And you can go Home again |
Asdis Thordardottir Grade 11, Conard High School, West Hartford Dear George Orwell, I just finished reading your novel, 1984. In light of recent events, particularly the terrorist attacks on September 11th, and the government’s actions following it, I think that the Big Brother concept is not too far-fetched, as most other Americans might believe. If I had read 1984 before September 11th, 2001, I would have considered the idea of Big Brother ridiculous. However, after hearing about President Bush’s plan for his "War on Terrorism", I’m not so sure. The justice department has recently created new guidelines giving FBI agents the authority to monitor Internet sites, libraries, and religious institutions without having to offer evidence of potential criminal activity. Giving the FBI this authority will supposedly help prevent terrorist attacks. I think these guidelines are essentially telling people that one does not have to be suspected of doing anything illegal to be spied on, and that one can be spied on just for being a law abiding citizen. Does this situation not remind you of the Thought Police and the telescreens? It disturbed me that people have allowed the government to invade their privacy without protest. It makes me think, what other rights could the government take away from us? Will we let it? If things continue to go the way that they are currently going, then I say the answer is probably yes. I am afraid that another terrorist act would allow the government to take away our privacy and rights because the people’s judgment would be so clouded by patriotism and would therefore not reject to it. Reading 1984 opened up a door in my mind that had been waiting to be opened for a long time. Since 1984 is largely about a totalitarian government, I began to think about my country’s government, and what my views on politics were. Recently, I began doubting if I even agreed with the United States’ policies and actions at all. As I was researching socialism, capitalism and communism, in order to figure out which I thought would work the best, I stumbled upon something called COINTELPRO, the FBI’s counterintelligence program in the 1970s that worked to neutralize political dissidents. The FBI set out to eliminate "radical political opposition in the US. The FBI used fraud, force and harassment to sabotage constitutionally protected political activities. That is very similar to what happens in 1984, just less extreme. In 1984s case, people were "deleted" if they didn’t agree with the government. Actually, now that I think about it, perhaps people could be arrested if they commit "thoughtcrime" under our government too. Upon further investigation, I found something else that deeply disturbed me. When I was in elementary school, we had a week every year in which we celebrated and learned about Martin Luther King Jr. Never was I taught that he had been the target of an intensive campaign by the FBI. The FBI collected information about Dr. King’s plans and activities through an extreme surveillance program: tapping his phone lines, hiding microphones in his hotel rooms, etc. When Dr. King returned to the United States after having been abroad, steps were taken to reduce support for a huge banquet and a special "day" that were being planned in his honor. The FBI’s program to destroy Dr. King as the leader of the civil rights movement included attempts to discredit him with churches, universities, and the press. I was shocked that I was never told this part of the story. When I read this piece of information, my mind immediately went to 1984. I thought of the Ministry of Truth, and the erasing and replacing of information that was harmful to the idea and reputation of Big Brother. Since our government had had Big Brother tendencies in the past, it will be easier for it to become more Big Brother like in the future. I am grateful for the thoughts that your book, 1984, planted in my head. Reading your book made me realize that the government should not be trusted blindly and that any government is only as trustworthy as the people who run it. Maybe our government will turn into a Big Brother organization. If so, I’ll be the first one prepared. Sincerely, Asdis Thordardottir
|
