In my English 1010 at snow college we had to read 1984 by George Orwell. At first I thought "I hate assigned reading." As I continued to read this phenomenal book I became enthralled. People say the Bible is a "living book," and that it is applicable throughout time. If any book is a "living book" it's 1984. George Orwell wrote a book that shows every political party's dream, a world they completely control, and having a mindless population that will follow unquestioningly and forget anything that contradicts what has been said before. There are many ways that this book is applicable to our daily lives, not just with our political leaders but with, religious leaders, private business, or just old fashioned peer pressure.
I want to go through these influences that are so predominant in our lives, starting with the least important and going to the things that effects us, at least according to me.
1. Peer pressure. There was a study done that proves my point completely about how we as people conform because we fear being out cast or singled out from the crowd, the study was the Asch Conformity Experiment (1953). If everyone around us is going one way, we are likely to follow, even if we think it's the wrong way to go. We are more comfortable when we are part of a group than when we are singled out.
2. Private companies. Our minds are bombarded with adds everywhere. We see adds on billboards, in news papers, on bathroom walls and even sent to our homes in "saver packs." We are conditioned to want things we don't need, to vote one way or another, to do things because "that's just what you do." if you see a billboard a 100 times a day for a plumbing company who will you think of first when your toilet clogs up?
3. Political parties. If you've read the book this needs no explanation. if you haven't read the book, do.
4. Religion. This book constantly reminds me of the control that all religions have over their followers. They have destroyed the things that make us human. they destroyed sex, making it only for procreation a.k.a. "doing your duty," taking out of a way to connect to another human being. They also turn children against their parents, making a child a spy within the home. They take away your ability to think for yourself by conditioning people by repeating things like "I know our church is true" or "I know that Jesus died for my sins." How can one "know" these things, they can feel them of suspect its true, but not know it. If you repeat something enough times you start to believe it.
1984 is one of the most influential books in my life. It has changed how I critically think about almost everything. if you haven't read this book you need to. It will rock your world if you take the time to understand how it still applicable to us today.
"War is peace
freedom is slavery
ignorance in strength"
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