, where Moses assimilated that phrase?
It truly is ironic that in the United States of America, a teacher compares the President's remarks to something Hitler might have said and the teacher is punished. Still, there is more to this story than irony. Few things smack more of Orwell's "1984" than does how this teacher came to be punished.
Sean Allen, one of Bennish's students and a sophomore at Overland High School, recorded his teacher's comments and brought them to a local radio station. In Orwell's classic "Big Brother is watching you novel," children are taught by "Big Brother" and the Party's adherents to inform upon society. They are actively indoctrinated in the act of spying on and reporting parents, teachers, friends, and neighbors who happen to speak unflatteringly of "Big Brother" and the Party's political constructs. In "1984," the children would report this "unpatriotic" behavior to the government and the "guilty" would soon disappear.
Fortunately, America hasn't gotten to the point where the Jay Bennishs' are simply wiped from the record -- at least America hasn't gotten to that point yet!
Still, looking at the smug and proud expression on Allen's face as he was being interviewed on the local radio station and reporting his teacher's transgression against "Big Brother," one cannot help but feel quite uncomfortable -- chilled by the sheer zealotry etched across the boy's face. It is the look of a child certain he is doing something "doubleplusgood," and who has been thoroughly trained in the art of "doublethink."
Indeed, it does appear Sean Allen has been trained and probably deeply believes WAR IS PEACE - FREEDOM IS SLAVERY - IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.
So the question becomes, how did Sean Allen devolve to his wholly un-American belief that it is a child's place to spy on his teachers? Who or what ideological entity cultivated, condoned, and encouraged the Sean Allens of America to commit such freedom hating, heinous, Hitleristic, "Big Brother" acts of surveillance?
Not long ago, a highly radical right-wing group associated with the Bruin Alumni Association, sent out an e-mail to students attending UCLA. The e-mail read, "Do you have a professor who just can't stop talking about President Bush, about the war in Iraq, about the Republican Party, or any other ideological issue ...? It doesn't matter whether this is a past class, or your class for this coming winter quarter.
"If you help UCLAProfs.Com expose the professor, we'll pay you for your work."
Contained within that e-mail is the answer to the question of who has been busy teaching America's youth that it is "doubleplusgood" for them to report on those speaking out against "President Bush, the war in Iraq" and "about the Republican Party."
Groups like UCLAProfs.Com, may not be directly related to the GOP and it's vast right-wing horde of "Big Brother" partners, but it is working in concert with the Republican Party and it's objectives. These groups and the Party will insist they are not linked, but that stretches reality into heretofore un-conceived of constructs. This attempt at training America's youth to serve as spies is quite pervasive within the right-wing community and, therefore, the evidence clearly indicates collusion.
Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, FOX News, and Christian groups implicitly encourage students to report on their teachers. O'Reilly, Hannity, and FOX News encourage this behavior by incessantly reporting, covering, and providing moral support for this deviant and anti-freedom-loving behavior. Groups like Dobson's "Focus on the Family" believe it to be an almost religious duty for children to inform their parents whenever a teacher or school fails to recognize the Christian faith in accordance to their preferences.
On March 3, 2006, Rush Limbaugh dedicated a portion of his program solely to lending his full support to young Allen's nefarious "Big Brother" behavior. Allen's actions and the deeds of other children doing the same Limbaugh insisted, would "break the monopoly" he believes "liberals" have on America's educational system, just as his own intimidation tactics have "broken the liberal monopoly on the media."
Ultimately, the Right's conditioning of America's youth like Sean Allen to spy and report on adults is designed to intimidate those who might want to speak out into remaining silent. Yes, Sean Allen reporting his teacher for speaking poorly of "Big Brother" was "doubleplusgood," and there are few in today's GOP structure that would discourage such aberrant behavior. After all, WAR IS PEACE - FREEDOM IS SLAVERY - IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.
