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To the editor:
George Orwell's prescient novel, “1984,” was published 75 years ago, in 1949. Orwell's fictional predictions of a dystopian future have never been more accurate than they are today, particularly his depictions of Newspeak and doublethink.
Bombarded with the proliferation of artificial intelligence, various ideologies and prevaricating politicians, it is wise to revisit Orwell's novel and learn about the necessity of truth-telling and honest communication.
The purpose of “Newspeak,” according to the novel, is to provide a medium of expression for the world-view compatible with Ingsoc's ideology (English Socialism). Newspeak had been adopted to distort reality, allowing the party to exert absolute control over their definitions.
In “1984,” the ideology of Ingsoc is constructed upon three slogans: "War is Peace," "Freedom is Slavery" and "Ignorance is Strength." Seventy-five years after its publication, and 40 years after its historical setting, the novel never has been more relevant as a cautionary tale about the danger of euphemistic speech.
Robert Sica
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namrogm
Good to state the importance of George Orwell’s “1984”. - especially today when Republicans use the term, “alternate facts” to excuse abject lies. Today George Orwell would see the danger that false slogans constitute the ideology and strategy of Trump Republicans. It’s not the threat of English socialism mentioned by Mr. Sica. Simple said, Donald Trump never tells the truth when a lie will do as well.
Wednesday, August 14 Report this
reenjoe
Like all Newspeak (War is peace, Freedom is strength, etc.), Ingsoc is intended to be the polar opposite of English Socialism, namely Totalitarianism.
Kind of like Trump's "Truth Social" where he spreads lies and misinformation.
Thursday, August 15 Report this