|
|
Firstly, the German fascist leader was honest about what he set out to achieve whereas Bush has proven to be the most accomplished liar in the history of the United States. Secondly, Hitler was elected and Bush was not, which means the war in Iraq has not even been carried out in the name of the American people. In every other way, the two leaders resemble one another. Contempt for working people, labour unions, peace, and democracy exemplify this similarity. Hitler murdered innocent people with the use of the gun and gas chambers. Bush has murdered people with the use of the gun and economic leverage. The only difference is that killing people by way of economic policies has a perpetual effect and the casualties are not counted. Such policies kill people on a daily basis not with the use of the gun, but with the use of hunger and desperation. The embargos against Cuba and Iran (and formerly Iraq) are examples of this new and improved method of killing the weak.
Has Nineteen Eight-Four arrived? Orwell would say it has, or at least, that we have taken another step towards it. It seems more logical to count the years down at the end of each year. This is so because humanity seems to be in a regressive stage. We should count the years down because every year seems closer to Orwell’s vision. We should also count the years down because if we allow today’s moral regression to continue, humanity would end at year Zero, if not sooner. Nineteen Eighty-Four is only a passing point between now and the end.
As those who care for humanity, morality and peace, we have a responsibility to count the years forward once more. We have a responsibility to defend the weak, challenge the powerful, be fearless of aggressors, and not allow wealthy men to make decisions on our behalf and to our detriment. As humans, we are responsible for safeguarding the moral progressions of humanity. Hence we must challenge and change the current order and replace its unjust structures with a society in which greed, thought control, and aggression are not the hallmarks of human existence. We are responsible for creating a just, equitable human way of life where compassion prevails over hate and altruism prevails over greed. Humanity has proven it can fight and defeat injustice in the past. If it wills it, it can again.
Notes:
1. Peter R. Mitchell & John Schoeffel (2002) (edited), Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky, pp.195-204, 222-23
2. In these places, there is evidence that self-managing workers’ councils and local committees operated without any government intervention or coercion. For example, when the Russian Tsar was overthrown by a popular revolution in 1917,factory councils and elected local governing bodies (called “soviets”) were formed. However, when the Bolsheviks eliminated the Constituent Assembly [democratically-elected parliament] in January 1918, these popular entities were destroyed in order to centralize power. Source: Ibid, p.141
3. The US war budget has been steadily increasing since the end of WWII. Official federal government reports estimate the budget to be over $410 million in 2005. Source: “Budget of the US Government, Fiscal Year 2004”, Executive Office of the President of the United States.
4. ibid, pp.70-73, 258-60
5. Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media (1988), pp.1-37
6. This term is borrowed from Matthew Fraser (2003)
7. The Quran, II.2
8. Ibid, IV.74. The entire verse reads: “Whoever fights on God’s path, whether he is killed or triumphs, We will give him a handsome reward.”
9. This can be illustrated with a look at Galileo’s experience with the Church. After writing "Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems" (1632), he was tried before the Inquisition and found guilty of heresy. He was then forced to recant his findings or face violent retribution.
|
Tags
You must be logged in to add tags.
|
Writer Profile
Nima Shirali
This user has not written anything in his panorama profile yet.
|
Comments
You must be a TakingITGlobal member to post a comment. Sign up for free or login.
|
|
