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Approaching 1984
I usually blog about business stuff so let me apologize in advance for this political post…Â
I recently started reading Orwell’s seminal work 1984. I am stunned by the parallel nature of that book and the time we now live in. It is truly prophetic.
In reviewing the news online Sunday morning I came across this article titled Big Brother is Shouting at You from the UK’s Daily Mail newspaper. In the book 1984, Big Brother (Or BB in newspeak) is the all seeing all knowing personification of the totalitarian government.
In the above mentioned article, the camera’s in and around London (there are literally millions of security cameras in London today) are now being outfitted with speakers so that those watching you can now speak to you. If this sounds too weird to be true, then click on the link. I am not kidding - I am not making this up.
The article states several things that make me very nervous:
“The system allows control room operators who spot any anti-social acts - from dropping litter to late night brawls - to send out a verbal warning: ‘we are watching you’.”
“This isn’t about keeping tabs on people, its about keeping the streets safer for the law-abiding majority and helping to change the attitudes of those who cause trouble. It challenges unacceptable behavior and makes people think twice”
Notice in the article that they never talk about illegal behavior. They talk about “anti-social” behavior. So the London Police are now guarding against what they define as anti-social behavior? I wonder if protesting this system would be considered “anti-social” behavior?
In the book 1984, legal but unacceptable (anti-social) behavior earns you a trip to The Ministry of Love where a bullet is promptly passed through the base of your skull. Problem solved.
First they watch you, then they talk to you remotely - when does that become not good enough? What’s the next step beyond watching and talking to you?
Since 9/11 our rights have slowly been eroding. We might be making ourselves more secure with the Patriot Act and NSA homeland surveillance but at what cost? Benjamin Franklin said: “They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
How far is too far? How much are you willing to give up to Big Brother in an effort to defend “freedom”? Are you willing to lose your freedom for safety?
By the way, if you have not read 1984 you need to. I wish I could send a copy to every address in the UK. They need a good wake up call. I think America needs it too.
Chris,
This is AMAZING and SCARY! I had to check twice to make sure I wasn’t reading a parody article in The Onion or something.
How can something like this happen without more outrage? You are dead-on in your observation that they are tallking about “anti-social behavior” and not “breaking the law”. Where will this end?
Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
Marty
Left by Marty M. Fahncke on 09/18/2006Marty:
Thanks for the comment. Drop me a line sometime. I’d love to catch up.
Left by ctknud on 09/18/2006The scary thing to me is that this kind of thing is all over the U.S. too. They say they do it to watch illegal dumping and other types of “anti-social behavior”, but where is the line drawn? Will it one day get to the point when all of our actions and words are recorded?
Left by Jason Hagblom on 09/18/2006I haven’t finished reading 1984 yet but just the few pages I have read fascinated me as well in light of the current state of affairs. Part of what I find interesting is that both conservatives and liberals are afraid of a 1984-esque world and both accuse the other side of leading us ever-faster towards it. Liberals see the NSA wire-tapping as a precursor to the “thought police” while conservatives see the same manifest in political correctness and the risk of being sued by the ACLU if you say anything someone else deems as “offensive.”
If you like 1984 two other good books are Animal Farm and Clockwork Orange. Just don’t go over the edge and start creating conspiracy theories in your head. That’s the real slippery slope to be worried about.
Left by Joshua Steimle on 09/18/2006