The climax of HG Wells’ dystopian “1984” novel is perhaps one of the least understood in contemporary literature.
Winston (the principal in the story and member of the proletariat) was tortured for his thought crimes against the State. He was tortured until he agreed 2+2=5. This was the State’s way of using fear (of being tortured) to force Winston’s compliance to the State. After prolonged resistance Winston finally agreed he would say whatever the state wanted to end the suffering. Winston believed by complying, the torturing would finally stop. But the torturing continued. Winston objected; “what do you want me to say?”. And this is the point of the story…. it was not good enough to agree with the State and for Winston to bend to the will of the State ….
The torturing persisted until Winston TRULY BELIEVED 2+2=5; not just “saying” it to stop the torturing! In the end, Winston became one of the mindless well behaved drones of society.
I share this because it’s happening to us today. Many people are living in fear of dying from C19. The fear of death is being used to force COMPLIANCE to the will of the State. But even as the virus recedes, behavior is still being steered & controlled. Scores of senseless rules remain that are not supported by common sense or science.
See, compliance to the will of the State is NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Mask shaming and pointless rules will persist until you TRULY BELIEVE death is the alternative.
What comes next is predictable … once you become a brainwashed believer you will BEG for an opportunity to stand hours in line for a C19 vaccine.
The overnight “wokeness” regarding “systemic racism” follows a related pattern. We dare not ask questions or ask for debate on the subject. You will labeled as a bigot and racist. Free speech stifled. So you back into the shadows and keep your mouth shut to avoid conflict. Over time you hear more and more people pushing the BLM agenda. Systemic racism is even preached from the pulpit on Sunday. Then it happens, you begin to doubt yourself. Do you succumb, climb back into the shadows, or continue to ask questions?
Don’t be like Winston