Big Brother? Like the TV show?

I think that Big Brother is just like Hitler; strong worded man with inspiring things to say, but used for all the wrong reasons. He’s basically on a power trip. Big Brother has a found a way to control people: fear, hate, anger, etc. This is done partially through the Two Minutes of Hate. To read about the people acting like vicious animals while watching violent images is disturbing. Even Winston seems to be ashamed of himself for joining in. But it’s odd to watch how his rage turns from Big Brother, to the girl with the brown hair and so on. Most of us wonder how these people can be so worked up, but it’s the simple fact that their lives are basically meaningless and with many limits. I feel like violence is the only way they can get pent up emotions out. This also seems to be the one time that they can even show emotion without the thought police in mind (that is if of course you show an emotion Big Brother and the Party wants you feel.) I’m pretty sure I would act out too if I had to keep a straight but cheery face all day, every second. As humans, we need to not only feel emotions but show them. It’s natural. In this world they are being severely suppressed.

I’ve heard a few people over the years say that we, too, have lost our privacy. They claim that through security cameras, GPS, credit card tracking, IP addresses, and so on, that they government can watch everything that we are doing. The biggest controversy about “invasion of privacy” is the debate over airline security after 9/11. You go through hours of checking, rechecking, security dogs, metal detectors and bag checks just to board a plane. I know that they have very good reason for it because they have probably stopped many terrorists from trying to take down planes or even drug dealers from smuggling things across borders. The question is whether they should be allowed to root through every inch of your belongings and strip search you just because they think you may have something. We need to find a middle ground with that. I understand that this makes people feel safer in a way, but there is still a growing fear that is being created. We are passing on this fear to our children that don’t quite understand that just because a person is Islamic doesn’t mean they are a terrorist. This relates to how the children in 1984 are taught through fear and ignorance in order to get them to watch others for the government.

Back on track though, I think even with things like this we still have way more privacy than Winston and everyone in his world. We can sit in a room with our thoughts and not have to worry about someone watching us at that moment or trying to cover up our expressions so we don’t “disappear”. I feel safe in my own head because I know that maybe a few people can tell what I’m thinking based on my expressions but even if they do I don’t have to worry about being killed over it.