How long before America's children are the living, breathing, flesh-and-bone embodiment of Orwell's darkest dream? Not long dear friends -- not long at all:
"All their ferocity was turned outwards, against the enemies of the State, against foreigners, traitors, saboteurs, thought-criminals. It was almost normal for people over thirty to be frightened of their own children. And with good reason, for hardly a week passed in which the 'Times' did not carry a paragraph describing how some eavesdropping little sneak -- 'child hero' was the phrase generally used -- had overheard some compromising remark and denounced his parents to the Thought Police." -- George Orwell, "1984"
Sadly, not long at all!
by August Keso, March 4th, 2006"With those children [Winston] thought, that wretched woman must lead a life of terror. Another year, two years, and they would be watching her night and day for symptoms of unorthodoxy. Nearly all children nowadays were horrible. What was worst of all was that by means of such organizations as the Spies they were systematically turned into ungovernable little savages, and yet this produced in them no tendency whatever to rebel against the discipline of the Party." -- George Orwell, "1984"
The irony should be lost on no one. A high school teacher in Aurora, Colorado, told his class that there were similarities between Bush's State of the Union rhetoric and things Hitler used to say. The teacher's name is Jay Bennish and he was immediately placed on administrative leave. Yet, the irony is dwarfed when compared to the ultimate Orwellian circumstances surrounding Bennish's personal nightmare.
Bennish quoted part of Bush's State of the Union Address, "It is our duty as Americans to use the military to go out in the world and make the world like us," the President said. This, Bennish told his students, "Sounds a lot like what Adolph Hitler used to say."
"'Now I'm not saying that Bush and Hitler are exactly the same, obviously they're not, OK,' Jay Bennish was heard saying on a recording of his class lecture on the day after Bush's State of the Union Address. 'But there are eerie similarities to the tones that they use.'"
"According to the transcript, Bennish concluded by telling his students: 'I'm not implying in any way you should agree with me.... What I'm trying to do is to get you to ... think about these issues more in depth.' He thanked them for asking questions."
Of Bennish's comments School Superintendent Monte Moses said, "All discussion must be fair and balanced." Yes, "fair and balanced," which is "doublespeak" for grossly favorable to "Big Brother." Wonder from whom, or more precisely, where Moses assimilated that phrase?
It truly is ironic that in the United States of America, a teacher compares the President's remarks to something Hitler might have said and the teacher is punished. Still, there is more to this story than irony. Few things smack more of Orwell's "1984" than does how this teacher came to be punished.
Sean Allen, one of Bennish's students and a sophomore at Overland High School, recorded his teacher's comments and brought them to a local radio station. In Orwell's classic "Big Brother is watching you novel," children are taught by "Big Brother" and the Party's adherents to inform upon society. They are actively indoctrinated in the act of spying on and reporting parents, teachers, friends, and neighbors who happen to speak unflatteringly of "Big Brother" and the Party's political constructs. In "1984," the children would report this "unpatriotic" behavior to the government and the "guilty" would soon disappear.
Fortunately, America hasn't gotten to the point where the Jay Bennishs' are simply wiped from the record -- at least America hasn't gotten to that point yet!
Still, looking at the smug and proud expression on Allen's face as he was being interviewed on the local radio station and reporting his teacher's transgression against "Big Brother," one cannot help but feel quite uncomfortable -- chilled by the sheer zealotry etched across the boy's face. It is the look of a child certain he is doing something "doubleplusgood," and who has been thoroughly trained in the art of "doublethink."
Indeed, it does appear Sean Allen has been trained and probably deeply believes WAR IS PEACE - FREEDOM IS SLAVERY - IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.
So the question becomes, how did Sean Allen devolve to his wholly un-American belief that it is a child's place to spy on his teachers? Who or what ideological entity cultivated, condoned, and encouraged the Sean Allens of America to commit such freedom hating, heinous, Hitleristic, "Big Brother" acts of surveillance?
Not long ago, a highly radical right-wing group associated with the Bruin Alumni Association, sent out an e-mail to students attending UCLA. The e-mail read, "Do you have a professor who just can't stop talking about President Bush, about the war in Iraq, about the Republican Party, or any other ideological issue ...? It doesn't matter whether this is a past class, or your class for this coming winter quarter.
"If you help UCLAProfs.Com expose the professor, we'll pay you for your work."
Contained within that e-mail is the answer to the question of who has been busy teaching America's youth that it is "doubleplusgood" for them to report on those speaking out against "President Bush, the war in Iraq" and "about the Republican Party."
Groups like UCLAProfs.Com, may not be directly related to the GOP and it's vast right-wing horde of "Big Brother" partners, but it is working in concert with the Republican Party and it's objectives. These groups and the Party will insist they are not linked, but that stretches reality into heretofore un-conceived of constructs. This attempt at training America's youth to serve as spies is quite pervasive within the right-wing community and, therefore, the evidence clearly indicates collusion.
Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, FOX News, and Christian groups implicitly encourage students to report on their teachers. O'Reilly, Hannity, and FOX News encourage this behavior by incessantly reporting, covering, and providing moral support for this deviant and anti-freedom-loving behavior. Groups like Dobson's "Focus on the Family" believe it to be an almost religious duty for children to inform their parents whenever a teacher or school fails to recognize the Christian faith in accordance to their preferences.
On March 3, 2006, Rush Limbaugh dedicated a portion of his program solely to lending his full support to young Allen's nefarious "Big Brother" behavior. Allen's actions and the deeds of other children doing the same Limbaugh insisted, would "break the monopoly" he believes "liberals" have on America's educational system, just as his own intimidation tactics have "broken the liberal monopoly on the media."
Ultimately, the Right's conditioning of America's youth like Sean Allen to spy and report on adults is designed to intimidate those who might want to speak out into remaining silent. Yes, Sean Allen reporting his teacher for speaking poorly of "Big Brother" was "doubleplusgood," and there are few in today's GOP structure that would discourage such aberrant behavior. After all, WAR IS PEACE - FREEDOM IS SLAVERY - IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.
How long before America's children are the living, breathing, flesh-and-bone embodiment of Orwell's darkest dream? Not long dear friends -- not long at all:
"All their ferocity was turned outwards, against the enemies of the State, against foreigners, traitors, saboteurs, thought-criminals. It was almost normal for people over thirty to be frightened of their own children. And with good reason, for hardly a week passed in which the 'Times' did not carry a paragraph describing how some eavesdropping little sneak -- 'child hero' was the phrase generally used -- had overheard some compromising remark and denounced his parents to the Thought Police." -- George Orwell, "1984"
Sadly, not long at all!
Chilling, but this is what is going on and the cases of prof-ratting are becoming more common. They will not be satisfied until they take over education, media,society, your bedroom, your hospital room, your marriage, laws, government, etc. all in the name of doing the 'right things' and despite the fact that their view of the right things are not held by a majority of Americans, Americans will sit there and let this rogue band of thumpers do it.
ReplyDeleteIts a scary thing when hatred is organized, effective, strategic, and shrewd while we are out there hanging our heads while we drive our SUV's, shop at Wal Mart, then come home and blog about the assholes of America. Where are we while this is going down???WE have to be in the faces of teachers that respond to their bullying too. WE have to pay attention. WE have to learn what our kids learn. Thats step one, in the Lily Book Of Disjointed Reason.
It's true. When you hear a Republican spout off about the evils of Big Government, you have to realize that in true doublespeak, Big Governent is a simply a code word for taxes. Republicans actually want Big Government to have authority over our social existance. For instance, if you are a female in S. Dakota, your uterus no longer belongs to you. Christianity is being pushed as state religion in Missouri. The Government reserves the right to add politically opposed voices to the No Fly list. The Senate gives Bush a pass on wiretapping. I could go on...
ReplyDeleteWhere do you get this "Big Brother" crap. The kid went to the school district (Big Brother) and was ignored. Then he gave the tape to a radio station, and the public heard it and the public (the people) was upset - not the government (Big Brother). If the left leaks something to the press, it’s the right of free speech. If the right leaks something to the press, it’s “BIG BROTHER is spying on you.” You guys like it both ways.
ReplyDeleteAnd why is every youth who is not brainwashed by the liberal education system, considered by you lefties as brain washed? There are smart kids out there, who do not consider themselves 'victims' of society, or the right. It might do you good to read some from http://www.acyu.org/, or http://www.the-gun-dude.blogspot.com/, or http://cahsconservative.blogspot.com/.
Why do you think that the school systems are necessarily liberal? I know for a fact that the two high schools I attended were if anything overall more conservative than liberal. I had a few teachers that encouraged me to "think outside the box" but does that really mean they are liberal?
ReplyDeleteThe corrolation between Orwell's vision of childeren spying on wayward adults and what happened with Binnish is purely ironic. But come on... its a little malevolant to get your teacher in trouble for pointing out an obvious parallel in what Bush said and what Hitler said. He wasn't flat out saying that Bush = Hitler, but that the TONE of the speech was one of world domination, which if you look at in that context, seems to be somewhat plausable. The point of the article is that this kid went out and tattled because the big bad teacher said something negative about Bush, which, last I checked..wasn't illegal. Do you feel that it is necessary that the teachers, especially in humanities type courses, remain politically neutral? Or is it better if students saw several sides of an issue and not just one?
"Or is it better if students saw several sides of an issue and not just one?"
ReplyDeleteYes, it would be great for students to see several sides - unfortunately, that wasn't the case here.
"Do you feel that it is necessary that the teachers, especially in humanities type courses, remain politically neutral?"
Humanities? It was a Geography course. When Geography, a science, becomes a humanities course, we are really in trouble.
"The point of the article is that this kid went out and tattled because the big bad teacher said something negative about Bush, which, last I checked..wasn't illegal." No it wasn't illegal, but it was "against the school districts rules" because of the way the teacher did it and the fact that it was totally one sided.
"Tattled" to who? The Government? Is the kid a government spy? I think you are really more upset on how the "PUBLIC" responded. Just not honest enough to admit it.
"Why do you think that the school systems are necessarily liberal?" You should hear some of the garbage Chris is bringing home. He's begining to sound more like you.
*Big Brother* didn't nail Bennish, a smart kid with a recorder did..
ReplyDeleteBennish was, IMO, out of place in his comments, perhaps in a college environment his words would have been more appropriate especially given the liberalism exhibited in colleges these days, but he made those statements, apparently the school board is going to back him and now the voters need to look at their school board...
And even if I don't agree with Bennish making his comments, he DOES have the freedom of speech to do so, THAT is the American way..
You are missing the entire point if you think schools should be 'liberal' or 'conservative'. From what I've observed schools are usually more liberal, but I did go to school in Vermont.
ReplyDeleteA true education involves no agenda at all. Students should learn MATH ENGLISH and SOCIAL SCIENCE, the natural tools for educational growth. The students should be asking the questions, not the professors. This is completely the opposite today. Students are being told the answers without the ability to ask questions, or even to think for that matter.
Big Brother isn't 'telling' us what to think, we are just losing the ability to think. It seems everyone misinterprets 1984. To better understand it, read "Politics and the English Language", which he wrote shortly before 1984.
Also, what is 'doublespeak'? I've read 1984 several times, and I don't recall ever seeing that term. There is doublethink and newspeak, two completely different things. This is an example of exploitation of a brilliant piece of work for a political agenda.
Well, well, Orwell!
ReplyDeleteSix months ago Obama sent his brown shirts (Acorn, SEIU) to harass the employees of AIG, a modern "krystallnacht"; this week he tells America to report "fishy" speech, communication, etc.
Hitler was a national socialist; Mussolini styled himself a socialist; they derive from progressivist movements, which originally were collectivist.
You're right: but now the right party is in place, with "apparatchiks" everywhere - 40+ czars at last count
YOU ARE MISTAKEN! This is neither Republican nor Democrat driven - it is both!!! Many of us are SLAVES to THE SYSTEM. Cut up your ID and see how far you get!!! Soon the RFID will be in place and indeed The Mark of the Beast will enter the mainstream. Already we are filmed nearly everywhere we go. Every transaction recorded. We are rapidly becoming an Electronic Surveillance Police State. We are indeed trading our Liberty for so-called "security" but it was once said: those who trade Liberty for security are neither secure nor free. Yes, the day is coming when no one shall buy or sell without the Mark of the Beast (RFID) and the sad part is both Republican, Democrat, and even the majority of Christians shall embrace it - for few want to live apart from Wal-mart or McDonald's. Few can survive without thier car or insurance. The System is nearly all pervasive and perhaps only The Amish will have safe quarter (by the way, the Amish, by Law, have to put RFID chips in thier cattle!!! And some have said they may have to quit raising cattle because of it!)
ReplyDeleteAmerica is lost and nothing can save it, individual struggle is impossible and enlightened political movements are deemed heretical and preempted, proscribed or infiltrated by governmental apparatchiks. Europe may be saved if it is able to free itself from the yoke of American imposed egalitarianism and the morbidity of anti-cultural contamination. The most terrifying prospect is that a third cataclysmic struggle, an apocalyptic war, may be in the offing, and for Western Civilization to survive, America must loose.
ReplyDelete